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| Okay, so a much of this comes from the middle ages if not later. The fact is, there may be core content in these mythological ideas which stem from an earlier time. Besides, I just think this type of information is fun! |
| Creature |
Power/Story |
| Banshee |
her appearance foretells death |
| Changeling |
a nasty little magical creature left in the stead of a kidnapped infant |
| Leprechaun |
less than 2 feet tall, known not only for their pot o' gold but also for being shoemakers. If you stare and one, and not break your gaze, it must lead you to its treasure. It also likes its alcohol. |
| Pooka |
a shape shifter, it usually chooses the guise of a large animal. Some stories include the creature's red eyes. (A much kinder Pooka appears in the movie Harvey) |
| Merrow-Folk |
Mer-people who can live and intermarry among humans, but always go back to the sea. |
| The Dullahan |
a headless rider on a black carriage lead by black, headless horses. An omen of death. |
| Roanes/Selkies |
"seal-people" who, like the Merrow-folk, would join humanity for a while and then return to the water. (A must see movie on this is The Secret of Roan Inish) |
| Lady of the Lake of Llyn y Fan |
on the first Sunday in August, in this lake in the Village of Myddfai in Wales, the lake is supposed to look like it's boiling from the return of the Lady and her Oxen |
| Bogies/Bwganod |
shape-shifters who like to bother humans |
| Peists |
giant eel-like lake dwellers, like the Loch Ness monster |
| Barguest/Church Grim |
a red-eyed dog who foretold death |
| Boggart |
a nasty little creature who loves to torment people when upset or neglected |
| Brownie |
a general term for magical creature/fairy |
| Dobby |
a hobgoblin in certain parts of the England. Offerings to fairies were placed on Dobby Stones (anyone else thinking Harry Potter?) |
| Fetch |
a creature who resembles the person whose death they are foretelling |
| Gabriel Hounds |
ghost hounds who hunt in packs |
| Gindylow |
a Yorkshire water creature who drags people under and drowns them |
| Grant |
a shapeshifter goblin whose eyes flash |
| Gwyllion |
a Welsh faery, female, who lures travellers off their path. These are very spiteful creatures, so if you can't stay on their good side - then get some iron, which keeps them at bay. |
| Hobgoblin |
a kindly spirit - unless neglected |
| Knocker |
a mine spirit who knocks to indicate a good spot |
| Knucker |
English swamp dragon |
| Nixies |
water sprites |
| Oakmen |
wood spirits, especially in Northern England |
| Shag Foal |
a spirit in donkey form with flame-red eyes |
| Sidhe |
these are the faerie folk, probably vestiges of local pre-Christian beliefs. In Aviemore, Scotland lore states if you come across a local faery it will take you to its home in the hills for a feast, complete with music and dancing. If you partake of the food or drink, you will forever remain there celebrating and never growing older. |
| Silkie |
another term for a ghost |
| Thrummy Cap |
a cellar ghost |
| Tylwyth Teg |
small folk who steal things; they can live in the ferns on a mountain in summer, in the heather in winter and like to gather in the mist; they are infamous pickpockets who replace the victims money with fairy money |
|
| Hungry Grass If you walked over an enchanted section of land, you could suffer from immediate starvation and die shortly thereafter without assistance |
| Puck/Will O'the Wisp/Water Sheerie/Jacky Lantern Whether over bog or solid land, it was a light which would lead travellers astray. No matter how close you came, you could never catch up. |
| Trees/Plants it is bad luck to chop down due to magical protection: Ash Hawthorn Oak Rowan |
| picture of Men an Tol courtesy of Chris Tweed |
