A-Z Challenge: K is for Kelpies

It's time for the letter K. I'm posting for the AtoZ Challenge about Under the Sea Myths & Legends,. Again, I'm featuring a sea creature that takes the form of a horse.

K is for Kelpies

A Kelpie is a shape-shifting water sprite, not to be confused with Each Uisge, the other Scottish mythical sea creature. This one, according to folklore is more demonic than the other one and hangs out near lochs or lakes--not oceans. Like the Loch Ness Monster, Kelpies have a legendary tale from nearly every body of water in Scottland. Centuries ago it was said horses were slaughtered as an offering to the gods, thus creating the Kelpie myth. Other stories say these mystical tales were created to keep the children away from the water.


This beast may shape-shift into a human males mostly but there are some stories that feature a females. When in human form, it's said that humans can spot them by their hooves on their feet and also water weeds in the hair.

Kelpie's like to lure humans into the water and eat them, of course. *shivers* It's said the only way to kill them with a silver bullet which is like the werewolf. Maybe these killing methods are alike because of the shape-shifting component? Who knows?


There some really cool folklore tales about these creatures and others. One book I found was The Celtic Breeze: Stories of the Otherworld from Scotland, Ireland, and Wales by Heather McNeil. This book features many Scottish mythical tales, including that of the Kelpie. Some art from the 18 and 1900s are just as mesmerizing as the folklore. See the picture here of artist, Herbert James Draper, 1913 as he interprets a female Kelpie. Stunning, huh?

Now, these are totally myths right? Yeah, but cool just the same.

Mina Burrows

A-Z Challenge: E is for Each-uisge

I am continuing on with the AtoZ Challenge we're on the letter E! My theme is Under the Sea Myths & Legends and today I'm posting about a mysterious folklore tale about a creature that is part-horse, part sea creature and much, much more. Today's sea monster is....

Each-uisge

These sea creatures are from the Scottish and Ireland folklore tales and involve a water horse with supernatural powers. 

Source

The beast is a shapeshifter who, according to the tales, can shift into "pony, a handsome man or an enormous bird." And they are extremely dangerous. Not to be confused with Kelpie's these creatures can live in the sea as well as rivers and lakes. They are deadly and lure unsuspecting victims to mount them, where they return to the water and drown them.  Yikes! That's creepy. It's best described as a beautiful black horse with "with a greenish patina" and when shifted into human form, they can be recognized by the "water weeds or profuse sand and mud in its hair."

Source

The Scotts take this beast very seriously. It is said each Loch has a Each-uisge and there many stories about these creatures. According to A Book of Creatures.com, one story mentions a group of kids--all girls except for one boy who met up with an each-usiage one Sunday afternoon. It coaxed them one by one for a ride. As each girl mounted, the boy saw the beast's back grew larger to make room for the children. The boy thought it was strange. As the monster demanded he climb on too, the boy ran off.  The girls then tried to get down, but their hands were stuck to the water horse. The creature then took it's victims deep into the loch and the next morning their bodies were found at the surface. *shivers* Disturbing and creepy tale, huh? Yes, but we love it. There should be more stores written about these creatures.

They are said to be drawn to women which is quite laughable when you think about it. If this legend looks anything like the picture to the right, they Each-uisge are deadly, so watch out ladies. Don't get taken in by this sea monsters horseplay. 

Cool huh? The Each-uisge might be my favorite so far.

Mina Burrows