Samhain, witches, vampires with claws and the Loch Ness monster's evil twin
Artwork by Jasmine Hortop
Having moved to Scotland very recently, I’ve been really keen to get started on telling some stories from this amazing country. As some of you who are keen listeners to the podcast will already know, I love a good bit of folklore, especially when it relates to landscapes and relationships with nature. So, it’s only natural that my first episode from here was with Folklore Scotland.
It also just so happened to fall on Halloween and, seeing as the origins of the holiday are very much engrained in Gaelic and Celtic history, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to talk about all the sinister creatures that contribute to some of the absolute best folk stories that Scotland has to offer. Think vampires, water monsters, witches, evil fairies…these stories have it all. So if you wanted some spooky stories this Halloween, you’ve come to the right place.
During the episode, we discuss Beira, Queen of winter and creator of Scotland’s hills and mountains in great detail - you can find out more about her and the other characters we discuss on the Folklore Scotland website. We also discuss the fearsome baobhan sith, who I made a special request for this week’s artwork to be centred on. Baobhan sith are said to be extremely attractive women who hate all creatures apart from deer, therefore they hate deer hunters the most. As the story goes, they’ll enchant deer hunters with their beauty before…I’m not going to ruin the episode for you so you’ll have to listen and find out!
We mention a Robert Burns classic poem which is all about witches, and is also very much a lesson in not catcalling! I’d never heard it before and as soon as I’d finished the episode I went to read it, and instantly wanted to share it as part of the show notes. It’s incredibly long, so if you want the full version you can check it out here, but here’s a wee excerpt as a taster…
Ah, Tam! ah, Tam! thou'll get thy fairin!
In hell they'll roast thee like a herrin!
In vain thy Kate awaits thy comin!
Kate soon will be a woefu' woman!
Now, do thy speedy utmost, Meg,
And win the key-stane of the brig:
There at them thou thy tail may toss,
A running stream they dare na cross.
But ere the key-stane she could make,
The fient a tail she had to shake!
For Nannie far before the rest,
Hard upon noble Maggie prest,
And flew at Tam wi' furious ettle;
But little wist she Maggie's mettle—
Ae spring brought aff her master hale
But left behind her ain grey tail:
The carlin claught her by the rump,
And left poor Maggie scarce a stump.
Now, wha this tale o' truth shall read,
Ilk man and mother's son, take heed,
Whene'er to drink you are inclin'd,
Or cutty-sarks run in your mind,
Think, ye may buy the joys o'er dear,
Remember Tam o' Shanter's mear.
If you love this episode as much as me and want MORE Scottish folktales, check out Folklore Scotland’s podcasts and website.