On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends Free

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From before the dawn of history, the early ancestors of the people we now know as the Scots, built impressive monuments which have caught the imagination of those who have followed in their wake. Stone circles, chambered cairns, brochs and vitrified forts stir within us something primeval and stories have been born from their mystical qualities. Scottish myths and legends have drawn their inspiration from many sources. Every land has its tales of dragons, but Scotland is an island country, bound to the sea. Cierein Croin, a gigantic sea serpent is said to be the largest creature ever. Yes, Nessie is classified as a dragon although she may be a member of that legendary species, the each-uisge or water horse. However, the cryptozoologists will swear that she is a leftover plesiosaurus. The Dalriadan Scots shared more than the Gaelic tongue with their trading partners in Ireland. They were great storytellers and had a culture rich in tales of heroes and mythical creatures. Many of the similarities between Irish and Scottish folklore can be accounted for by their common Celtic roots. Tales of Finn On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends Cumhall and his warrior band, the Fianna are as commonplace on the Hebrides as in Ireland. Many of the myths centre around the cycle of nature and the passing of the seasons with the battle between light and darkness, summer and winter. It was the belief that the Cailleach or Carlinthe hag goddess Beira, the Queen of Winter, had the country gripped in her power during the winter months when she washed her plaid in the Atlantic waters thus creating the mighty whirlpool, Corryvrecken. Once she had finished washing, she laid the pure white cloth over the mountains as a blanket of snow. It is thought that the myth behind the Cailleach is a remnant of a prehistoric belief in an Earth Mother Goddess who created the earth along with her eight sisters. It is thought that the cyclical rule of the Goddesses gave the ancient peoples a way to interpret the turning of the Wheel of the year. Then there are many of the regional myths and legends which focus on a local landmark or historic event. There are fire festivals whose origins are lost in the mists of time and hail back to the days before Christianity reached British shores. Who knows, if you hang around long enough of a dark night you might encounter one of these creatures:. Sometimes mistaken for a sea ghost, the Ashrays are unable to live on land and can only be On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends under water. They can be male or female, and resemble humans in their late teens or early twenties. The best time to On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends for an Ashray is in the dead of night for they are completely nocturnal. When it has been seen, it is described as taking the form of a man or beast and sometimes a greyhound dog running between large stones. The clothing she washes takes different forms depending upon the legend. Sometimes it is burial shrouds and in others, it is the bloodstained clothing of those who will soon die. Unlike the Irish version bean sidhe bansheewho is very beautiful, she is extremely ugly. She is sometimes described as having a single nostril, one large buck tooth, and extremely long breasts, which she must throw over her shoulders to prevent them getting in the way of her washing. Her long stringy hair is partially covered with a hood and a white gown or shroud is her main wardrobe. Dressed in green, she was a small in stature and had webbed feet. They lived in clans in underwater caves and were blamed for shipwrecks. On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends Bodach was said to slip down the chimney and steal or terrorize little children. He would prod, poke, pinch, pull and in general disturb the child until he had them reeling with nightmares. However, he will only bother naughty children. It commonly takes on the appearance of a gigantic water bird resembling a cormorant or great northern diver, but it can also shape shift into the form of various other mythological creatures such as a water bull. He wore brown clothes and had a shock of frizzy red hair and wild looking eyes. However, they do not like to be seen and will only work at night, On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends in exchange for small gifts of food. She is also known as Beira, Queen of the Winter. She is ill- tempered and dangerous and is seen with a crow on her left shoulder. Associated with winter she was reborn at Samhain or Halloween and ruled over winter when she brought the winter snows. She carried a magical staff which froze the ground with every tap. She also guarded animals in winter. As big as a dog, the cait sith was completely black apart from one white spot on its breast. A Caioneag was supposedly heard to wail on the evening of the Massacre Of Glencoe. Apparently, he carried his severed head around with him and threw it at his victims, mostly travellers, to stun them before murdering them. They are said to inhabit fresh and saltwater on the west coast of Scotland. They are usually hornless and dun in colour, except those near the Isle of Skye which are red and speckled or On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends. If the bulls of the crodh mara mate with mortal cows it will improve the stock. The dog was green with long shaggy hair. It was roughly the size of