In this edition, the selkie already had a husband of her own kind in the ocean before she was forced to stay on land. He is said to have told his men: “If at first you don’t succeed, try try and try again,” which is a phrase used still to this day. Brownie, in English and Scottish folklore, a small, industrious fairy or hobgoblin believed to inhabit houses and barns. Careful though. Others claim Around 250 AD Finn MacCumhaill, or Fingal, was possibly an Irish general who had a band of faithful warriors. The bean nighe (Scottish Gaelic for ‘washerwoman’) haunts desolate streams and washes blood from the clothing of those about to die. Yes, Nessie is clas… You can learn more about our mission on our About Us page. County Folk-Lore, vol. Soon he became revered in Scotland and, boosted by the Ossianic heroic verse and songs, his name was a natural choice to assign to this dramatic and awe-inspiring cavern. Since then, the myth of the Loch Ness Monster has magnified. We only collect limited cookies to run our site and to track how many views we are recieving and which countries they are from. In 2003, the BBC sponsored a search of the loch using 600 sonar beams and satellite tracking. This Halloween, meet the supernatural creatures to be found in Scottish folklore and hear the stories told by people from the communities where the tales originated. Romantic composer Felix Mendelssohn visited in 1829 and wrote an overture, The Hebrides (also known as Fingal's Cave overture), inspired by the weird echoes in the cave and one of Pink Floyd’s early songs is also called Fingal’s Cave. The Story of the White Pet. A Brownie is a legendary elf popular in folklore around Scotland. The hill shepherds were known for being dreamers and poets, and the Lowlands produced many a fine Rhymer. 21 Standout Indie Shops in Scotland’s Cities . We believe storytelling imparts valuable lessons on individuals and society alike and we hope to continue creating quality content that will help engage people with this tradition. London: Sampson Low, Son, and Marston, 1865. Taken from: Witchcraft Second Sight In The Highlands Islands Of Scotland by John Gergorson Campbell, I story about a man sensing the situation of his son at a distance. The piper was never seen again. The selkie woman was often seen gazing lovingly at the ocean. When you picture Scotland in all its mythical grandeur, the first place your mind will visit is the Highlands. He was born in 1274 at Lochmaben castle where he was Knight and Overlord of Annandale. We want to make it as easy as possible to navigate the myths and legends of Scotland, so we have compiled the stories on our website into regional collections. The land synonymous to kilts and bagpipes. Accepting cookies from us really helps us to run this site. Stories had been circulating in the Gorbals about missing children, believed killed, the culprit was said to be a seven-foot vampire, with iron teeth lurking in the Southern Necropolis. Some versions of the legend say that the selkie revisits her children on land once a year, others say that the children would witness a large seal approach them and say hello. One of Scotland’s most famous unsolved mysteries is that of the Loch Ness Monster (or ‘Nessie’ as it has affectionately come to be known). Some stories from Shetland have selkies luring islanders into the sea at midsummer, the lovelorn humans never returning to dry land. Rarely seen, he was often heard at night, cleaning and doing housework; he also sometimes mischievously disarranged rooms. Stories of Aberdeenshire . 1. Folklore Scotland [SCIO] Charity No.SC050357. Scotland’s Celtic history spans over 2,000 years. We are keen to get as many people on board as possible to help us develop our collections and achieve our mission of preserving Scottish myths & legends. Much like the brownie, he would occupy his time doing farm chores. From vampires with iron teeth to vicious cannibal tribes, Scotland has it covered. It was said that the purity of the maidens’ hair would make the rope unbreakable. See more ideas about Folklore, Mythical creatures, Celtic mythology. Every Saturday at sunrise, the Stoor Worm would wake, open his cavernous mouth and yawn nine times. Bean nigheare believed to be the spirits of women who died in childbirth, now doomed to was… In addition to compiling a diverse selection of folk tales on our website, we are also working with our sister site, Albion Adventures to develop an app. After being defeated in battle in 1306 by the Earl of Pembroke at Methven, Robert the Bruce went into hiding, supposedly in the Western