Scottish Folklore and Myths

[LLady]

Red Caps, Dunters & Powries

The Red Cap is one of the most dangerous supernatural creatures said to haunt the castles and watchtowers of the border regions.

In appearance they are short and wiry, with ragged pointed teeth and sharp claws like steel. They wear a red bonnet on their heads, and are generally bearded with wrinkled aged faces.

The Red Caps are murderous, and kill by rolling boulders or tearing at people with their sharp claws. They then proceed to drink the blood of their victims and dip their hats in the blood, giving rise to the name of Red Caps.

In particular they haunt castles with a reputation for evil events in the past. In the folklore and legend of Hermitage Castle in Roxburghshire Bad Lord Soulis, a man with an evil reputation is said to have had a Red Cap as a familiar.

Powries are virtually indistinguishable from the red caps, as are the Dunters, who haunt castles with the constant sound of beating flax. It has been suggested that these spirits are the memories of foundation sacrifices, a custom that was practised within written history.

[LLady]

Boggart

The Boggart is most commonly found in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, its name appears in places such as Boggart's Clough and Boggart's Hole in Lancashire.

Boggarts were mischievous spirits responsible for mishaps and poltergeist activity within the home and in the countryside. They would rearrange furniture, break pots and generally be blamed for 'things that go bump in the night'.

They were often found attached to families and could be helpful within the household until they were insulted in some way. Boggarts had the ability to shape-shift, and sometimes appeared in the form of animals. If offerings were left out for them they would not cause trouble.

The supposed ghosts of people were also called Boggarts, and the word may be have been used to explain any strange phenomena in the past. An outbreak of poltergeist activity on a farm above Oldham in Lancashire was attributed to a Boggart and there are several such stories, some of which we will outline in the future.

Brownies

A widespread name for a fairy or supernatural creature, they were small in appearance and wore brown coloured clothing.

Like many mischievous spirits they were thought to be attached to houses or families and could be helpful in menial household tasks. If offended they became malignant and mischievous, creating poltergeist activity and generally making a nuisance of themselves.

To get rid of brownies all you had to do is leave them a new cloak and hood, they would take it and never be seen again.

The brownies were found in both England and Scotland as far as the Shetland Isles.

[LLady]

Bean Nighe

One type of ominous 'Washerwoman at the Ford' in the Highland tradition.

The tradition of 'The Washerwomen at the Ford' seems to have its roots in Celtic legend and myth. She appears in the Irish stories and can be identified as the crone aspect of the triple goddess.

The Bean Nighe could be found at the side of desolate streams and pools washing the bloodstained clothing of those who are about to meet their maker. In appearance she was small in stature, always dressed in green and had webbed feet.

Although the Bean Nighe was often seen as an evil portent she was not always a portent of ones own death as in the Irish version, and if approached in the correct way she would grant wishes. All you had to do was get in between her and the water.

You would then be given the opportunity to ask three wishes and three questions, but three questions would have to be given truthfully in return, in the form of a traditional exchange between humans and supernatural creatures.

The washerwomen at the ford appears in Wales, Scotland and Ireland but there is little reference to a tradition in England, although lonely pools are often haunted by some supernatural creature. This is likely to be related to Celtic survivals in the fore-mentioned countries.

[LLady]

Cailleach Bheur

The Cailleach Bheur was a blue hag, said to frequent parts of the Scottish Highlands. Associated with winter, she was reborn on every All Hallows Eve and returned to bring the winter and the winter snows. She carried a magical staff, which froze the ground with every tap. She was also guardian to animals throughout the winter, and returned to the earth by turning to stone on Beltane Eve. In other traditions she changes into a young maiden, suggesting the changing phases of an earth goddess. Her sacred trees were the holly and the gorse bush, under which she traditionally threw her staff before turning to stone.

She may be related to other similar figures found throughout Britain, (see Black Annis) possibly worshiped by the ancient Britons. The Irish version, the Cailleach Beare is similar although not as specifically winter orientated, and may according to Donald Mackenzie, 'Scottish Folklore and Folklife' be younger than the Highland version. Archetypal she seems to incorporate the crone aspect of the earth goddess or the goddess of winter.

There are several stories told about her. One story attaches her to a specific place; she was charge of a well on the summit of Ben Crauchan in Argyll. Every sunset she had to cap the flowing water with a large flat stone and then release it at sunrise.

