Category: European folklore
-
Balor of the Evil Eye; The Fomorians
The Fomorians, a formidable race that preceded the legendary Tuatha Dé Dannan, were the personification of Chaos; dangerous, raw, uncontrolled magic. They were demons, sea raiders and giants, their very name relating to creatures from ‘below the sea’, or the earth. BALOR’S EYE The leader of this tribe was Balor,…
-
The Nixie of the Mill Pond
A Nixie is a Germanic water spirit. This story is one of the tales collected by the Grimms Brothers. In a time long ago, there lived a miller and his wife, a poor yet content couple whose old mill was their one chance of survival and financial safety. Their lives,…
-
Selkies
Once there was a young fisherman, who lived in a cottage next to to his weatherworn lighthouse. But he was lonely, and despite the love he had for fishing, and for his home, he often yearned for something more. One evening, after working late into the night, he ventured down…
-
Changelings: The Intriguing Tale of Cradle Robbers
Changelings, eerie substitutes left behind by faeries after kidnapping a human, offer a darker side to these mythical beings than portrayed in popular films. Contrary to universal belief, faeries are not always sweet natured. A lot of folklore surrounding faeries actually presents them as malicious creatures that could potentially blind,…
-
BLACK ANNIS
At the end of her hunt, before the first light of dawn had the chance to streak across the sky, Black Annis would hastily retreat to her lair, scuttling away before the brightness could scald her skin. There, she waited some more, staring at her trophies hungrily, claws picking at…
-
The Tuatha Dé Danann: Ireland’s celestial race
In Celtic mythology, the first, most ancient race to inhibit Ireland were the Tuatha Dé Danann, a race of divine beings that bore incredible supernatural powers, and bestowed upon Ireland a wealth of skills and knowledge. Some narratives suggest that they were banished from heaven due to their unparalleled knowledge…
-
A Guide to Faeries
I know very few people who do believe in Faeries. Many are attracted to the idea of them ( or what they think they are). For most people, the prevailing belief is that faeries exist more as a product of our imagination – a fleeting dream easily cast aside. Yet,…
-
Kelpies in Celtic Folklore
Meet the Kelpie, a malevolent water spirit of Celtic folklore. It commonly assumes the guise of a horse and is said to find pleasure in the perilous act of drowning solitary travellers. Appearance and Attributes Typically characterised as a black horse, Kelpies embody both strength and alluring beauty. These mystical…
Ethereal Chronicles 