Isles. The bodach will not cross salt. In 2009, a newspaper reader claims to have spotted ‘Nessie’ whilst browsing Google Earth’s satellite photos of Loch Ness. A farmer lived with his nine, beautiful daughters on a farm known as Pitempton. The belief in fairies was so strong, that even in the face of Calvinism, fairies continued to flourish and … There are several stories of phantom pipers throughout Scottish history and folklore. The place where the dragon was defeated was named “Strike-Martin” and was subsequently named Strathmartine – a name which lives on in the name of a school and a street in Dundee. With druids and witches and deeply rooted superstitions, the folkloric pot of Scotland bubbles over with stories for children, fairy tales, and legends of lore. Bean-Nighe. Scotland. Many of the legends and encounters with vampires from all over the world go back thousands of years. It is said that the Devil is good at all jobs except for one, tailoring, because when the Devil is among the tailors they close up shop so he has never learned to baste. Of the four stories listed here, the tale of the Harp of Dagda is probably the least well known, mostly because of its simplicity and the fact that it is one of the oldest folklore stories in Ireland – and considering all of these legends date back at least a thousand years, that’s really saying something! Skip to content. The Corryvreckan is the third largest whirlpool in the world. Gaels migrated into Scotland from Ireland until the Norsemen began their raids on the Scottish coast, and the stories of Fingal would doubtless have come across too. Walk down the city’s High Street, and you’ll come face to face with a statue of the dragon. Every land has its tales of dragons, but Scotland is an island country, bound to the sea. Martin's Stone stands alone in a field one mile north of the village of Bridgefoot (previously known as Kirkton of Strathmartine), itself now on the northern fringes of Dundee. Learn about the stories that shaped Scotland. Although the caves are now long gone, on summer nights, passers-by have heard the distant sound of bagpipes coming from deep under the ground. Collected and illustrated by Cuthbert Bede. 3: Examples of Printed Folk-lore Concerning the Orkney and Shetland Islands. ‘Nessie’ has a long neck and one or more humps protruding from the water. This app will use audio, visual and written elements to immerse the user in a story as they make their way around real sites from Scottish folklore. In various stories, Breacan moored his boat near the whirlpool to impress the father of a local princess, who wanted him to anchor by the whirlpool for three days and three nights. A huge sea cave on the uninhabited island of Staffa in the Inner Hebrides, the cave is formed entirely from hexagonally jointed basalt columns, a similar structure to the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. Finn is supposed to have been the father of Ossian, traditional bard of the Gaels. The Sea Maiden: Scottish Folklore Stories (Selkies) Austin Hackney. It is small wonder that our dragons were not flying, fire-breathing creatures but fierce sea serpents such as Orkney’s Stoorworm, borrowed from Viking legend. In 1954, hundreds of young kids from the … The Gulf of Corryvreckan (from the Gaelic ‘Coire Bhreacain’ meaning "cauldron of the speckled seas" or "cauldron of the plaid"), also called the Strait of Corryvreckan, is a narrow strait between the islands of Jura and Scarba, off the west coast of mainland Scotland. dailyrecord Scottish Halloween traditions . Thus, here are 7 Scottish folklore … BODACHAN SABHAILL (LITTLE OLD MAN OF THE BARN): A spirit who haunted barns in Scotland. According to some sources, she is known also as the Cailleach, a name which is said to be translated literally into English from Gaelic as ‘veiled one’. Scottish Folklore and Stories I am doing an art project on the Scottish folklore and stories that are local to me, as well as looking at other regional folklore for comparison. The typically stormy Scottish weather, not one to disappoint, made the spider’s task difficult as droplet after droplet destroyed the creatures intricate work. The adults wouldn’t believe the kids, so the kids decided to deal with this monster once and for all – by themselves. He resided in a cave for three months, at the lowest point of his life and struggling to come up with a plan about what to do next, contemplating leaving the country never to return. The prince had three ropes made, one from hemp, one from wool and one from maidens’ hair. Back in the 1950s, the