One night, weary from driving her goats across the mountains, she fell asleep by the side of the well. Unhindered the water gushed forth, breaking through at the Pass of Brander creating Loch Awe, and drowning local people and cattle in its wake. She was so horrified by her mistake that she turned to stone. The overflowing well is a common folklore motif used to explain many lakes and lochs.

There are many such crones or hags in British folklore, and they may all have a similar root source. Her association with stone is unusual, and she may have been identified with certain standing stones, perhaps, and this is pure speculation, ones with winter astronomical alignments.

[LLady]

Cu Sith
Cu Sith literally means fairy dog, this is the Highland equivalent.

In appearance the dog was green with long shaggy fur, it was roughly the size of large calf and not unusually it was considered dangerous to meet.

The creature was capable of hunting in silence, and would let out three barks, which could be heard from miles around.

Supernatural dogs are usually completely black or white with red ears, this is the only example of a green dog although green is the colour of the fairies.




Cait Sith
Cait Sith literally means fairy cat, the creature was said to haunt the Highland region.

The cat was said to be as big as a dog and completely black, apart from one white spot on its breast. Like a real cat it could be ferocious if stumbled upon.

It is possible the belief is related to some of the mystery black cats that have been caught in the region. The Highlands are also still populated with the wild cat in some places, they are extremely aggressive if cornered.

[LLady]

Mermaids

Tales of mermaids have been around for centuries, and form a large part of seafaring lore, especially round the coastal areas of Britain such as Cornwall, and the Northern Isles of Scotland. Their sighting was thought to be a bad omen, foretelling storms and rough seas. There are numerous folk tales describing their interaction with humans.

The descriptions of mermaids were remarkably similar from the tip of Cornwall, to the Outer Hebrides. Generally their upper body was that of a beautiful woman with long hair, and the lower half of their body from the waist down, was that of a fish. In many of the classic descriptions mermaids are to be found sitting on a rock just off the shore, combing their hair, singing sweetly and admiring their beauty in a hand mirror. Their beautiful singing brings men into their clutches much like the classical sirens, and the unfortunate victims are either drowned, spirited to their world, or eaten in the depths of the sea. Mermaids Rock, near Lamorna on the Eastern tip of Cornwall was one such haunted seat, the mermaid was said sing the local fishermen to their deaths. Sometimes mermaids are compelled from the water by mortal singing. The Mermaid of Zennor in Cornwall claimed Mathew Trewella as her prize because of his singing voice.

In some tales mermaids are more benevolent, and have the ability to grant the gift of magical powers, but usually there is a still high price to pay. In the story of Lutey and the Mermaid (Bottrell, The traditional and Hearthside stories of West Cornwall) Lutey, a Cornish fisherman finds a stranded mermaid on the shore while he is beach combing. He helps her back to the sea and she offers him three wishes. He chooses the power to break spells, the power to compel spirits for the good of others, and that these gifts would pass down the family line. She grants the wishes but almost pulls him into the sea; only by flashing a penknife before her (supernatural creatures are traditionally repelled by Iron) does she release her hold. After nine years of using his gifts the mermaid returns for him and he is compelled to the deep. Thereafter every nine years one of his descendants was said to be lost at sea.

As well as granting wishes there are tales of mermaids intermarrying with humans and creating hybrid children with some powers of faery. An old story attached to Ardrossan Castle in Ayrshire recounts how a sailor was shipwrecked just off the coast and found shelter with a mermaid in a sea cave. They became lovers and their son, by name of Michael Scott went to live in the castle. He owned a magical book inherited from his mother that gave him some magical powers. Whether he is to be identified with the famous wizard Michael Scott is unclear.

Although most tales describe sea dwelling mermaids they were not restricted to the sea, and there are several examples of mermaids haunting rivers and deep pools. Mermaids Pool below Kinder Downfall in Derbyshire is one such location . The mermaid there appears on a specific date and has a typically treacherous nature. Black Mere, near Leek in Staffordshire was also thought to be haunted by a mermaid. It is possible that the term mermaid was used to describe a wider range of supernatural water creatures.

