Selkies
Origins and Folklore
Selkies are mythological creatures found in Scottish, Irish, and Faroese tales. They are said to live as seals in the sea but shed their skin to become human on land. The legend is common among the coastal and fishing communities of Scotland and Ireland and is part of a larger body of tales covering therianthropes, creatures that can change between human and animal form.
Description
Selkies are often described as being very attractive in their human form, and they often have great seductive powers over human beings. According to some versions of the myth, they must return to their seal form after a certain amount of time, usually seven years, and can only assume human form again if they can retrieve their seal skins. In other versions, they can choose to remain in human form until they decide to return to the sea, at which point they must find and put on their seal skins.
Legends and Stories
There are many stories and legends about selkies. One of the most common themes involves a selkie woman being found by a man who takes her seal skin, forcing her to marry him and live with him as a human. Without her skin, she is unable to return to the sea. Often, the story ends tragically when the selkie woman finds her skin and returns to the sea, leaving her husband and children behind.
Another common theme in selkie folklore is that of a human woman who falls in love with a selkie man. In these stories, the woman must shed seven tears into the sea to summon the selkie man. However, like the tales of selkie women, these stories often end in heartbreak.
Cultural Significance
Selkie legends are deeply ingrained in the cultures where they originate. They are often used as a metaphor for the wild and untamed spirit, the desire for freedom, and the pain of unrequited love. They also highlight the close relationship between these coastal communities and the sea, reflecting both their dependence on and fear of the ocean.
In Popular Culture
Selkies have been featured in many forms of modern media and popular culture. They appear in literature, films, television shows, and even video games. Some notable examples include the 2009 film "The Secret of Kells", the 2014 film "Song of the Sea", and the book "The Folk Keeper" by Franny Billingsley.