O is for Odin A one-eyed king of the gods with two pet ravens — and he’s a warrior, sorcerer, mystic and more. Folklore Teutonic Myth and Legend, by Donald A. Mackenzie, [1912] ODIN was the chief ruler of the gods. He was tall and old, and his aspect was wise and reverend. White was …
N is for Nightmare Stories involving headless horsemen are prevalent throughout folklore, myth and legend. The scariest one, though, is the Dullahan. It is said that none can ignore his call to death for he is the herald of Death itself. Folklore Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry Edited and Selected by W. …
M is for Morrígan Crows. Ravens. Battle. Death. Foretelling the future. This triple goddess can do it all. Folklore The Ancient Irish Goddess of War, by WM Hennessey, [1870] The discovery of a Gallo-Roman inscription, figured in the Revue Savoisienne of 15th November, 1867, and republished by M. Adolphe Pictet in the Revue Archéologique for July, 1868, forms the subject …
L is for Ly Erg The misty glens of Scotland is home to many fae, none quite as terrifying as the Ly Erg. Folklore Illustrations of the Topography and Antiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff by Joseph Robertson [1847] There is much talking of a spirit, called Ly Erg, that frequents The Glenmore. …
K is for Kappa Amphibious creatures have always caught the imagination of surface dwellers. The Kappa from Japanese folklore is perhaps the most famous of its kind. Folklore Ancient Tales and Folk-lore of Japan, by Richard Gordon Smith, [1918] The pond was old and deep, covered with water plants, and had never been emptied within …
J is for Jengu If there is a big body of water, stories of merfolk can be found. Folklore The Element Encyclopedia of Fairies by Lucy Cooper An African water spirit in southern Cameroon beliefs, the jengu, dwelling in rivers, streams, and the sea, is a benevolent and healing force who also acts as an intermediary …
I is for Imp The term “imp” is somewhat general and sometimes interchangeable with “fairy” or “demon” – depending on what you’re reading – which causes a lot of confusion as to what an imp really is. Especially since they appear in different tales with strikingly different behaviours, abilities and manifestations. I firmly believe that Thumbelina by …
H is for Half-Mortal We all know that Helen of Troy was supposedly so beautiful that her face was the one to launch a thousand ships. She was a demigod. demigod n a being with partial or lesser divine status, such as a minor deity, the offspring of a god and a mortal, or a …
G is for Goblin Whether you think of any type of magical creature when you hear “goblin” or it makes you think of mischievous, grotesque creatures, goblins have been around for a very long time. Folklore British Goblins Welsh Folk-lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions by Wirt Sikes, [1880] The same confusion in outlines which …
F is for Fae The High Fae rule Faerie as they are usually the most powerful of their kind. Some also wish to rule the mortal realm and stir up trouble in their wake. Folklore Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry Edited and Selected by W. B. Yeats, [1888] THE TROOPING FAIRIES. The …
