European folktales: The Hunter and the
Swan Maiden
By zteve t evans

The Swan Maiden in folklore is a creature that can transform from a swan to a human and back to a swan when needed. There are also male versions of the creature in some folktales. Many other folktales from around the world have the central motif of a swan, or other types of bird or animal, that transforms from a bird or beast into a human and back again.
The male figure is often a hunter and by stealing and with holding her clothing while she bathes wins her for a wife. For some people the stealing and withholding of the clothing represents the stealing of her power and her imprisonment. At the same time the very sight of the Swan Maiden in human form appears to put a spell on the hunter who falls in love with her. He must have her for his wife and when she does find her clothing and her power is returned he must seek her out and bring her back.
In this tale the hunter goes to great lengths and faces great danger to track down and win back his Swan Maiden. This appears to impress the Swan Maiden who readily consents to returning leaving her world to return to his to be his wife again. In other similar folktales the hunter who loses his Swan Maiden and does not fight to find and keep her not only loses her, but his happiness and usually dies a lonely death pining for his loved one. This Swan Maiden folktale is a version of a European folktale collected by Joseph Jacobs and published in Europa's Fairy Book.
The male figure is often a hunter and by stealing and with holding her clothing while she bathes wins her for a wife. For some people the stealing and withholding of the clothing represents the stealing of her power and her imprisonment. At the same time the very sight of the Swan Maiden in human form appears to put a spell on the hunter who falls in love with her. He must have her for his wife and when she does find her clothing and her power is returned he must seek her out and bring her back.
In this tale the hunter goes to great lengths and faces great danger to track down and win back his Swan Maiden. This appears to impress the Swan Maiden who readily consents to returning leaving her world to return to his to be his wife again. In other similar folktales the hunter who loses his Swan Maiden and does not fight to find and keep her not only loses her, but his happiness and usually dies a lonely death pining for his loved one. This Swan Maiden folktale is a version of a European folktale collected by Joseph Jacobs and published in Europa's Fairy Book.
The hunter
In the forest there lived a hunter who made his living by hunting the birds and the animals of the forest. He would often set off in the evening setting traps or stalking deer and not return to his home until dawn the next day.
One evening he went to a lake hidden deep in the forest where he knew there were lots of wild ducks that he could catch. As the sun was going down he heard the air reverberate to the sound of powerful wings. Thinking a flock of ducks was coming he quickly hid in the undergrowth and waited.
In the forest there lived a hunter who made his living by hunting the birds and the animals of the forest. He would often set off in the evening setting traps or stalking deer and not return to his home until dawn the next day.
One evening he went to a lake hidden deep in the forest where he knew there were lots of wild ducks that he could catch. As the sun was going down he heard the air reverberate to the sound of powerful wings. Thinking a flock of ducks was coming he quickly hid in the undergrowth and waited.

The Swan Maidens
To his surprise instead of a flock of ducks seven beautiful white swans glided out of the evening sunset and settle on the water and swam to a low bank. To his astonishment they climbed out of the water and began shedding their feathery garments and transformed into maidens. They hung their feather dresses on nearby bushes and plunged into the water laughing and singing.
The hunter had never seen anything like it in his life. All the swan maidens were beautiful but the youngest caught his eye as the loveliest girl he had ever seen. While they were playing and bathing in the water he crept to the bushes where they had hung their feathery dresses and stole the one belonging to the youngest. He then silently crept back into the undergrowth.
After spending the night bathing the Swan Maidens dressed and got ready to leave but the youngest, cried out that her clothes were gone and she could not find them. The others went to help her search. They searched all around the lake until dawn began to break in the east and then they turned to the youngest and embraced her. They said they were sorry but they had to leave before sunrise. They dressed in their feathery garments and transformed into swans and flew off the way they had come.
The youngest Swan Maiden was frightened about being left alone but she knew her sisters could not stay after sunrise. She waved them goodbye telling them she would follow when and if she could, then prepared herself for whatever fate had in store for her.
