Fascination Folklore: Kelpies
Our first Fascinating Folklore comes from the forbidding lochs of Scotland and is one of the most common Water Spirits that are reported. The Kelpie or Each-Uisge in Gaelic is a malevolent water spirit. They are shapeshifters who are usually seen in human or equine form. The name is thought to be connected to the Gaelic “Calipeach” which means colt.
As equines, they are reportedly seen as beautiful strong black horses, with telltale backwards hooves. They may be wearing a silver bridle, but they always have an enchanting draw. They like to tempt children to climb onto their backs and this is where the horror begins.
Once on the Kelpie's back, your skin starts to meld into their beautiful midnight coats, meaning there is no escape… some of the good endings of the tales involve a child having to cut off their fingers or hand… if they are lucky enough to have a knife on them. For the unfortunate souls who haven’t realised their mistake, the Kelpie will take off in a sprint into the water drowning their victims. They then devour the victim and throw out the entrails on the coastline. This is a typical sign of a Kelpie killing.
They can be just as cunning in their human forms, usually male, with seaweed or flowers in their always damp hair. They may also be wearing a silver necklace, this is their bridle and the key to controlling the Kelpie. The Kelpie has the strength of 10 regular horses, leading to people trying to control a Kelpie for use on their farmlands. Many stories tell of a young woman who finds the kelpie on the shore in human form. She befriends them and eventually when they are sleeping removes their silver necklace, forcing the man back into equine form and she returns to the farm forcing them into hard labour.
This Fascinating Folklore is similar to other water spirits such as the Germanic Nixie and the Australian Bunyip. Every body of water has a tale about a Kelpie, but the most famous Kelpie is the Loch Ness Monster. They even have similar weaknesses such as Silver. A Silver bullet is said to be able to kill a Kelpie. As silver is believed to be a ‘pure’ metal it has healing and protective properties. It can also be used to ward off negative forces.
It is most likely that the Kelpie folklore started as a warning to children to stay away from the water's edge over fear of falling in and drowning, especially as the tides can turn rapidly. This could also be a warning about approaching unknown animals. It is normal, especially in Scottish rural communities to find animals walking freely in their misty pastures. Not knowing the animal's temperament and getting too close can cause accidents, especially for curious children.
I don’t know about you but the threat of a Kelpie would be enough to make me wary of any bodies of water, child or adult.
Sources:
folklorescotland (2022). Kelpies. [online] Folklore Scotland. Available at: https://folklorescotland.com/kelpies/.
Guiley, R. and Mazal Holocaust Collection (1989). The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft. New York: Facts On File.
Keddie, R. (2022). Scottish Water Mythology: Selkies and Kelpies. [online] Wilderness Scotland. Available at: https://www.wildernessscotland.com/blog/scottish-water-mythology-selkies-kelpies/.
Sedgwick, I. (2022). The Folklore of Metals: Gold, Silver, Iron & Copper. [online] Icy Sedgwick. Available at: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-of-metals/ [Accessed 31 Dec. 2023].