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No fairy is more feared in Ireland than the pooka. This may be because it is always out and about after nightfall, creating harm and mischief, and because it can assume a variety of terrifying forms.The guise in which it most often appears, however, is that of a sleek, dark horse with su..."
No fairy is more feared in Ireland than the pooka. This may be because it is always out and about after nightfall, creating harm and mischief, and because it can assume a variety of terrifying forms.The guise in which it most often appears, however, is that of a sleek, dark horse with sulphurous yellow eyes and a long wild mane. In this form, it roams large areas of countryside at night, tearing down fences and gates, scattering livestock in terror, trampling crops and generally doing damage around remote farms.In remote areas of County Down, the pooka becomes a small, deformed goblin who demands a share of the crop at the end of the harvest: for this reason several strands, known as the'pooka's share', are left behind by the reapers.
In parts of
County Laois, the pooka becomes a huge, hairy bogeyman who terrifies
those abroad at night; in Waterford and Wexford, it appears as an eagle
with a massive wingspan; and in Roscommon, as a black goat with curling
horns.The mere
sight of it may prevent hens laying their eggs or cows giving milk, and
it is the curse of all late night travellers as it is known to swoop
them up on to its back and then throw them into muddy ditches or
bogholes.
The pooka has the power of human speech, and it has been
known to stop in front of certain houses and call out the names of
those it wants to take upon its midnight dashes. If that person
refuses, the pooka will vandalise their property because it is a very
vindictive fairy.
The origins of the pooka
are to some extentspeculative. The name may come from the Scandinavian
pook or puke, meaning 'nature spirit'. Such beings were very capricious
and had to be continually placated or they would create havoc in the
countryside, destroying crops and causing illness among livestock.
Alternatively, the horse cults prevalent throughout the early Celtic
world may have provided the underlying motif for the nightmare steed.
Other authorities suggest
that the name comes from the early Irish poc meaning either 'a male
goat' or a 'blow from a cudgel'. However, the horse cult origin is
perhaps the most plausible since many of these cults met on high ground
and the main abode of the pooka is believed to be on high mountain
tops. There is a waterfall formed by the river Liffey in the Wicklow
mountains known as the Poula Phouk (the pooka's hole), and Binlaughlin
Mountain in County Fermanagh is also knownas......
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A leading biologist has stated that the angels, fairies and other winged sprites of nativity and folklore are anatomically flawed and would never be able to fly despite having feathered wingssproutingfrom their backs."Angels depicted heralding the birth of Jesus in nativity scenes across the world are anatomically flawed, according to a scientist who claims they would never be able to fly. . " View: Full Article | Source: Tele...Myths about Fairies
by Micha
F. Lindemans
The original fairies, or faeries, bestowed gifts upon newborn children, such as
beauty, wealth and kindness. In the subsequent centuries they continued this
original function, but expanded their activities into other types of meddling in
human affairs.
Fairies can only be seen clearly by animals and
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fleeting glimpse. There are a few exceptions however. The first is when fairies
u...Angel photographed in hospital hallway
When Chelsea Banton was born five weeks prematurely, doctors predicted she had 36 hours to live. Proving them wrong was the first miracle for Chelsea, now an Independence High School freshman. “She spent the first four months in a neonatal intensive care unit,” recalls her mother, Colleen Banton of Mint Hill. Before Chelsea was 2, she wasadmitted to the hospital for pneumonia, the first of several dangerous run-ins with the illness that have made her a familiar face in Presbyterian's pediat..."Fairy circle" intrigues residents
Fairies have been dancing in the garden of a Staverton couple, according to ancient English folklore. A large fairy circle has appeared in the lawn of Tom and Sue Gaylard's home in School Lane. Mrs Gaylard, 85, said: "It amazed me. I had never heard of it or seen anything like it before and I couldn't believe it."The perfect ring of mushrooms, know as a fairy or pixie circle, first appeared about three years ago and has re-appeared annually, each time getting bigger.Mr Gaylard,...Man writes gnome survival guide
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A Magic spell will be cast over the Orkney island of Westray today with the opening of Britain's first museum and gallery dedicated entirely to fairies.The conversion of an old croft is a dream come true for self-proclaimed fairy princess and writer Alicen Weddes-Ward and her husband, Neil, a pagan and artist.The couple knew that Westray was just the place for theventure when they moved from Buckinghamshire last September.
"Cornwall
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A new sighting of South America’s ‘creepy gnome’ has caused panic among locals after a group of youngsters claimed a ‘midget monster’ ran towards them at night. The teens – who recorded footage of the freaky being on their mobile phone – said they are now “too terrified” to go out at night. Experts who examined the latest footage, taken in the town of Clodomira, province of Santiago del Estero, Argentina, last week, say it is ‘credible’. But sceptics say the sidestepping ‘gnome’ could be a speed...
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"Angels unable to fly" say scientists
Angel photographed in hospital hallway
"Fairy circle" intrigues residents
Man writes gnome survival guide
Fairy Museum Dream come True for writer Alicen
Cottingley fairies house for sale
'Little people' e-mail zips through Alaska
