P is for...Pukis

The Pukis is a small creature who takes the form of a cat during the day and changes into a dragon when night falls. A Pukis will guard its masters home and bring good fortune to its owner. It will also steal treasures for its master - normally from their neighbours - as the Pukis is small and extremely fast and agile, it makes the perfect thief. 

O is for...Old Lady Of The Elder Tree

The Old Lady Of The Elder Tree (or Elder Mother) come from the folklore of Germany and Denmark. She wears a cloak and carries a magical staff made out of wood from the Elder tree. If anyone else wishes to take wood from an Elder tree then they must first ask the Elder Mother by saying:

"Old girl, give me some of thy wood and I will give thee some of mine when I grow into a tree"

If permission is not asked before taking the wood then the person will be cursed with bad luck and the wood will become twisted and rot.

L is for...Leshii

Every forest has its own Leshii who lives deep within the trees with his wife and children. The Leshii normally takes the form of a man with hair and beard of leaves, grass and vines, but he can also take on the shape of any animal or plant. He is the guardian of the forest and protects all the animals living there. The Leshii is not evil but he does enjoy misguiding travellers and leaving them lost within the woods. If he is befriended, however, he will pass on his knowledge of magic.

If there is more than one Leshii in a single forest then they will fight violently to claim the territory as their own, leaving a trail of fallen trees and scared animals. When travelling through the forest it is sensible to take a gift of bread for the Leshii to ward off his troublesome nature.

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L is also for LATE.

I had pre-written and scheduled this post for Saturday and then I went away, but apparently it was shy and wanted to stay in hiding. So I apologise for this a-z post being a few days late.

G is for...Gwyllion

art by Larry MacDougall

The Gwyllion are female creatures who live in the treacherous mountain areas of Wales. Their name comes from the Welsh word gwyll which means gloom and darkness. This creature appears as hag dressed in grey clothes and wearing a four-pointed hat - they can sometime even disguise themselves as goats.

Gwyllion are often mistaken for kind old women by unfortunate travellers who have lost their way. These creatures will offer to guide them back on the right path, but once they have realised their mistake in following her (usually by hearing her very distinctive laugh) it would be too late and she will drown them in mountain lakes.

During bad weather a Gwyllion may visit a humans home in order to get warm and escape the rain. If this happens then great care must be taken to not offend her - she must be offered clean water and all metal knives must be hidden from view.

F is for...Fachan

The Fachan (also known as Peg-Leg-Jack) is a creature from Scottish and Irish Folklore who only has half a body. It has one leg, one eye, one hand coming out of its chest, a huge mouth and a tuft of black feathers on the top of its head. Legend says that its appearance is so horrifying that it can actually cause heart attacks.

The Fachan is very dangerous and is sometimes known to wield a chain in its strong, singular arm. It can swing this chain so hard that it is able to destroy an entire orchard in a night. It is a solitary creature and will kill anyone who is foolish enough to wander into its territory.

D is for...Domovoi

The Domovoi (dom means "house") is a household spirit from Russia and eastern European folklore. He is a friendly creature and is vital to the health and wellbeing of any home, but he is also volatile, impulsive and prone to violent tantrums if aggravated. He helps the family of his house by doing household work and chores and helps to maintain peace and order.

He is a very shy creature who is not often seen, but when he is, he is covered in fur and is often mistaken for the family pet. Sometimes the Domovoi takes on the guise of the master of the house and some people say that he resembles a very old man, in fact he is referred to as "Grandfather" behind his back. The Domovoi was also thought of as an oracle and he could warn his family about future events, for example; if he pulled a woman's hair it meant there was a danger of an abusive man, if he was seen to be weeping then there would be a death in the family and if he played music on a comb it meant there would soon be a wedding.

He is said to live under the threshold of the door or under the stove and must be addressed as "Master" if spotted to show proper respect. Some people like to leave him gifts of milk and biscuits at night as a way of thanking him and to ensure protection of their home. If the Domovoi of a house becomes unhappy then it will play nasty tricks on the members of its household, such as leaving muddy footprints, making the walls creak, throwing pots and smashing plates. If things escalate too far then he may even suffocate people in their sleep, but he can be made happy again before this happens by leaving him salted bread wrapped in white cloth or by hanging some old boots in the garden for him.