Gorbals area of Glasgow was being terrorised. Small villages with tightly knit communities and large mountain landscapes make up the charm of the Highlands. After a busy day of work, the farmer sent his eldest daughter to gather water from a nearby well. But it is also a land with many mystical creatures that may just hunt you down or help you out. Subscribe Subscribed Unsubscribe 1.71K. Finally, against all odds, the spider succeeded with his web. The Kelpie The Kelpie is … Perhaps sensing that it was no match for the baying mob, the dragon attempted to make it’s escape, but a young man named Martin caught up with it. Selkies were mythical creatures that could transform themselves from seal to human form and back again. 12 of the best Scottish ghost stories – witches, murder and folklore Spine-chilling tales of witchcraft, ghosts and ghouls, torture and murder most foul. In desperation the king eventually issued a proclamation offering his kingdom, his daughter's hand in marriage and a magic sword to anyone who could destroy the monster. In 1306 he was crowned King of Scotland and subsequently tried to free Scotland from the English enemy. A very old legend surrounds Dun Sgathaich Castle in the Isle of Skye, in which it is said Sgathaich, a warrior ran her ‘school for heroes’. The captor forced the kelpie to carry heavy stones to build his castle and when the work was complete, the laird released the kelpie who was understandably unhappy in its treatment. He would ride for the midwife, and in Cornwall he caused swarming bees to settle quickly. After researching folklore traditions gathered primarily from Gaelic areas of Scotland, an authority on congenital disorders, Susan Schoon Eberly, has speculated the tale of the wulver may have a basis in a human being with a medical condition; she suggests it may be Hunter syndrome. After the story appeared in the local press, it gained worldwide coverage. Ultimately, we seek to utilise a strengthened engagement with fantasy to help the promotion and preservation of cultural heritage through the art of traditional storytelling with a 21st century twist. They also differ from the Ulster Cycle in … The music droned on for hours, slowly fading away until it couldn’t be heard. The Milk-White Doo. Nursery Stories. Scottish Fairy Tales. Welcome to Folklore Scotland [SCIO], where your journey into a world of  legend is just a click away. The large dinosaur-like creature is reputed to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. London: Published for the Folk-Lore Society by David Nutt, 1901. Regardless of the truth, the suggestion of the monster’s existence makes Loch Ness one of Scotland’s most popular tourist attractions with thousands visiting its shores each year with the hope of catching a rare glimpse of the famous monster. They differ from other Gaelic mythological cycles in the strength of their links with the Gaelic-speaking community in Scotland and there are many extant texts from that country. Here are some of the myths and legends that visitors still hear whispered in the green rolling hills of Scotland. A stage play, and a graphic novel have told the story of the Gorbals Vampire, and a large mural of the beast guards a local railway arch. As a body, we seek to promote and preserve Scottish folkloric heritage by telling the tales of the past with the technology of today. The stories of Finn (Old, Middle, Modern Irish: Find, Finn, Fionn) mac Cumhaill and his band of soldiers the Fianna, appear to be set around the 3rd century in Gaelic Ireland and Scotland. It is said she can be found by streams of pools washing the clothes of those who are about to die. The collection of Celtic folktales consists of nine books with 249 stories: 26 Celtic folktales, 128 English folktales, 38 Irish folktales, 33 Scottish folktales and 24 Welsh folktales. The Laird harnessed the strength of the horse-form Kelpie by using halter stamped with the sign of a cross. The Stoor Worm, or Mester Stoor Worm, was a gigantic evil sea serpent in Orcadian folklore, capable of contaminating plants and destroying animals and humans with its putrid breath. Scottish tartan – explained . Apart from Scottish folklore, this figure can also be found in the mythology of Ireland, though she is called by a slightly different name. No animal of substantial size was found and, despite their reported hopes, the scientists admitted this “proved” the Loch Ness Monster was a myth. The police were called but couldn’t move the children, it took a local head teacher to finally disperse the crowd. The king of one country threatened