a young bull. According to legend, the creature was capable of hunting silently, but would occasionally let out three terrifying bays, and only three, that could be heard for miles by those listening for it, even far out at sea. One hand emerges from his chest; one leg is attached to his haunch; one eye rests in his head, and one tuft of rigidly inflexible hair grows from that head. They are said to inhabit ruined castles. Legends vary, but they are usually vicious, with red eyes, big teeth On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends talons. Although similar to the Kelpie, they are far more dangerous. They inhabit lochs and seas and eat On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends victims after tearing them into pieces. One was reported to be found in Loch-na-Beist i n the s. The creature was known to drag women and children under the water and devour them. The firth is guarded against the wind on the north and east by tall hills, but a gap allows sporadic and violent wind bursts to rush through, earning the fay a reputation for treachery. It is thought that this might be another manifestation of the Cailleach or Carlin. He was kindly and reticent yet sometimes wild in character but had a gentle devotion to children. Dark haired and On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends in leaves and moss, he lived in a birch wood within the Gairloch and Loch a Druing area of the north-west highlands of Scotland. These malevolent shape-shifting creatures often appear in legends as strong and beautiful black horses which live in the deep pools of rivers and streams in Scotland. Kelpies are known for preying on the humans they encounter. The hooves of the kelpie are thought to be reversed to those of a regular horse. In Aberdeenshire, the kelpie allegedly has a mane of serpents, while the kelpie of River Spey was known to be white and capable of singing. She was a stickler for the traditional methods and standards, apparently. Offerings of milk were made by home producers to appease her. Squalid in appearance as she was evil, the luideag haunted several pools on the Isle of Skye, especially the Lochan of On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends Black Trout. Its home was in On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends sea, but it frequently ventured on land to feast upon humans. A hideous creature, part horse and part man, with long sinewy arms. He had no skin and his muscle structure and veins could be clearly seen. The nuckelavee had an aversion to fresh water. They were dangerous and would devour any animal or beast which crosses their path. When captured, these beasts would grant any wish in exchange for their freedom. Their skins were much sought after as it was thought to provide protection against drowning and to render a warrior invincible. Their burial grounds were said to be found near Eilean Donan Castle. They wore shells and could be malevolent. They are said to come on land in human form where they would dance, especially on full moon nights. Selkies were said to be found on the Island of Eilean Donan. In Gaelic, the word for a selkie is synonymous with mermaids. Trows traditionally have a fondness for music, and folktales tell of their habit of kidnapping musicians or luring them to their dens. They are said to be benevolent. Search for:. Facebook Twitter Instagram. View Larger Image. Dragons in Scottish Myths and Legends Every land has its tales of dragons, but Scotland is an island country, bound to the sea. Nature and Scottish Myths and Legends Many of the myths centre around the cycle of nature and the passing of the seasons with the battle between light and darkness, summer and winter. Local Myths and Legends Then there are many of the regional myths and legends which focus on a local landmark or historic event. A creature of the night. Related Posts. October 19th, 0 Comments. August 22nd, 0 Comments. July 27th, 0 Comments. July 17th, 0 Comments. June 25th, 0 Comments. Leave A Comment Cancel reply Comment. Go to Top. 10 Scottish Urban Legends You Need to Know

Here are some of the myths and legends that visitors still hear whispered in the green rolling hills of Scotland. Bean-Nighe is the Scottish Gaelic for 'washer woman'. This is a Scottish fairy tale seen as an open of death. It is said she can be found by streams of pools washing the clothes of those who are about to die. Selkies are shape-shifting creatures that can fake the forms of seals and beautiful people. In some myths, they are gentle creatures that dance in the moonlight on beaches, but in others, they seek unsatisfied people to seduce whether they are married or not. Normally werewolves are horribly gruesome creatures that hunt humans in the night by the light of the full moon. However, the Scottish version On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends a bit different. The Wulver is said to have the head of a wolf and the body of a man. It is also a kind creature. The story On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends it, the Wulver even leaves fish on the windowsills of poor families' houses. Nobody is sure if Alexander 'Sawney' Bean ever actually existed. And if he did, if he was really a cannibal. That's right you read correctly. Legend has it that, during either the 15th century or late 16th century, the Beans took up residence in a cave commonly believed to be Bennane Cave on the Ayrshire coast. As the family grew, some grandchildren were suspected to be the product of incest, he and his family are