Scottish Folklore: Kelpie and Each-Uisge

Blog post: https://blairtales.wordpress.com/2022/08/10/kelpies-and-each-usige/

#kelpie #eachuisge #waterhorse #waterhorses #scottishfolklore #folklore #mythology #fairy #fairies #fae #sith

The 5th prompt for #FolkloreWeek2024 today is #FolkloreWeekDepth and I made the water spirit of Scottish and Irish folklore, the Each-uisge (pronounced something like ech-ushkya), which means water horse. It’s a similar creature to the kelpie, but perhaps more vicious, and native more to the seas and lochs than the rivers. This shapeshifter can take the form of a horse and even be ridden on land, but as soon as it sees or smells the water, 🧵

#linocut #printmaking #folklore #EachUisge #kelpie

A sinister water spirit - known by several names in folklore, including Nix, water-horse or each-uisge - taking a boy into the lake. They say children are often enticed to climb onto their backs and then get stuck there as the water creature returns to the lake.

Gutt på hvit hest (Boy on white horse), by Theodor Kittelsen (circa 1890-1909)

#EachUisge #Nix #folklore #WaterSpirit #WaterHorse #art #MuseumArchive #PublicDomain #mastodaoine

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gutt_p%C3%A5_hvit_hest.jpg

For today's chat on #ScottishFolklore, let's talk about Kelpies and Each-Uisge 🐎🌊

Within the unseelie court is the kelpie and each-uisge. These water-type fairies can switch between human or horse forms, and can use both forms to trick humans into becoming a meal.

There is a difference between each-uisge and kelpie, but they are often mixed up, even in folktales.

(🧵⬇)
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#Folklore #Fairies #Kelpie #EachUisge