AjkmФоScottish folklore

Vindilovich Maria

Myths & creatures

Scottish mythology may refer to any of

the mythologies of Scotland. Myths have emerged for

various purposes throughout the history of Scotland,

sometimes being elaborated upon by successive

generations, and at other times being completely

rejected and replaced by other explanatory

narratives.

Several origin legends for the Scots were created during the

historical period, serving various purposes.

Because of the movement of people from Ulster to west

Scotland, which resulted in close linguistic links

between Ulster and the west of Scotland

much of Gaelic mythology was

imported to Scotland and

possibly some of it written in Scotland.

He was the son of Cumhall – leader of the Fianna – and Muirne, daughter of the druid Tadg mac Nuadat who lived on the hill of Almu in County Kildare. Fionn’s hounds, Bran and Sceolan, were once human themselves. He is also linked to the infamous Giant Causeway. Finn means ‘fair’ and he earned this nickname because of his fair hair

Hebridean myths and

legendsThe Inner and Outer Hebrides off the western coast of Scotland are

made up of a great number of large and small islands. These

isolated and mostly uninhabited islands are the source of a

number of Hebridean myths and legends. It is a part of Scotland which has always relied on the surrounding sea to sustain the small communities which have

occupied parts of the islands for centuries, therefore, it is natural that these seas are a source for

many of these legends.

Some of the creatures• The Blue Men of the Minch (also known as storm

kelpies), who occupy the stretch of water between Lewis and mainland Scotland, looking for sailors to drown and stricken boats to sink.

• Kelpies were said to occupy several lochs.• Seonaidh - a water-spirit who had to be offered ale.• Changelings - sickly offsprings of Faeries which are

secretly swapped in place of a human child.• Wulvers are good natured creatures, similar to

werewolves. They are said to leave food for poor families.

Religious mythology

Myth is sometimes an aspect of folklore, but not all myth is folklore, nor is all folklore myth or mythological. People who express an interest in mythology are often most focused on non-human (sometimes referred to as "supernatural") beings. There have been numerous groups of such entities in Scottish culture, some of them specific to particular ethnic groups (Gaelic, Norse, Germanic, etc.), others of them probably evolving from the circumstances unique to Scotland.

Forest where fairies live

It is known from fairy tales and legends that these fictional

winged gods can be mischievous and sometimes sinister, harmful

to humans.

In Edinburgh the whole botanical garden dedicated to the charming forest fairies. The atmosphere is fantastic there, and children and adults walk through the woods, finding small elements of fairy tales - fairy houses and other interesting objects.

The villagers were afraid of magical creatures, so always tried to cajole them. They were sure that if they establish contact with the fairies, patrons of fire, water and other natural forces, the fairies would protect their homes.

Loch Ness Monster

The first sighting of the Loch Ness Monster was in the River Ness in 565 AD the Irish monk Saint Columba was staying in the land of the Picts with his companions when he came across the locals burying a man by the River Ness. They explained that the man had been swimming the river when he was attacked by a "water beast" that had mauled him and dragged him under. They tried to rescue him in a boat, but were able only to drag up his corpse. Hearing this, Columba stunned the Picts by sending his follower Luigne moccu Min to swim across the river. The beast came after him, but Columba made the sign of the cross and commanded: "Go no further. Do not touch the man. Go back at once. The beast immediately halted as if it had been "pulled back with ropes" and fled in terror, and both Columba's men and the pagan Picts praised God for the miracle.