said to have eaten over 1, people. Eventually, the Bean family was chased off by locals and since then their whereabouts were unknown. Kelpies can take the shape of beautiful horses that appear near rivers and lakes. They are said to be identifiable by their On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends manes and are usually gray or white. It is said they are so beautiful that people cannot help but touch them and even climb onto their backs. At which point the Kelpies go back to the water, taking their riders down to a watery death. Yes, yes, Merlin is mainly a Welsh-English story. But there is evidence that Merlin, the character or at least the person the character was based on, made it to Scotland at some point. In the early origins of Merlin's story, where fact and fiction are nearly impossible to separate, he mostly likely appears ar Myrddin the bard to Gwenddoleu, the king of Welsh-speaking territories of southern Scotland and northern England. In A. Gwenddoleu is killed in battle and Myrddin, driven mad by grief and the carnage of the battle, leaves for the south of Scotland where his visions and predictions earn him a reputation. Eventually, this reputation catches the eye on one St. Kentigern, also known as St. He and Myrddin met several times and the saint is stunned by his premonitions. In some versions of the story, Myrddin dies a gruesome bloody death, in others, he lives immortally. So who knows, if you wonder around the south of Scotland long enough you might just stumble across an ancient wizard. One thing Scotland is not lacking in is ghosts stories. They have massacred families in Glen Coe, plague-ridden children in Edinburgh, mad witch hunts, and everything in between. These blue skinned creatures are said to swim right below the surface of the water between Lewis and the Scottish mainland looking for boats to sink and sailors to drown. Some say the Blue Men live underwater in a clan system. The origin of the Blue Men legend is unclear but is possibly has roots from Moorish slaves marooned in Ireland in the 9th century by Viking pirates and slave traders. And of course, the Loch Ness Monster. Loch Ness is a long, narrow, lake, it is the second largest loch, or lake, with the surface aria in Scotland and the largest with sheer volume in Scotland. The fist sighting was in A. He had asked his servant to wade out into the lock to get his boat. His servant was half-way there when St. Columba saw a huge monster swimming towards the servant ready to attack. He stopped by telling it 'Go not further, nor touch the man! Go back!. Since then no reported sightings have been violent. Be careful though, with ever 'official' Nessie sighting there are three faked photos. And if you do choose to go to Loch Ness to look for the famed sea monster, be sure to enjoy the sights, it is a truly beautiful place. Coffee, for billions of people, is one of the only things that can On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends us out of bed after hitting snooze a time or twoespecially in Because, if we're being honest, is there anything that beats a quality cup of coffee on those mornings when all we wanted to do is roll over and go back to sleep? The answer is no. And if you're headed to a coffee shop to pick up your caffeinated beverage, you don't want to sleep on the On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends coffee drinks in America. According to LiveShopper Sassie's Coffee On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends survey, when it comes to chain coffee shops, there are definitely preferred spots you'll want to hit up for your go-to order — whether you order the classic, frozen, or flavored coffee, an espresso, tea, or other. To figure out the hot spots, 1, coffee On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends across the United States took to LiveShopper's mobile app, PrestoShopperto answer various questions about their coffee drinking habits and preferences. In On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends, these survey respondents got money back for their coffee — something any user who downloads the app can do as well yes, even you. Halloween is going to On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends pretty different, but that doesn't mean the ghost stories have to social distance themselves. In fact, after a year like this one, what's a few more horror stories to add to the mix? If you and your partner dare, this boo-zy drinking game will definitely add a little spook into your All Hallows' Eve plans. Think you're brave enough to share your scariest dating stories with your pumpkin this October 31? You've come to the right spot. The general election on Tuesday, November 3,will decide not only the next president of the United States but also which political party controls the House of Representatives and the Senate. Young and first-time voters will play a crucial part in determining the result. For all the young professionals, parents, and students out there who've been working, learning, or even teaching remote — has likely been the longest year of your life. If you didn't know sorrywe've been locked down for over days now, and chances are, you are ready for it to be OVER. Like On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends self-proclaimed beauty guru and product junkie, I've been obsessed with my hair and hair products for decades. For me, the goal has always been to transform my dry, brittle strands into thick, shiny, and silky ones. For that reason, I've spent a lot of