The hunter watched the two Swan Maidens fly off and then he approached the distraught girl holding her feathery robe out towards her at arm's length. Seeing him approach the Swan Maiden begged and begged him to give her clothes back. He did give her the cloak but refused to give her back her robe, fearing she would transform and fly off after her sisters.
To his surprise instead of a flock of ducks seven beautiful white swans glided out of the evening sunset and settle on the water and swam to a low bank. To his astonishment they climbed out of the water and began shedding their feathery garments and transformed into maidens. They hung their feather dresses on nearby bushes and plunged into the water laughing and singing.
The hunter had never seen anything like it in his life. All the swan maidens were beautiful but the youngest caught his eye as the loveliest girl he had ever seen. While they were playing and bathing in the water he crept to the bushes where they had hung their feathery dresses and stole the one belonging to the youngest. He then silently crept back into the undergrowth.
After spending the night bathing the Swan Maidens dressed and got ready to leave but the youngest, cried out that her clothes were gone and she could not find them. The others went to help her search. They searched all around the lake until dawn began to break in the east and then they turned to the youngest and embraced her. They said they were sorry but they had to leave before sunrise. They dressed in their feathery garments and transformed into swans and flew off the way they had come.
The youngest Swan Maiden was frightened about being left alone but she knew her sisters could not stay after sunrise. She waved them goodbye telling them she would follow when and if she could, then prepared herself for whatever fate had in store for her.
The hunter watched the two Swan Maidens fly off and then he approached the distraught girl holding her feathery robe out towards her at arm's length. Seeing him approach the Swan Maiden begged and begged him to give her clothes back. He did give her the cloak but refused to give her back her robe, fearing she would transform and fly off after her sisters.
Marriage
The hunter was well and truly head over heels in love with her and told her so and asked her to marry him. He was so sincere that she agreed and they married and lived together for many years. The couple had a boy and a girl and were very happy together and she loved her children and her husband dearly.
The hunter had hidden the dress in a place which he thought was safe from his wife ever finding and she probably never would have. However, one morning while waiting for their father's return from a night of hunting the children were playing hide and seek and the little girl ran off to hide from her brother. Thinking she had found a secret place she crept into a space behind the woodwork in an outhouse. There to her surprise she found a feathery robe and took it to her mother asking whose it could possibly be.
The hunter was well and truly head over heels in love with her and told her so and asked her to marry him. He was so sincere that she agreed and they married and lived together for many years. The couple had a boy and a girl and were very happy together and she loved her children and her husband dearly.
The hunter had hidden the dress in a place which he thought was safe from his wife ever finding and she probably never would have. However, one morning while waiting for their father's return from a night of hunting the children were playing hide and seek and the little girl ran off to hide from her brother. Thinking she had found a secret place she crept into a space behind the woodwork in an outhouse. There to her surprise she found a feathery robe and took it to her mother asking whose it could possibly be.

East of the Sun and West of the Moon
As soon as she saw it her mother gasped and quickly took it from her. She told her daughter to tell her father that her mother had flown to the land East of the Sun and West of the Moon. Putting on the dress she immediately changed into a magnificent white swan and flew off over the forest and out of sight.
Later when their father returned he could not find his wife anywhere. He asked his children and the little girl told him about how she had found the feathery dress. She then told him that their mother had said to tell him that she flew to the land East of the Sun and West of the Moon and burst into tears. Her brother also cried and the hunter hugged them both to him and told them he would find her and bring her back.
Taking his children to stay with his brother the hunter told them he would find their mother no matter what and bring her home and that they must behave until they return. Although he was despondent he did not like to show it in front of the children, but he also loved his wife and he was determined to find her and bring her back. With his head held high he kissed and hugged his children reassuring them he would be back soon with their mother.
He trekked for many lonely miles and days through the forest until he came out the other side. Looking all around he could see mountains in the distance to his right and to his left was a landscape of rolling fields and hills. He did not know which way to go but suddenly a sound caught his attention. It was someone calling for help. The sound came from straight in front of him so he followed it and a short distance away he found a very old man lying on the ground who was clearly in need of assistance.
