Mother Spindleweaver
"Gather round, and hear the tale of a pair of youngsters, not much older than you, and the terrible fate that came upon them, when they didn't listen to what their elders told them. Brother and sister's who they were, and oh what mischief they did stir. Stealing pies, staying out late; House is left in such a state!
Veggies left upon their plate; Oh how so they did tempt fate! Showing cheek and talking back; oh all the morals they did lack!
'Til one night, the sky was black; the darkness came to claim them back. Both of them they tried to scream; And get out of this nasty dream;
Soon her purpose they could gleam; Their skin it would become a seam! So heed my words, you boys and girls; Unless you listen to your mother and your father, and do as you're told, you could end up just like that brother and sister. And you wouldn't want that now, would you?"
Summary
The telling of the myth changes, as most do, with each telling; but the details of the legend remain mostly consistent - If children do not heed their elders and behave, then a tall, pale woman, named Mother Spindleweaver, will come in the night and steal them away, before removing their skin, which she spins into thread to make dresses from.
The depiction of Mother Spindleweaver changes from region to region, and indeed family to family. In some cases she is described as an old crone, and the dresses she makes are for her daughters. In other cases she is said to be a young, but cursed woman, who wanted nothing more than to start a family, but was left at the altar by her husband to be, and she is using the skin-thread to repair the tattered wedding dress which she still wears.
No matter the details, the message is the same - Do as you're told and you won't be turned into thread!
Historical Basis
The myth itself is so widespread, and is lacking in a variety of details that would definitively tie it to any particular historical event or person, but many scholars agree that if the myth is based in any kind of fact, then it is likely that the character of Mother Spindleweaver was based on a Night Hag. The true origin has been lost to time, however.
In Art
A frankly quite terrifying illustration of Mother Spindleweaver was featured in a widely circulated book of stories for children. This illustration, combined with the tale itself inspired quite a few nightmares.
Mother Spindleweaver has been depicted in art many times over the centuries that her myth has endured, although much like the telling of the tale itself, there as many variations of how she is portrayed as there are artists who have painted her.
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