Hello... this if my first posting here...
I have found an e-book at http://www.gutenberg.org/files/14788/14788-h/14788-h.htm that was written in the early century describing the legends in Northern France regarding the Christmas Eve 'phenomenon' of moving or spinning menhirs.
Here is an excerpt, followed by an attempted English translation:
Il faut surtout lire les légendes bretonnes. Nombreuses autant qu'énormes sont les pierres qui se déplacent pendant la Messe de minuit, pour aller boire, comme des moutons altérés, aux rivières et aux ruisseaux.
Un mégalithe, près de Jugon (Côtes-du-Nord), se rend à la rivière de l'Arguenon. Dans le bois de Couardes, un bloc de granit, haut de trois mètres, descend pour aller boire au ruisseau voisin et remonte à sa place de lui-même.
Il y a, au sommet du mont Beleux, un menhir qui se laisse enlever par un merle et qui met à découvert un trésor.
Il faut entendre surtout, telle qu'elle nous est contée par Emile Souvestre, la jolie légende des pierres de Plouhinec qui vont boire à la rivière d'Intel - la grosse pierre de Saint-Mirel. Elle cachait un trésor qui tenta un paysan des alentours.
You especially have to read Brittany's legends. Numerous and enormous are the stones moving during the midnight mass (Christmas Eve), going to drink, like thirsty sheeps, at rivers and streams.
A megalith near Jugon (Côtes-du-Nord) goes to the river Arguenon.
In the Couardes' woods, a 3 meters high granite block, goes down to the nearby stream to drink and comes back (up) by itself.
There is, on the top of Mont Beleux, a menhir a black bird can lift, unravelling a treasure.
You have to hear, like related by Emile Souvestre, the pretty legend of the Plouhinec's stones going to drink from the Intel river- the large stone of Saint-Mirel wich hid a treasure tempting a peasant from this area.
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My questions:
Are these legends still told in France? Are they (or similar stories) told anywhere else?
Has anyone located the menhir on top of Mont-Belleux (apparently near Luitre, north of Vitre, south-east of Fougeres in the Ile et Vilaine departement of Brittany? This Pierre Blanc and Haute Pierre is the closest I can find here.
Thanks for all your work on these pages Cap'n! I was just at Avebury in September and could have stopped at that Devon pub where the stone is built into the wall!
Lisa in Canada
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