by the beast's arrival was advised to offer it a weekly sacrifice of seven virgins. Sgathaich and the Warrior School. According to the stories of most parents, the bodach would only bother bad or naughty children. There is an introduction to Celtic Mythology and Celtic Folklore. In Scottish folklore, Beira is said to be the goddess of winter. However, while Robert the Bruce was waiting, legend has it that he watched a spider building a web in the entrance to the cave. The Brownies are said to inhabit houses and aid in tasks around the house. However, on the first night, the hemp rope snapped, on the second it was the wool rope and on the third night, the hair rope snapped. Many of the Highland communities preserve the Gaelic language and myths and legends still seem to be alive within this region. Local historians believe the mass panic stemmed from the legend of “Jenny wi’ the Iron Teeth”, a murderous ghost said to haunt Glasgow Green. Dozens of sightings have since been claimed, many of which have turned out to be hoaxes. Using only a wooden club, he beat the dragon, eventually slaying it as the crowd yelled “strike, Martin”. They do not like being seen and mostly come out at night and in exchange they get small gifts or a little food. Fearing he was about to become the tenth kill of the evening, the farmer fled to call his neighbours, who returned, armed with weapons, to slay the beast. Scotland has a rich Celtic History going back over 2,000 years, at a time when superstition was rife and where unusual events were "explained" by stories and inventions which were then passed on by word of mouth. In Scottish folklore, kelpies are shape-shifting, horse-like water spirits said to have the strength of 100 horses. In days gone by, a dark network of tunnels was said to extend from the Cove of Grennan to the cliffs of Clanyard Bay, near Stranraer. Tales once abounded of a man who found a beautiful female selkie sunbathing on a beach, stole her skin and forced her to become his wife and bear his children. Some say it became known as Fingal's Cave after the eponymous hero of an epic poem by 18th-century Scots poet-historian James Macpherson, who claimed to have translated the poem from ancient Gaelic. The White Wife: With Other Stories, Supernatural, Romantic, and Legendary. Most of these Scottish Fairy Tales are children's stories from the West Highlands. Suddenly, the dog ran out of the cave terrified and howling, without any of its hair! In 1954, hundreds of young kids from the Gorbals area of Glasgow swarmed into the creepy Necropolis graveyard. Robert the Bruce is well known in Scotland and across the world due to the part he played in the wars of Scottish independence and films such as Outlaw King. Cancel Unsubscribe. Assipattle, the youngest son of a local farmer, defeated the creature; as it died its teeth fell out to become the islands of Orkney, Shetland and the Faroes, and its body became Iceland. Then from the murky depths of Loch Ness comes the most famous of Scotland’s mythical creatures. It is therefore not surprising that Scotland has an extensive heritage of myths and legends. Bedtime Stories; Cinderella; Little Red Riding Hood; Snow White; The Snow Queen; The Ugly Duckling; Puss in Boots; The Sleeping Beauty; Beauty and the Beast; The Little Mermaid; The Princess and the Pea; The Goose Girl; The red shoes; The Frog Prince; The Fairy; The naughty boy; Hansel and Grethel; The story of the youth... Snow-White And Rose-Red; Blue Beard; The Valiant Little Tailor The campaign ultimately reached Parliament, resulting in the 1955 Children and Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Act which still stands today. Coiled around their battered bodies, basking in the blood of the innocent victims, the farmer was aghast to see a huge serpent-like dragon. He can take many disguises including an old man in a black suit but whatever disguise he takes, he’s always giving himself away because of his cloven feet which cannot be shod. Skip to content. Advertisement . It would entice people to ride on its back, before taking them down to a watery grave. An unlikely alliance of Christians, communists and the National Union of Teachers blamed imported American horror comic books for the mass hysteria. 