The King of the Beasts
The hunter lifted the old man up and carried him to a flat boulder nearby which he sat him on. He stayed with him and tended him until he had recovered. When he was feeling better the old man asked him where he was going. The hunter told the old man about how his wife was a swan maiden and how he had won her and asked him if he knew where the land East of the Sun and West of the Moon was.
The old man said that he did not know where the land was but he would ask those who may have heard of it. He let out a loud whistle and soon the hunter saw all manner of animals moving across the plain towards them. All of the beasts of the world presented themselves before them for the old man was the King of the Beasts and they had answered their king’s call.
The old man stood before his subjects and asked them if any of them knew where the land East of the Sun and West of the Moon was, but none of the animals could say. He told the hunter that he should seek out his brother the King of the Birds and he told him where to find him and gave him a white stag to guide him,
The King of the Birds
So the hunter thanked the old man and set off following the stag to find the King of the Birds. The hunter traveled many miles over hill and dale for many days. Looking at the sky above he noticed there were many birds flying back and forth from one point which was on a mountain top which the stag appeared to be leading him to. The hunter followed the stag to the mountain and climbed to the top where he found the King of the Birds. The king had heard from his brother of the hunter’s quest and thanked him for helping him.
The hunter asked him if he knew how to find the land East of the Sun and West of the Moon. The old man said he did not know how to get there but would ask his subjects and gave out a loud whistle. All the birds of the world flocked to their king but none of them knew how to find the land. The King of the Birds told him he must seek out his brother the King of the Fishes and he gave him a white bird to guide him.
As soon as she saw it her mother gasped and quickly took it from her. She told her daughter to tell her father that her mother had flown to the land East of the Sun and West of the Moon. Putting on the dress she immediately changed into a magnificent white swan and flew off over the forest and out of sight.
Later when their father returned he could not find his wife anywhere. He asked his children and the little girl told him about how she had found the feathery dress. She then told him that their mother had said to tell him that she flew to the land East of the Sun and West of the Moon and burst into tears. Her brother also cried and the hunter hugged them both to him and told them he would find her and bring her back.
Taking his children to stay with his brother the hunter told them he would find their mother no matter what and bring her home and that they must behave until they return. Although he was despondent he did not like to show it in front of the children, but he also loved his wife and he was determined to find her and bring her back. With his head held high he kissed and hugged his children reassuring them he would be back soon with their mother.
He trekked for many lonely miles and days through the forest until he came out the other side. Looking all around he could see mountains in the distance to his right and to his left was a landscape of rolling fields and hills. He did not know which way to go but suddenly a sound caught his attention. It was someone calling for help. The sound came from straight in front of him so he followed it and a short distance away he found a very old man lying on the ground who was clearly in need of assistance.
The King of the Beasts
The hunter lifted the old man up and carried him to a flat boulder nearby which he sat him on. He stayed with him and tended him until he had recovered. When he was feeling better the old man asked him where he was going. The hunter told the old man about how his wife was a swan maiden and how he had won her and asked him if he knew where the land East of the Sun and West of the Moon was.
The old man said that he did not know where the land was but he would ask those who may have heard of it. He let out a loud whistle and soon the hunter saw all manner of animals moving across the plain towards them. All of the beasts of the world presented themselves before them for the old man was the King of the Beasts and they had answered their king’s call.
The old man stood before his subjects and asked them if any of them knew where the land East of the Sun and West of the Moon was, but none of the animals could say. He told the hunter that he should seek out his brother the King of the Birds and he told him where to find him and gave him a white stag to guide him,
The King of the Birds
So the hunter thanked the old man and set off following the stag to find the King of the Birds. The hunter traveled many miles over hill and dale for many days. Looking at the sky above he noticed there were many birds flying back and forth from one point which was on a mountain top which the stag appeared to be leading him to. The hunter followed the stag to the mountain and climbed to the top where he found the King of the Birds. The king had heard from his brother of the hunter’s quest and thanked him for helping him.
The hunter asked him if he knew how to find the land East of the Sun and West of the Moon. The old man said he did not know how to get there but would ask his subjects and gave out a loud whistle. All the birds of the world flocked to their king but none of them knew how to find the land. The King of the Birds told him he must seek out his brother the King of the Fishes and he gave him a white bird to guide him.