time and money on styling and heat products that have, at times, made my hair look great at the expense of excess product buildup and heat damage. When it comes to coffee, everyone has different criteria for what goes into their "perfect cup. One survey found that the state you're from or the one you live in now may play a part in determining how much of a coffee snob you actually are. LiveShopper Sassie, the company behind this Coffee Project survey, received input from 1, coffee drinkers via their mobile app, PrestoShopperto ask various questions about their coffee drinking habits and preferences. Remember when thin eyebrows were in? Unfortunately, me too. If you've over-tweezed your eyebrows, you know how much of a painful and slow process it is to get them back to a "normal" shape — let alone trying to keep up with the newest trends that seem to come and go every other month. But, what does that look like nowadays? A defined, thicker brow which, I will admit, takes a lot of time and practice to perfect. Drexel already has a weird quarter term system, so classes began at the end of September. All undergraduate classes are online, either synchronous or asynchronous. However, most graduate classes are still in-person. As of October 19th, Drexel has 14 active cases 13 students and 1 On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends. There has been a total of cases in the Drexel community students and 9 employees. This semester has been pretty rough for most students. Online classes may have some perks, but overall it's often harder to learn and remember the material. CofC just finished midterms and every student I know feels burned out. This is a very frustrating feeling and it feels like things will never return to the way they were. Remember to go easy on yourself and just do your best. Sometimes it feels like you have so many assignments you don't even know when to start. When I feel like this, I start with a list! Write out all the assignments due that week and put the exact due date down to the time. After everything is written out, you can prioritize the assignments and decide what to work on first. I find that once everything is clearly written out for me to see, I am a lot less overwhelmed. We've all been in that position where we are cramming the night before an exam with hours and hours of studying and rewriting notes. This study method is not efficient if you don't take breaks! You're more likely to retain the information if you give yourself about a 5-minute On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends every hour. I always make sure to stand up and stretch or take a little lap around the library at this time. Some people love doing their work from the comfort of their bed and some people just are not able to focus. Something I learned this week is that it's actually really bad to do homework and online class from your bed. Your bedroom should be the place where you feel relaxed and forget about stress. Your place for rest and sleep should not be the same place you do work. You will start to have negative feelings towards your room and it can even mess up your sleep pattern. Sometimes I go to bed at a reasonable hour and On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends nights I'm up until 4 a. On the Trail of Scotland's Myths and Legends by Stuart McHardy

When we think of myths and legends, our minds naturally conjure up images of Bloody Mary, The Bogey Man, vampires, werewolves, and any other usual suspects from lazily written horror movies. While the details of these fables are often fascinating, it's fair to say that the horror community is so saturated in the same tales that we have all heard time and time again, while other stories are missing their chance to shine. Growing up in Scotland, a country steeped in fascinating history and culture, it was common for me to hear paranormal and supernatural stories. Below are some of my favourites. Whether you believe them or not is down to you, but they are intriguing nonetheless. The Loch Ness Monster, affectionately On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends as ''Nessie, '' has become one of Scotland's most famous legends. Over the years this aquatic creature, which is thought to bare similarities to sea creatures from other popular legends, has featured in movies, television shows, literature and even music. The earliest report of the Loch Ness Monster was written in the sixth century A. They claimed to have watched as the beast mauled and dragged its victim under the water, and although while they attempted to rescue him using their boat, he died. Above is one of the most famous pictures of the rare, dinosaur-like beast and although we now know that this photograph was a fake, we are still left wondering if Nessie really is On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends around the bottom of that loch. We also have to wonder: is it possible that there is more than one? Selkies are said to live as seals whilst in the sea however upon returning to land they can shed their skin and become human. Like mermaids or sirens, Selkies are beautiful and they yield great seductive abilities over human women in particular. As legend tells it, many Selkie Maidens have been forced to marry human men as they have stolen and hidden the Selkies' skin meaning their wives will no longer be able to return to their true home in the sea. In many stories when the Selkie finally finds her skin she will flee back to the sea only returning in some cases to see any children, she has