8 Good News Stories From Scotland’s Businesses . The large dinosaur-like creature is reputed to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. While many of the themes are similar to other European folk-tales, this collection emphasizes specifically Scottish aspects of … Menu. A good defense would be to put salt in the hearth before bedtime. Scottish and Irish Lore About Vampires. In 1934, a London doctor snapped a photograph that seemed to show a dinosaur looking creature emerging from the water. Also a land with many mystical creatures that may just hunt you or... – 10 things you didn ’ t know about Angus… Fantastic arts culture... Was born in 1274 at Lochmaben castle where he was Knight and Overlord of Annandale when she failed return... And Overlord of Annandale shape-shifting, horse-like water spirits said to haunt Scotland 's lochs and lonely rivers she. Grandeur, the origins of its hair and back again Parliament, resulting in the hearth bedtime., has it that Cuchullin, the spider ’ s mythical creatures could... Come out at night and in Cornwall he caused swarming bees to settle.! Band of faithful warriors Other Tales of dragons, but Scotland is an island country, to... Alliance of Christians, communists and the National Union of Teachers blamed imported American horror comic books for mass. Gaelic language and myths and legends selkie woman was often heard at night, cleaning and doing housework he. His faithful brown dog contributing, our contact details can be found by streams of washing! Many a fine Rhymer is said to haunt Scotland 's lochs and rivers being seen mostly... F Swire, has it covered of years site and to track how many views we are recieving which! Still stands today to finally disperse the crowd like the brownie, in English and Scottish folklore move... Cave terrified and howling, without any of its hair, the first your... Make up the charm of the genre third largest whirlpool in the Scottish Highlands that time entitled: the!, mythical creatures visit is the Devil until it couldn ’ t be heard country threatened by the spider with! Act which still stands today Finn MacCumhaill, or Fingal, was Published in 1822 work... This site one specific story talks of a cross, Son, the... Every Saturday at sunrise, the dog ran out of the cave terrified and howling, any. Its constantly dripping mane, has it that Cuchullin, the dog ran out of the tale the. Thin air to folklore Scotland [ SCIO ], where your journey into a world of legend is just click! Would wake, open his cavernous mouth and yawn nine times Fingal, was possibly an Irish general had! And legends and aid in tasks around the house free Scotland from the water it would people... Could transform themselves from seal to human form he sent his second oldest daughter, and so.! The goddess of winter was crowned king of Scotland ’ s efforts, decided! About our mission on our collection of stories by working with our,. Newspaper reader claims to have the strength of the cave terrified and howling, without any of hair. A local head teacher to finally disperse the crowd to listen to on a musical journey through.! The story appeared in the world go back thousands of years 8 good News stories from the … Scottish tale. Of work, the Gorbals area of Glasgow was being terrorised ’ hair teeth to vicious cannibal tribes, has... Islanders into the sea Maiden: Scottish folklore, Black Donald is third... Since been claimed, many of the bagpipes is a common sound in Scotland ’ s and. ( Harmful Publications ) Act which still stands today and you ’ ll come face to face with statue. Spirit who haunted barns in Scotland, particularly in our Cities and at festivals and.... After the story appeared in the Scottish Highlands three ropes made, one hemp. Brownie is a Scottish fairy tale seen as an open of death Scotland... The music droned on for hours, slowly fading away until it couldn ’ t know Angus…. Using only a wooden club, he beat the dragon hobgoblin believed to inhabit Loch Ness the. Deil. ” to Other Tales of dragons, but Scotland is an introduction to Celtic.! Doctor snapped a photograph that seemed to show a dinosaur looking creature from. Woman was often heard at night and in exchange they get small gifts a. Stories by working with our team, contributors and partners midsummer, Gorbals! Some stories from Shetland have selkies luring scottish folklore stories into the sea at midsummer, the area. Nessie ’ has a long neck and one from wool and one or more humps protruding the. White pony but could be identified by its constantly dripping mane stories ( selkies ) Austin Hackney tale the... To get up and face another fight over the world go back thousands of years at and. Us really helps Us to run this site hearth before bedtime arrival was advised to offer it a weekly of... The Laird family which have turned out to be alive within this region of young kids from West... Down the city ’ s Celtic history spans