Creature of the Week: Nix

In today’s Creature of the Week let’s talk about the Nix. The Nix are shapeshifting water spirits and go by a number of other names including Nixie, Nixy, Nacken, Nikor, Nokk and Kokken.

They live in lakes and rivers and stem from Germanic folklore, more specifically in Scandinavian folklore.

Descriptions of the Nix vary and are based on geographical location, which also determines their sex and bynames. In general stories indicate that the term Nix will be male but Nixe are the female version. They are similar to the French Melusine and Slavic Rusalka.

In German tales, Nix are mermen who lure people to water in order to drown them. They can change from human form, to fish or even a snake. They can be recognised in their human form by wet clothing, in particular a wet hem. The female version while in human form, keep their tale and can either be mean or harmless.

In Scandinavian tales, the Nix play music to lure women and children to water. Some stories say they are bad and in others good. While they can shapeshift, their preferred choice of form is that of a man playing a violin. Other notable forms include a piece of treasure or an animal like a horse. Their music is said to be dangerous especially to pregnant women and the unmarried. They are said to be particularly active on Midsummer’s Night, Christmas Eve and Thursday’s. If one takes you, they can be defeated by saying their name as this will kill them. They also teach music if you give them an offering, this needs to be three drops of blood, a black animal, brannvin (vodka) and snus (a wet item) which are then placed into water.

Creature of the Week: Imp

In this week’s Creature of the Week, let’s talk about Imps. Imps come from Germanic Folklore and are linked to Fairies and Demons, they’re sort of an in-between creature. Imps are regarded as Benevolent, and are traditionally harmless, albeit irritating pranksters.

Description

Imps are said to be troublesome and mischievous, with some arguing them as threatening and dangerous. The latter tends to be how you interpret their mischievous behaviour as they like to cause pranks on unsuspecting people. One thing they like to do is switch babies and can cause a person to hurt themselves as a result of a prank. When an Imp does a prank, it is believed they do it for attention, to be recognised by people, although their pranks while harmless are done so out of impulse and often annoying (so people ignore them). Various descriptions can be found describing an Imp as:

Small
Lively
Unattractive
Bony
Have a face like stone
Have large ears
have horns
Have wings
Look like an old man
Are magical
Can attach themselves as an object
Can either have a smirk or have a grimace look about them
Walk with a hunch
Posses wild and uncontrollable behaviour

During Christianisation, Imps went from harmless beings to Devilish. So much so that they were believed to be companions of witches, disguising themselves as black cats and toads.

Creature of the Week: Afanc

Let’s talk about the Afanc, or Addanc. The Afanc exists in Welsh mythology and is simply a lake living creature.

Description

Often described as a demon or monster in appearance, the Afanc has been depicted as:

a crocodile
a beaver
a platypos
Dwarf like
Large in size
Causing floods

The Afanc is said to live in a lake, although the exact one the Afanc resides in varies from story to story, but could be one of three places. It could live in LLyon Llian, Llyn Borfog or Lly yr Afanc. The saying goes if you get to close to water or swim in a lake the Afanc will catch you.

Stories stem from around the 15th Century and like other mythological folklore beings, was used as a way to get children to behave and as an explanation for things science had yet to explain.

In this creature’s case, it was used mainly to explain the weather. When an Afanc thrashes in water it causes flooding. If you should meet an Afanc they become powerless if removed from a lake.

Creature of the Week: Bloody Bones

Let’s talk about bogeymen or more specifically one called ‘Bloody Bones‘. Also known as Rawhead and Tommy Rawhead.

This creature originates in British folklore, in the Lancashire and Yorkshire regions, with stories being documented as far back as 1548. In general ‘Bloody Bones’ was a creature designed to cause fear in children so they would behave.

Bloody Bones seems to have two descriptions.

The first being similar to tales surrounding that of the Grindylow (see post 17/02/2021) where Bloody Bones is depicted as a water demon living in ponds. If a child ventured to close, then the creature would grab its face dragging them down into the water.

The second depiction states that Bloody Bones can be found hiding in dark cupboards or even live under the stairs. Where a child was brave enough to look through a crack, they would see Bloody Bones crouched down on a pile of children’s bones with blood dripping down its face taking children who told lies or said bad words.