Historically there has been belief in part fish and part human creatures for thousands of years. The first references to these creatures is in the form of the God Oannes, who was the lord of the waters worshiped at the beginning of civilisation in ancient Babylon. There are several other fishtailed gods, but the classic mermaid known in Britain, is more likely derived from Celtic legend, folklore and local sea lore, in places where people were in contact with the sea as part of everyday life.

There have been several actual recorded sightings of mermaids over the last few hundred years, even into the 20th century, especially in places where the old beliefs die hard. In the North of Scotland Sandwood Bay was long thought to be haunted by Mermaids, reported as recently as the 19th century, today the area has a reputation for being haunted by other phenomena, perhaps related in a way to the older sightings. Although these sightings strain credulity they may be related to the same mechanisms that causes people to see ghosts, black dogs etc.

[LLady]

Will o' the Wisp

The Will o' the Wisp is the most common name given to the mysterious lights that were said to lead travellers from the well-trodden paths into treacherous marshes. The tradition exists with slight variation throughout Britain, the lights often bearing a regional name.

There are various explanations for the Will o' the Wisps, the most general being that they are malevolent spirits either of the dead or non-human intelligence. They have a mischievous and often malevolent nature, luring unwary travellers into dangerous situations. Wirt Sikes in his book British Goblins alludes a common story about a Welsh Will o' the Wisp (Pwca); a peasant, who is travelling home late in the evening sees a bright light travelling before him, looking closer he sees that the light is a lantern held by a "dusky little figure" which he follows for several miles, suddenly he finds himself standing on the edge of a great chasm with a roaring torrent of water rushing below him. At that moment the lantern carrier leaps across the fissure, raises the light over its head and lets out a malicious laugh, after which it blows out the light leaving the unfortunate man far from home, standing in pitch darkness at the edge of a precipice. They were not always so dangerous, and there are tales told about the Will o' the Wisp being guardians of treasure, leading those brave enough to follow them to sure riches.

In many places the Will o' the Wisp were associated with spirits of the dead who could not enter either heaven or hell, malignantly wandering the earth leading foolish travellers astray. Katherine Briggs mentions the Shropshire 'Will the Smith' in her book A Dictionary of Fairies: St Peter allowed a wicked blacksmith named Will a second chance to live a wholesome life on earth, but he lived it in such evil that he was doomed to wander the earth in purgatory. The Devil allowed him one grace, a burning piece of pit coal to warm him on his desolate walk through the wild lands, which he uses to lead wanderers into the marshes. The lights were also seen as death omens, and when seen within graveyards they were known as corpse lights. These were said to light the path of a coming funeral - from the victims home to the graveyard - in the form of small flickering flames. In other tales the light were often said to appear in places where a tragedy was about to occur.


More mundane explanations for the Will o' the Wisp come in the form of marsh gasses - natural methane - formed from rotting vegetation. The gas was thought to sometimes ignite spontaneously forming standing flames over boggy ground. It has also been suggested that the little understood phenomena of ball lightning may have been the cause of sightings.

Some Regional Names
There are many names for what is essentially the same phenomenon, these are as follows:
Hertfordshire and East Anglia: The Hobby Lantern
Lancashire: Peg-a- Lantern
Cornwall: and Somerset: Joan the Wad
East Anglia: The Lantern Man
Somerset and Devon: Hinky Punk
Shropshire: Will the Smith
Worcestershire: Pinket
The West Country: Jacky Lantern, Jack a Lantern
Lowland Scotland: Spunkies
Wales: Pwca and the Ellylldan
Norfolk: Will o the Wikes
Warwickshire Gloucestershire: Hobbedy's Lantern
North Yorkshire, Northumberland: Jenny with the Lantern

Other names:
Corpse candles - related to graveyards and funeral processions.
Ignis Fatuus - the Latin name which means foolish fire.

[LLady]

The Glaistig

The Glaistig was a solitary supernatural being of the Scottish Highlands, with the upper half of a woman and the lower half of a goat, although she was also believed to appear in human and animal form. Her skin was grey, and long golden hair fell about her body. Like many of the fairy races she was often seen clothed in green, in the form of a long flowing robe, which covered her goat half.

She frequented the lonely lochs and rivers in the Highlands of Scotland, and is sometimes describes as a half earth, half water sprite, although in Gaelic her name means literally 'water imp'.

