This folktale[1] comes
from Cornwall where it was believed that two spirits resided. Bucca Dhu was a spirit of darkness and
Bucca Gwidden, a spirit of the light. The tale begins with the old woman living happily,
but perhaps she was a bit too happy. For
in one version she was seen gambling, in one dancing, and in still another, she
was acting “unseemly.” Either way, her
children were embarrassed by her behavior.
They decided to trick her into submission. One night on the way home from one of her
escapades, her son came upon her dressed as a Bucca. The old woman naturally recognized him. She convinced
her son that the Bucca Dhu was coming for him instead. From that day on, the
children allowed the old woman to behave any way she wanted.
The experience shared in this story is
a universal one, for parents often embarrass their teenage children. In their
youthful arrogance, the children attempt to stifle the creative expression of
the crone. They wish her to follow the established social norms. But this she
does not do, although it would be easy enough to appease them. Instead, she frightens them away by turning
their trick against them. Now she is free (as her children are not) to live
authentically without fearing the opinions of others.