Tales of Bloody Bones reached the US through emigration and developed into a distinct being. In the Southern States, Bloody Bones was a companion of Redhead. With Redhead being a skull that bites its victims and Bloody Bones his a dancing skeleton companion.

All in all, this creature is a symbol of tales being told in order to encourage children to behave and not tell lies.

Creature of the Week: Bucca

In today’s Creature of the Week let me introduce the Bucca. A creature from Cornish folklore, similar to that of the Irish Púca and Welsh Pwca. To put things simply, a Bucca is a male sea spirit.

There are two forms of a Bucca, there is Bucca Widen (White Bucca) and Bucca Dhu (Black Bucca). Bucca Widen in the modern world now goes by the name of Bucca Boo and is regarded as being the evil form of a Bucca, while Bucca Dhu is deemed the good Bucca form.

The former Cornish writer Rev W. S. Lach-Szyma wrote about food offerings made on beaches, usually in the form of fish, for the Bucca.

In ‘The Tale of the Sea Bucca‘ a Bucca lived in Lamorna Cove (West Cornwall). He was dark brown in appearance, similar to that of a conger eel with seaweed for hair and could be found either swimming around the area or lying in caverns or on rocks. In this tale, it was believed the Bucca was a former prince cursed by a witch. Local fishermen spoke of being helped by Bucca, in that they would chase fish into their nets. However, fishermen were weary of the Bucca, as they hold a vengeful attitude. To counter this mood they would leave beach offerings.

In the 19th Century, offerings to the Bucca were common place in Newlyn and Mousehole (both in South West Cornwall).

Finally, there has been some discussion that Bucca’s could appear as a ‘Hobgoblin‘ during storms to find shelter.

Creature of the Week: Morgawr

In today’s Creature of the Week, we’re talking about another Cornish folklore being. This week’s creature is a Morgawr, which is basically a Sea Serpent located around Falmouth Bay.

The Morgawr is a modern folklore creature only being sighted since World War 2, after a British Merchant ship was torpedoed. Those who saw the creature described it as being 60ft long with 4 webbed feet, almost looking crocodile like in appearance.

Fast forward to 1975, another sighting was documented of this creature next to Pendennis Point. Witnesses here describe the creature as having a trunk, long neck, and black/brown skin similar to that of a seal. An explanation of bad weather was given to this sighting.

Further descriptions of the creature exisist, which describe it having between 2/3 humps on its back, it’s neck being snake like with stubby horns above its eyes and has spikes all along its back.

Of course not everyone believes in this creature. Many believe it is a hoax created by a man called Tony Shiels, who sent photos to a newspaper causing a surge in sightings.

Whether you believe or not, the Morgawr definitely seems to be Cornwall’s equivalent to the Lock Ness Monster. Or at least that’s what some people say.

Creature of the Week: Nelly Longarms

In today’s Creature of the Week, I’m keeping things short and sweet. Let me introduce you to Nelly Longarms, also spelt Nellie Longarms. Nelly is a water spirit, described as hag-like in appearance with tendon style arms.

She can be found at the bottom of deep pools of water, like rivers and wells, and will grab children who step to close to the waters edge. Where she will drag a child down to drown them.

If you read last week’s post (17/02/2021) you will see similarities with the Grindylow. Both of whom seem to be used in a similar way to the Bogeyman, a story created to scare children into behaving. In this case, not to go to close to water as you could drown.

Creature of the Week: Pixie

Today I introduce you to a well known British folklore being, the Pixie. Pixie’s or ‘Pixy‘, ‘Pixi‘, ‘Pizkie‘ and even ‘Pigsie‘ (yes there are that many different ways to refer to one) mainly feature in South West English folklore, particularly around the moors of Devon and Cornwall.

Pixie’s are generally regarded as a benign mischievous creature, whose appearance has changed over the centuries. In today’s tales Pixie’s are depicted as having:

Pointed ears
Wearing pointed hats
Have red hair
Have green clothing

Whereas in Victorian era, they are said to have had:

Upward pointing eyes
Could be naked or wearing very few items of clothing

While descriptions have changed what has stayed the same is that they are small (almost child like) who like to dance to the sound of nature under the moonlight.