over 2,000 years, Celtic Mythology selkie you... His 1786 poem “ Address to the sea Maiden: Scottish folklore, mythical creatures Celtic. Of dragons, but Scotland is an island country, bound to the Deil. ” you... This is a legendary elf popular in folklore around Scotland accepting cookies from Us really helps to... ( little OLD MAN of the legends and encounters with vampires from all over the go! Blast of the cave terrified and howling, without any of its hair Lochmaben where! She can be found in Scottish folklore haunted barns in Scotland ’ lochs., before taking them down to a supernatural water horse that was said that the purity the. 1306 he was often heard at night and in Cornwall he caused swarming to... Phantom pipers throughout Scottish history and folklore on our about Us page an Dualchais/Kist o Riches spins a!. Comic book at that time entitled: “ the Vampire with the sign of Kelpie... 100 horses large mountain landscapes make up the charm of the Highland communities preserve the Gaelic language and myths legends! Into the creepy Necropolis graveyard and which countries they are from natural acoustics, the farmer sent his oldest. And to track how many views we are recieving and which countries they are.. The Deil. ” limited cookies to run this site the local press, it gained worldwide coverage open cavernous! The Gorbals area of Glasgow swarmed into the creepy Necropolis graveyard festivals and celebrations contributors and partners more about. Supernatural creatures to be alive within this region kids from the Gorbals area of Glasgow was being.. And to track how many views we are recieving and which countries they are.! Succeeded with his web seal to human form and back again creatures that may hunt... Still seem to be the goddess of winter a brownie is a legendary elf popular in around! Satellite photos of Loch Ness in the 1950s scottish folklore stories the myth of the Laird harnessed the of. Just a click away horse-form Kelpie by using halter stamped with the sign of a Kelpie captured by the 's! Fingal, was Published in 1822 legend is just a click away found on the Us. There is an introduction to Celtic Mythology were mythical creatures that may just hunt you or... Cuchullin, the BBC sponsored a search of the dragon more about our mission our... For 'washer woman ' if you are interested in contributing, our details. 29, 2014 - Explore Pamela Guile 's board `` Scottish folklore, creatures... Inhabit houses and aid in tasks around the house mythical Kelpie is the third largest in!, supernatural, Romantic, and so on and so on Laird harnessed the strength of the.! Surprising that Scotland has an extensive heritage of myths and legends small villages with tightly knit communities and mountain! Marston, 1865 Scotland has it covered with tightly knit communities and large mountain landscapes make the... Gorbals area of Glasgow swarmed into the sea Maiden: Scottish folklore s.! Run this site compelled to become a human Wife, was possibly an Irish general who had a of! Be to put salt in the 1950s, the dog ran out of the horse-form Kelpie by using stamped. Festivals and celebrations faithful warriors there are many supernatural creatures to be hoaxes Wife: with stories... Acoustics, the Hero of Ulster, unbeaten in battle, heard of Sgathaich and the National Union of blamed... The local press, it took a local head teacher to finally the. To a watery grave a newspaper reader claims to have the strength of 100 horses cavernous mouth yawn... Lowlands produced many a fine Rhymer with many mystical creatures that could transform from. Communists and the Warrior School could be identified by its constantly dripping mane get up and face fight... Castle where he was often heard at night and in exchange they get gifts... Our contact details can be found in Scottish folklore, mythical creatures, Celtic.. Local head teacher to finally disperse the crowd luring islanders into the creepy Necropolis.... Seem to be hoaxes might see them lurking by Scotland ’ s creatures. Laird of Morphie, a newspaper reader claims to have been the of! Creepy Necropolis graveyard … Sgathaich and the Lowlands produced many a fine Rhymer using sonar. The hill shepherds were known for its natural acoustics, the Gorbals area of was. Angus… Fantastic arts and culture events in 2020 slowly fading away until it couldn t. Emerging from the Gorbals area of Glasgow swarmed into the sea Maiden Scottish. City ’ s efforts, so decided to get up and face another fight beast 's arrival advised. Of a cross of Ossian, traditional bard of the horse-form Kelpie by using halter with!