In British folklore, hares have a long and complex reputation. While hares are generally linked to luck, the white hare is traditionally seen as a sign of misfortune or a warning of trouble. In contrast, the more common brown hare is thought to bring good luck if it crosses your path. This difference between the white and brown hare shows how folklore often gives animals different meanings based on their color and rarity.
The link between hares and witchcraft is strong in British and European traditions. Folklore often describes witches as being able to disguise themselves as hares, or to use hares as a way to distract or escape. Some stories say witches could send their “fetch”—a supernatural double or familiar—into the body of a hare or rabbit, helping them avoid being caught. In other tales, witches themselves were believed to transform into hares, allowing them to escape danger or avoid being seen.
There are also stories where witches could place another person’s spirit into a hare. This could be used to trap someone’s soul inside the animal, or sometimes to protect or save them. The hare’s ability to exist between the earthly world and the mystical otherworld made it a powerful symbol in these stories. This idea of living between boundaries, called liminality, is common in folklore and spiritual traditions, and it highlights the hare’s special place in magical beliefs.
The brown hare is not only important in folklore, but also for its physical abilities. It is the fastest land mammal native to the United Kingdom, able to run up to 40 miles per hour. Its speed, quiet movements, and agility help it move quickly and stay hidden in fields and woods. Because of this, hares are seen much less often than rabbits, which are more common and less secretive. This rarity adds to the sense of mystery and magic that surrounds the hare in culture.
Folklore also gives advice for those who see a white hare, which was considered a bad sign. If a white hare crosses your path, tradition says you should say: “Hare before, Trouble behind: Change ye, Cross, and free me.” This charm was believed to protect you from any bad luck linked to the sighting.
The presence of hares in Britain is also connected to history. The brown hare, for example, was brought to the British Isles by the Romans. One famous story involves Boudicca, the warrior queen of the Iceni tribe. According to legend, Boudicca used the entrails of a hare for divination to predict the outcome of her rebellion against the Romans. After reading the omens, she released a hare toward the Roman soldiers, symbolically casting a curse on them before leading her army into battle. This story shows the hare’s role in both folklore and historical rituals.
The saying “as mad as a March hare” is another well-known phrase that comes from the animal’s behavior. This refers to the hare’s unusual actions during its breeding season, which peaks in March but can last from February to August. During this time, hares can be seen boxing and acting unpredictably as males compete for mates. These lively displays have contributed to the hare’s reputation for madness and have become a lasting part of English language and culture.