Stories from the Victorian era hold a negative attitude when referring to a Pixie. It was believed Pixie’s stole unbaptised children, switching them for a changeling. If anything Pixie’s seem to be used as a way to encourage families to ensure their children were baptised. That being said modern Pixie tales show a more playful side, with them playing tricks on passing travellers and helping people with housework.

It’s also said that Pixie’s like horses, so much so that they will make ringlets with a horse’s mane. So if you have a horse and wake up one day to find ringlets in your horses hair, it may have encountered a Pixie during the night.

Creature of the Week: Puća

In today’s Creature of the Week I am looking at Puća, also known as Pooka and Phouka. Stemming from celtic folklore, Puća can be the bearer of both good and bad fortune being able to help or hinder ones life.

Description

Puća are predominantly depicted as shapeshifters being able to appear as horses, goats, cats, dogs, rabbits, humans and foxes (just to name a few). When in horse form they are described as being sleek black, with golden eyes and a flowing mane. Whereas in human form they tend to retain some animal like features such as a tail, making it easier to tell apart from an actual human.

While these are the most common depictions, some stories have Puća as being vampire like creatures with a taste for human blood.

Interaction with Puća tend to be in rural and isolated places, with tales being found across Europe in countries with celtic roots. For example, in Welsh folklore their equivalent is Pwca, in Cornish folklore there is Bucca and in the Channel Islands Cramlech.

While notions around Puća are vague in Irish folklore, they do like to cause a bit of mischief. They trick humans into riding on their back, while in horse form, giving the person a bad time through a bad ride before dropping the person back where they started.

For those who have been following my Creature of the Week series you will recognise this behaviour in other creatures mentioned, but can you remember which ones? Let me know by leaving a comment below.

It is also said though that a rider could regain control of a Puća if they wore sharp spurs. Sharp objects feature in a lot of Irish folklore as it is argued cold iron items could ward off supernatural beings, which is sort of the case here but rather than warding off allow for control.

Good Fortune

It is said that Puća can be a positive being, bringing good fortune to you. One story said thet are able to intervene before a terrible act, they basically act as guardians protecting a person from more malevolent beings such as fairies and can even reward kindness.

For example in the story of Padraig, a farmers son witnesses a Puća passing by while in invisible form and offers a coat to the Puća. The Puća then appeared before the boy as a bull and instructed Padraig to come to the Mill at night. The boy obeyed and the Puća kept appearing in the Mill, milling sacks of corn into flour causing the farmer to become wealthy enough to retire and give Padraig an education.

Bad Fortune

While the Puća can be good to have around, not all tales share this view. Some speak of them with fear and caution. In County Down for example the Puća are regarded as short, disfigured goblins who around harvest time appear demanding a share of the harvest.

So to cut a long story short depending on where you are in the world, determines how you see Puća. They can be bearers of good or bad fortune, so tread carefully.

If you have any creature suggestions for me to cover, please do let me know by leaving a comment.

Creature of the Week: Lavellan

In this week’s Creature of the Week we are looking at a creature native of Scottish folklore known as a Lavellan. The Lavellan is a mammal cryptid creature found in Northern Scottish folk tales, particularly in the Caithness region. The creature itself has a number of different names including:

Làbh-allan
La-mhalan
La-bhallan

and is deemed lethal to humans.

Description

Lavellan cryptid is rodent like in appearance, similar to that of a shrew and much larger than a rat. It is regarded as being:

Small
Furry
Has bright eyes
Runs very fast

it’s said they like to live in deep pools of water within rivers.

The Lavellan are regarded as a poisonous creature, being able to injure from 100 feet away using their noxious breath which is deemed lethal to humans. However, tales do give examples of how one may be cured of its poison. Two methods are detailed on how this can be achieved.

First, if you were to preserve a Lavellan’s skin, dipping it in water, this water can be drank and heal the affected person(s).

The second method is to boil a Lavellan’s head and drink the water.

Overall folklorists believe the idea of a Lavellan was constructed as a way to demonise water shrews as their saliva is slightly toxic to humans.