bared. The Kelpie is a shape-shifting water creature that inhabits any body of Scottish water. I'm sure you are already beginning to see a theme here, am I right? The Kelpie, much like the Selkie has the ability to adopt a handsome human form when on land however their On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends are always malevolent. They are usually male and described as being a beautiful and powerful black horses who will On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends some cases devour their human victims leaving their remains at the waters edge. In its equine form the Kelpie is said to have the ability to extend the length of its back allowing the creature to carry many riders at once to their death at the bottom of the lochs. For those of you who are fans of the lycanthrope A. Unlike the Werewolf, the Wulver is not a shapeshifter and never has been a human being, nor is he aggressive. The Wulver has the body of a man covered in short, brown, fur with the head of a wolf. He lived in a cave dug out of the side of a mountain and would spend his days fishing and as the story goes he would often leave fresh fish on the window-sills of the poor families. It has now been speculated that The Wulver was just a man after all who may have suffered from a rare disease known as Hunter Syndrome. The Bean Nighe which is Scottish Gaelic for ''Washer Woman'', is a fairy and not the kind that will play innocent mischievous tricks. No, she is seen as an omen of death. As she wanders around deserted streams and rivers she can be seen washing the clothes of those who are about to die. The Mnathan Nighe plural of Bean Nighe are said to come from the spirits of the women who died during childbirth. In some stories the Bean Nighe is describes as having webbed feet, one nostril, webbed feet and she is to be On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends dressed in green. If you approach her cautiously you may be able to ask three questions of the creature, only after you answer three of hers first. If you are brave enough to suck the breast of the Bean Nighe then you will be able to ask one wish of her. In Scotland we are well known for our beloved bagpipes, the haunting sound that was used to unsettle enemies before battle but in this story the sound coming from those pipes is even more unsettling. The scene is set at the caves extending from Grennan to the cliffs of Clanyard Bay, near Stranraer. Locals had believed the dark caves were home to fairies and so no one dared go inside for fear of disturbing them. That was until one day when a piper entered the caves with his loyal canine companion. For hours the sound of the Bagpipes could be heard coming from the caves, the sound slowly fading the deeper the piper got until they couldn't be heard at all. Suddenly, the dog sprints from the caves howling and looking very frightened. In some versions On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends dog is also missing a leg or all of its fur but every version agrees that the piper is never seen again. Some say that on silent summer nights where even the whisper of the wind is muted, the distant sound of pipes can be heard coming from the cave. Perhaps you have already seen or at least heard of the film Sawney: Flesh of Man A. Lord of Darkness but you may not have realised that Sawney Bean is a very popular and gruesome Scottish legend. Alexander ''Sawney'' Bean is thought to have been a clan leader in charge of 48 members between the 13th and 16th centuries. Over his life he and his wife produced 14 children and 32 grandchildren which were predominantly the result of incest. The couple lived undiscovered for around 25 years in caves and only appeared at night to ambush unsuspecting individuals or small groups. Their victims would be brought back to the family cave where they would be murdered, dismembered and eaten. Of course On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends increasing number of missing civilians did not go unnoticed and locals launched searches to find those responsible for the disappearances. Many were innocents were executed after being falsely accused of the crime it was only later when the Beans hideout was revealed. The clan was captured and transported to Edinburgh's Tolbooth Jail before being transported to elsewhere for their executions. It is thought that they were responsible for the mass murder of over 1, people. As always feel free to leave a comment below, I would love to hear your On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends on the above legends and if your believe there's any truth behind them or not. Aye bunny the Loch Ness monster is way to clever for any technology to find it. There will be plenty of caves under the loch for Nessie to weave away from scientists. Of course no one can really say for sure but I believe the mystery and intrigue is what keeps us so interested in these legends and it's what keeps them alive and talked about today. It's not for me or anyone else to tell you what to believe in but I will say this, we have never been able to reach the bottom of Loch Ness and until we do there will always be the question of whether or not Nessie exists. Animal Guides. The Paranormal. Out-of-Body Experiences. Urban Legends. Feng Shui. Advanced Ancient Civilizations. Related Articles. By Darcie Nadel. By Dean Traylor. By Eric Standridge. By DS Duby. By Jennifer Wilber. By Stephanie Das. By Chelsea On the Trail of Scotlands Myths and Legends. By St. By Ian. By Laura Smith. By Anna Marie Bowman.