The King of the Fishes
So the hunter followed the white bird for many miles and for many days over the land until they arrived at the sea. On a wide stretch of sandy beach by a nearby estuary the King of the Fishes appeared to him. He told him that he had heard about him and his quest from his brother and thanked him for the help he gave his other brother, the King of the Beasts.
The hunter asked him if he knew where he could find the land East of the Moon and West of the Sun. The king said he did not know but he would ask his subjects and summoned all the fishes of the seas to him. None of them knew the land was, but a dolphin that had arrived late after traveling many miles, said that he had heard that it lay on top of the Crystal Mountain and that it was said to be located near the Wild Forest. The King of the Fishes gave him a white fish that would guide him up the rivers and streams until he found the Wild Forest.
The hunter thanked the King of the Fishes and set off following the white fish up the river that ran to the sea. The fish led him up the river for many long miles and many long days. It took him up one of the streams that fed the river and along brooks that fed the stream until at last they arrived to a spring of clear cold water. From the spring a path led away and into the distance.
The two brothers
The fish left him as it could go no further. The hunter followed the path as he could think of no better course of action and eventually came to a crossroads. There to his surprise were two men engaged in a heated argument. They saw him coming and ran towards him imploring him to settle the dispute.
The hunter asked them what the problem was. They told him they were two brothers and that their father had just passed away and had left them the only things he had of value in the world. There was a pair of shoes that would carry the wearer through the air to any place in the world they desired and there was a cap that makes anyone who wears it invisible. Then the elder of the two said that he being the elder should have the right to choose first, but the younger declared that he had the right to the shoes as was the right of the younger. They asked what he thought and to decide for them.
The hunter thought for a long time and then told them that he could not decide and suggested that they race each other to a tree in the distance and then run back to the hunter who would stand with the cap in his right hand and the shoes in his left. The first one back would simply take their choice from either hand as they came back. They clapped their hands and agreed that this was a splendid idea.
The hunter lined them up and set them off running towards the tree in the distance and off they went. When they had almost reached the tree he quickly fitted the cap on his head and slipped the shoes on his feet, wishing himself in the land East of the Sun and West of the Moon and off he went.
He flew over mountains and glens and he flew over deserts for days and days. At last he saw a vast forest below and he drew heart thinking this must the Wild Forest, and it was. He flew over it coming to land on the flat top of the Crystal Mountain where the dolphin had said was the land East of the Sun and West of the Moon.
The land East of the Sun, West of the Moon
When he set foot on the ground he took his cap and shoes off and asked people working in nearby fields what this land was called. They told him it was the land East of the Sun and West of the Moon and their king had seven swan maidens for daughters who transformed themselves into swans. The hunter was pleased because now he was sure he was on the right track. He asked to be taken to the king as he had come to claim his wife who was the King's youngest daughter.
The king agreed to see him and was taken before him. The hunter told the king he had come to claim his youngest daughter who was his wife and the mother of his children and told him of how they had met. The king looked at him gravely and told that he would bring his daughters in to stand before him and if he could choose the right one he would know he was telling the truth and could claim her.
The hunter’s choice
The king called for his daughters who came and stood before the hunter in their white feathery swan dresses. They all looked the same but the hunter knew that his wife used to sew and repair all the clothes for the family and her right forefinger carried the marks of the needle. So he held each of their right hands until he found the hand that had sown for his family and claimed her. The king told her he had chosen correctly and gave her to him and also very many great and valuable presents.
A happy reunion
The king gave them an escort from the land East of the Sun and West of the Moon down the Crystal Mountain and across the vast reaches of land until they arrived home. They called into the hunter's brother and reunited with their children who were greatly pleased to see them and it was indeed a happy reunion and lived happily as a family for the rest of their lives.
What do you think?
For those who would marry a Swan Maiden the warning is that to keep her you must be prepared to fight for her. As always I urge the reader to make up their own mind.
What do you think?