In the diverse and changing traditions of the Highlands, the Glaistig was seen as both benevolent and malevolent towards humans. In one aspect she even takes the role of the Banshee, wailing at the death of important people. She was also thought of as a trickster - throwing stones and leading travellers astray from their paths. In her gentler role she was seen as a mischievous friend to children, and in older stories she was even trusted to play with children while their mothers were milking the cows. The Glaistig was also closely linked to cattle, and in some forms is seen as a herder of domestic cattle, and of wild deer.

Libations of milk were poured for her, especially on selected stones; this veneration may be linked with older fertility customs. The following story has the offering of milk being placed on a holed stone (often regarded as sacred in their own right) and it is easy to speculate that the Glaistig's roots are as a goddess worshiped as a guardian of the cattle - and or the fertility of the herd.

In the village of Ach-na-Creige on the Isle of Mull, a Glaistig served as the guardian of the local cattle. It was customary to pour some milk into a holed stone on the cattle fold as a libation to the Glaistig. This small token was the only payment she requested for her long vigils. A local herds boy - who was widely known for his mischief - decided he was going to have some fun at the Glaistig's expense, and poured boiling milk into the holed stone. The Glaistig severely scalded her tongue, and was so angry that she left the local countryside, and her wardenship of the village cattle for good.

[LLady]

The Fian Warriors


There is an ancient legend that an army of sleeping warriors is waiting in a cave in the Eildon Hills until the day comes when all Gaeldom shall rise against its oppressors. Sir Walter Scott related the following story in his "Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft".
"The story has often been told, of a daring horse-jockey having sold a black horse to a man of venerable and antique appearance, who appointed the remarkable hillock upon Eildon hills, called the Lucken-hare, as the place where at twelve o'clock at night, he should receive the price. He came, his money was paid in ancient coin, and he was invited by his customer to view his residence. The trader in horses followed his guide in the deepest astonishment through several long ranges of stalls, in each of which a horse stood motionless, while an armed warrior lay equally still at the charger's feet.
"All these men", said the wizard in a whisper,"will awaken at the battle of Sheriffmuir." At the extremity of this extraordinary depot hung a sword and a horn, which the prophet pointed out to the horse-dealer as containing means of dissolving the spell. The man in confusion took the horn and attempted to wind it. The horses instantly started in their stalls, stamped, and shook their bridles, the men arose and clashed their armour, and the mortal, terrified by the tumult he had excited, dropped the horn from his hand. A voice like that of a giant, louder even than the tumult around, pronounced these words:
'Woe to the coward that ever he was born
That did not draw the sword before he blew the horn.'
A whirlwind expelled the horse-dealer from the cavern, the entrance to which he could never find again." Scott says that the wizard was Thomas of Ercildoune, known as the Rhymer.

[LLady]

The Banshee

The Banshee is most commonly visualised as a female spirit who wails in the night to foretell disaster, either to an individual family or more generally. The tradition is the strongest in Ireland but many places with Celtic survivals have a variant of the Banshee.

From most descriptions, the Banshee appears dressed in green, perhaps wearing a grey cloak over her wizened body, with long streaming hair and eyes red from weeping. She is depicted both as a young woman and as a hag. Although often described as above, her most common characteristic is mournful wailing during which she heard but not seen.

Many old, long established families had a Banshee who warned of impending death. She would appear in the area around the ancestral house in the middle of the night and cry in mournful lamentation. In this she fulfils the role of other supernatural creatures such as the radiant boy, and the phantom drummer or piper, also portents of death for particular 'noble' families.

In some stories the Banshee still wails even though the family member who has died is living abroad, far from their ancestral seat. Traditionally in Ireland, she is seen as the spirit of one of the earlier generations of the family who has taken the task to warn of impending doom down the centuries.

The actual term Banshee is derived from the Gaelic Bean Sidhe (Bean Si), which means 'woman of the fairy'. In Scotland the Bean Nighe or washerwoman at the ford fulfils the same characteristics, washing the clothes of those who are about to die. In Wales the role is taken by the Gwarach-y-rhibyn , a hideous hag who also haunts old Welsh families

[dreamy]

Wow, what a great post and great info! Thank you, Jacqui; I remember to have heard of the Fian Warriors quite a while ago and had forgotten about them; very fascinating!

[Elly]

Great reading Llady, enjoying it immensely, I had heard that tale about Adrossan Castle but had forgotten about it.