Scotland and Ireland have a lot of stories about mythical animals. The Kelpie is one of the most intriguing of these in Celtic mythology. This mysterious being is known for its ability to change appearance and for being scary when it’s near water. Despite numerous reports and stories, the kelpie remains an enigmatic animal. There are many things about the Kelpie that continue to fascinate and scare people, from its mysterious food to its many different looks. Kelpies are generally classified as a type of faerie, belonging to the dark fae.
Description
People say the Kelpie, a type of shape-shifting being, can transform into a horse, a person, a rhinoceros, or even something resembling a cow. Its preference for living near rivers and streams makes it appear to be an animal, adding to its mystery. The Kelpie’s elusiveness means their main food source may be more supernatural than physical but they are reported to eat human flesh (Briggs, 1976). This lack of clarity about the kelpie’s food adds to the mystery surrounding the animal as a whole.
People say that kelpies live in lakes and ponds, mostly in the lochs of Scotland and Ireland. Interestingly, Australian folklore also talks about a creature that looks a lot like this one. Though descriptions of them vary greatly, people often picture kelpies as big, strong black horses that hunt people. In their human shape, they still have some horse-like traits, like hooves. Some Scottish stories even claim that Kelpies’ manes resemble snakes (Scott, 1830).
Most stories depict kelpies as solitary creatures. But John Campbell’s book Popular Tales of the West Highlands, which came out in 1860, talks about times when Kelpies worked together. The animal is known for luring people onto its back, then diving into the water to drown and eat them, leaving their bodies on the shore. The kelpie is intelligent because it sometimes shows up with a bridle and saddle on, which makes it a tempting lure for riders who aren’t looking (Campbell, 1860).
Taming a Kelpie
Despite their fearsome appearance, Kelpies are manageable and can be seemingly tamed. A bridle or halter with a cross carved on it can be used to catch a kelpie and make it do things. If you take off a Kelpie’s silver necklace, it will also change back into a horse. The same thing that can kill vampires can also kill kelpies: a silver bullet through the heart.
In 1830, Sir Walter Scott suggested taming the kelpie by gripping its collar. This would make the animal give up. Scott did a lot of research on Scottish folklore, which gives us a lot of information about these mythical people and what makes them weak. Dr. John Campbell’s study also supports this, demonstrating the traditional taming and use of Kelpies for labor, such as during the construction of Laid O’Morphie’s castle (Campbell, 1860).
Regardless, even if you can catch a Kelpie, you shouldn’t. They are dangerous. They will turn on and kill any owner foolish enough to keep them in captivity when given the chance. They are never really tamed.
Kelpie Stories
While there are no known Kelpies in captivity, sightings are most likely near the rivers and streams of Scotland. Sir Walter Scott (1830) also wrote that they were in lochs and other still-water areas. There are many stories in folklore about meeting Kelpies, especially from Scotland.
One intriguing story from Barra is about a lonely Kelpie who changed into a good-looking young man to try to get a girl’s attention. She found out who he really was and took off his necklace while he slept, turning him back into a horse. She took him home and sent him to work on the farm her father owned. After a year, she gave him back his chain, and he became a person again. He could have stayed human and died, or he could have turned back into a kelpie. He chose to become human and marry her.
In a different story, the Laid O’Morphie caught a Kelpie by using a collar with a cross carved into it. The Kelpie had to move heavy bricks to help build Laid’s castle. Once the Laids finished building the castle, they released the Kelpie. The Kelpie cursed the family, which led to their sad deaths (Campbell, 1860).
A lot of stories show how cruel the Kelpie can be, especially how it likes to drag kids to their deaths. A popular story says that a Kelpie shows up with a saddle and bridle and tells kids they can ride it. When one child, left on the shore, touches the Kelpie, their fingers become stuck, and they must cut them off to escape. The other children are taken into the water and drowned, with their remains washing up on the beach (Briggs, 1976).
Dr. Katharine Briggs tells many stories about Kelpies luring children to their deaths, which shows how evil the creature is. Briggs (1976) noted that stories serve as cautionary tales, warning children of the dangers lurking in serene waters .
Conclusion
The Kelpie is still one of the most interesting and scary monsters in Celtic mythology. Its ability to change forms and creepy personality make it a fascinating subject for myths and legends. Science hasn’t been able to show that the Kelpie really exists, but its stories continue to fascinate and scare people, keeping its place in the rich tapestry of Scottish and Irish folklore. The Kelpie’s legend lives on, captivating the imaginations of all who hear it, whether as a warning tale or a sign of the unknown lurking in calm seas.
References
Briggs, K. M. (1976). An Encyclopedia of Fairies: Hobgoblins, Brownies, Bogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures. Pantheon Books.
Campbell, J. (1860). Popular Tales of the West Highlands. Edmonston and Douglas.
Scott, W. (1830). Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft. George Routledge and Sons.
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