© 26/07/2015 zteve t evans
So the hunter followed the white bird for many miles and for many days over the land until they arrived at the sea. On a wide stretch of sandy beach by a nearby estuary the King of the Fishes appeared to him. He told him that he had heard about him and his quest from his brother and thanked him for the help he gave his other brother, the King of the Beasts.
The hunter asked him if he knew where he could find the land East of the Moon and West of the Sun. The king said he did not know but he would ask his subjects and summoned all the fishes of the seas to him. None of them knew the land was, but a dolphin that had arrived late after traveling many miles, said that he had heard that it lay on top of the Crystal Mountain and that it was said to be located near the Wild Forest. The King of the Fishes gave him a white fish that would guide him up the rivers and streams until he found the Wild Forest.
The hunter thanked the King of the Fishes and set off following the white fish up the river that ran to the sea. The fish led him up the river for many long miles and many long days. It took him up one of the streams that fed the river and along brooks that fed the stream until at last they arrived to a spring of clear cold water. From the spring a path led away and into the distance.
The two brothers
The fish left him as it could go no further. The hunter followed the path as he could think of no better course of action and eventually came to a crossroads. There to his surprise were two men engaged in a heated argument. They saw him coming and ran towards him imploring him to settle the dispute.
The hunter asked them what the problem was. They told him they were two brothers and that their father had just passed away and had left them the only things he had of value in the world. There was a pair of shoes that would carry the wearer through the air to any place in the world they desired and there was a cap that makes anyone who wears it invisible. Then the elder of the two said that he being the elder should have the right to choose first, but the younger declared that he had the right to the shoes as was the right of the younger. They asked what he thought and to decide for them.
The hunter thought for a long time and then told them that he could not decide and suggested that they race each other to a tree in the distance and then run back to the hunter who would stand with the cap in his right hand and the shoes in his left. The first one back would simply take their choice from either hand as they came back. They clapped their hands and agreed that this was a splendid idea.
The hunter lined them up and set them off running towards the tree in the distance and off they went. When they had almost reached the tree he quickly fitted the cap on his head and slipped the shoes on his feet, wishing himself in the land East of the Sun and West of the Moon and off he went.
He flew over mountains and glens and he flew over deserts for days and days. At last he saw a vast forest below and he drew heart thinking this must the Wild Forest, and it was. He flew over it coming to land on the flat top of the Crystal Mountain where the dolphin had said was the land East of the Sun and West of the Moon.
The land East of the Sun, West of the Moon
When he set foot on the ground he took his cap and shoes off and asked people working in nearby fields what this land was called. They told him it was the land East of the Sun and West of the Moon and their king had seven swan maidens for daughters who transformed themselves into swans. The hunter was pleased because now he was sure he was on the right track. He asked to be taken to the king as he had come to claim his wife who was the King's youngest daughter.
The king agreed to see him and was taken before him. The hunter told the king he had come to claim his youngest daughter who was his wife and the mother of his children and told him of how they had met. The king looked at him gravely and told that he would bring his daughters in to stand before him and if he could choose the right one he would know he was telling the truth and could claim her.
The hunter’s choice
The king called for his daughters who came and stood before the hunter in their white feathery swan dresses. They all looked the same but the hunter knew that his wife used to sew and repair all the clothes for the family and her right forefinger carried the marks of the needle. So he held each of their right hands until he found the hand that had sown for his family and claimed her. The king told her he had chosen correctly and gave her to him and also very many great and valuable presents.
A happy reunion
The king gave them an escort from the land East of the Sun and West of the Moon down the Crystal Mountain and across the vast reaches of land until they arrived home. They called into the hunter's brother and reunited with their children who were greatly pleased to see them and it was indeed a happy reunion and lived happily as a family for the rest of their lives.
What do you think?
For those who would marry a Swan Maiden the warning is that to keep her you must be prepared to fight for her. As always I urge the reader to make up their own mind.
What do you think?
© 26/07/2015 zteve t evans
References and Attributions
Copyright July 26, 2015 zteve t evans
Copyright July 26, 2015 zteve t evans