April 9th is National Unicorn Day. Although the holiday is observed all around the world, it has special significance in Scotland, where the unicorn is the national animal.
What mythological creature has been more beloved over the centuries than the unicorn? Symbols of purity and enchantment, unicorns are loved by both children and adults alike and are integral parts of many fairy tales and legends. For all the roles they’ve played in literature, cinematography, and art as a whole, unicorns more than deserve their own day!
Unicorn Day was created to celebrate these majestic creatures and help adults remember how much more fun life can be when we let a little magic in sometimes.
The unicorn was the symbol of purity, innocence, masculinity, and power in Celtic mythology. The day itself has its roots in Scotland, where the unicorn is the national animal. It is unknown how unicorns became associated with Scotland, but one theory says that it happened after narwhals were spotted there, far away from their usual home in the Arctic.
During the reign of William I, in the twelfth century, unicorns began being used on the Scottish royal coat of arms. On it, two unicorns are depicted having chains around their necks. As unicorns were seen as being such powerful animals, the chains may symbolize that the Scottish kings were so strong that they even were able to tame unicorns. In the fifteenth century, during the reign of King James III, two coins—known as the unicorn and half-unicorn—had unicorns on them.
Early depictions of unicorns appeared in Mesopotamian artwork, as well as in ancient myths in China and India. The Greek historian Ctesias referenced an animal with one horn in 400 BCE. He likely was referring to the Indian Rhinoceros, but he described the creature as having a white body and purple head, with a multicolored horn on its forehead. He wrote that the animal was very fast and that those who drank from its horn were protected from some illnesses.
There have been other legends about the power of unicorn horns. One says poisoned waters, such as rivers, can be purified with a unicorn horn so that other animals can drink it. Because of this, “unicorn horns” became very pricey, costing more than gold. These horns were actually made from the protruding tooth of narwhals. “Powdered unicorn horns” were sold in some London pharmacies until the mid-eighteenth centuries.
Unicorns were mentioned as far back as antiquity—ancient Greek writers believed they lived in the faraway and exotic country of India, which was then largely unknown to Europeans. However, the unicorn was then thought to be a powerful, fierce animal that was not to be meddled with.
In the Middle Ages, the unicorn’s image was based greatly on Bible passages that were thought to speak of these animals, and unicorns slowly came to be seen as a symbol of strength, the purest kind of love, and the pets of virgin women. In fact, there is even a sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding a unicorn on her lap and patting it in Warsaw’s National Museum.
The Christian Greek text Physiologus says that the only way a unicorn can be caught is with a virgin maiden. In that text, a unicorn jumps in the maiden’s lap, and she suckles it and takes it to the king’s palace. Because of this, the unicorn was compared to Christ. According to one other legend, Genghis Khan decided not to take over India because he came upon a unicorn that bowed down to him.
How To Celebrate!
One way to celebrate would be to practice a little bit of Unicorn Magick, there are a variety of Unicorn spells in our Book of Shadows. Or you could visit the Magickal Apothecary and create a Unicorn Protection Charm or Healing Sachet.
Another way to celebrate this day might be to find a fun, fanciful activity. How about inviting some friends over to bake colorful cupcakes or cookies? A quick google search will give you lots of ideas and recipes.
You can top them with colorful icing and sprinkles. Or bring in a plate of them to work and become everyone’s favorite person in no time!
More Ideas:
- Make some unicorn crafts.
- Read or watch The Last Unicorn.
- Read another book that is about or features unicorns.
- Pick up some unicorn-themed clothes.
- Buy a unicorn questing license. Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, has issued permits for “unicorn questing” since 1971.
- See The Hunt of the Unicorn at The Cloisters in New York City.
- Bravely go all out with the unicorn hair dye.
- Be a little more subtle with a rainbow of nail polish or a touch of glitter?
- Too Faced is even selling a whole range of unicorn inspired make-up.
Sources:
- Joyce: Cat Nights Begin
- Ahying: good-vibes
- JustinTyr Rackley Odinson: 4308da299f5ec8508039c68edd6df434
- Krazelna: Day of Hekate
- Krazelna: Day of Hekate
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