Old woman woke early to go to market even though it was still dark. She packed her basket with eggs and cream and butter covered them with a checked cloth and then went off through the empty lanes.

Over the hills in silver moonlight she saw a running hare – zigging and zagging chased by an unseen hunter. The hare stopped in front of the old woman and stared with wide eyes. The Old Woman reached down and picked up the hare and tucked it into the basket under the checked cloth.

A wind from the north rose cold and biting. The blast of horn. The baying of hounds. The Wild Hunt surged around the old woman, the rider with curved horns and eyes of flame and burning.

Old Woman I hunt the hare. Which way did she go?

The stare was hard and filled with power but the old woman held her fear hidden and pointed to the west.

Are you sure?

Then the whip cracked with lightening and off howling went the pack.

The night’s peace returned, moon light silver and the old woman breathed deep and opened her basket. Out jumped not a hare but a young woman beautiful in the moon light.

Thank you your courage has saved me and the world. If the fiery hunter had caught me then there would be no dawn this equinox and no return of the light for the year.

She bent down and plucked a celandine

From now all will go well with you all manner of things will go well

The spirit turned to the east and faded into the bright glow of dawn, the first rays of sunlight on the Spring equinox. And indeed all did go well and people said that her eggs when cracked open had a yolk inside that was as bright and golden as the dawning sun.

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Adapted from Telling the Seasons Martin Maudsley, 2022

https://thehistorypress.co.uk/publication/telling-the-seasons/

A wonderful resource!