Bakeneko generally continue to resemble ordinary cats. According to legends, a bakeneko can be identified by the pupils of its eyes constantly changing shape, its fur emitting lightning-like sparks, or its tendency to wear a cloth or napkin covering its head.
“A wine made from honey, #mead figures in a number of #Celtic myths and legends as a drink favored by warriors. Its most consistent mythological association is with the goddess/queen whose name is the same as the drink, #Medb, and who represented the intoxication and danger of kingship.”
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore
The sister of the better-known heroine Sadb, Daireann took a fancy to the great warrior #Fionn mac Cumhaill, who did not return the interest. In revenge, she poisoned him—not with a death potion but with an enchanted elixir that drove the great man insane. Most of Fionn’s followers, the Fianna, abandoned him during his insanity, but they returned when his wits did. Daireann’s pride took another blow when Fionn had a child with Sadb, who became his favorite follower, the poet Oisín.
Source: Patricia Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and Folklore
„One of the most famous stories of Úna, the #fairy queen of #Munster, tells how, annoyed by a drunken piper, she turned herself into a calf and, with the piper clinging to her back, made a massive leap to the shores of the Shannon River. When the piper appeared undismayed by his calf-assisted flight, Úna forgave him his bad piping and returned him to the place from which she had stolen him.“
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore
#Celtic#MythologyMonday for #EarthDay2024: #Tailtiu gave her life to clearing ‘a great plain’. To Ali Isaac „it seems possible that the great plain referred to signifies the landscape; Tailtiu came from the great plain and spent her life serving it, and returned to it after death. She is a daughter of the landscape. In other words, not a harvest goddess, but an earth goddess. She shaped the land just as the #Cailleach did."
Source: aliisaac+the-cailleach-project@substack.com
#MythologyMonday for #EarthDay2024: When the Milesian invaders were met by three goddesses or queens of the Tuatha Dé Danann, each of whom announced herself as ruler of the land. First was Banba, who according to the Book of Invasions met the Milesians at Slieve Mis in Co. Kerry, although some sources say that she was found on the plain from which the royal hill of Tara rises; she promised the Milesians happiness and wealth so long as the land bore her name.
Source: Patricia Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and Folklore
#MythologyMonday for #EarthDay2024: When the Milesian invaders were met by three goddesses or queens of the Tuatha Dé Danann, each of whom announced herself as ruler of the land. Second was Fódla, who met the invaders at Slieve Felim, a mountain in Co. Limerick, or on nearby Mauher Slieve. Like her sister Banba before, she promised the Milesians happiness and wealth so long as the land bore her name. Fódla’s name means “unplowed land”.
Source: Patricia Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and Folklore
#MythologyMonday for #EarthDay2024: The green island at the far western periphery of Europe bears the name of its earth goddess, #Ériu. Because Ériu promised greater prosperity than did her sisters, the chief bard of the Milesians, Amairgin, decided to call the island after Ériu. It was at the sacred central mountain, #Uisneach, that Ériu greeted the invaders. One, Donn mac Míled, replied to her demands with insults, and Ériu calmly sentenced him to death; he drowned shortly thereafter, indicating that Ériu had control over the seas as well as the land.
Source: Patricia Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and Folklore
Happy #EarthDay! The hākuturi are birdlike guardians of the forest from Māori mythology. When Rātā cut down a sacred tree to build a canoe without performing the appropriate rites, the hākuturi not only re-erected the tree but put all of its discarded wood chips back in place. #MythologyMonday
Hello, Myth Lovers! #EarthDay2024 is tomorrow, so join us for the theme: All things #Earth. Which myths feature the land, things that grow, earth gods & goddesses, or nature? Use the tag #MythologyMonday for reposts. See you Monday!
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In #Irish, the Bluebell is known as Coinnle Corra. These delicate #spring-blossoming wild flowers have their place in Irish #mythology: On her wedding night to #Fionn mac Cumhaill, #Grainne was said to have mixed bluebell with tormentil and secreted it into the wedding guests’ wine, thus sending them all to sleep so she could elope with her beloved Diarmuid.#Celtic
Source: Ali Isaac | Substack
„In ancient times, #Ireland was renowned for the skill of its physicians, particularly their herbal-lore. #Mythology tells us not just of famous battles, brave warriors and tragic love stories, but tales of miraculous #healing, too.
Of all the #Irish Gods, the most well-known and beloved of them all were those who practised healing, such as #Brigid, #Lugh, Dian-Cecht and his son Miach, and daughter Airmid, who was greatly skilled in herbal lore.“ #Celtic
Source: https://aliisaac.substack.com/p/march-wise-woman-or-witch
The Greek army sailing to Troy stopped on the island of Delos. The king of Delos, a son of Apollo, foresaw that the Trojan War will only be won 10 years later.
So, he invited the Greeks to spend 9 years in his kingdom partying, instead of fighting.
They declined.
Imagine, they could have saved 9 years of war on a technicality...
Instead of killing Tuireann's sons for murdering his father, #Lugh demanded payment of the éric, for the #nonviolent settlement of the dispute. However, the sons of Tuireann had to perform impossible feats as punishment for killing #Cian. “Every éric is evil,” stated the Senchas Mór, the great collection of legal documents and commentaries, on the grounds that it almost inevitably led to more bloodshed.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore
#WyrdWednesday: „To fast against one’s enemy was a traditional form of protest in ancient #Ireland and #Wales. When a wrong had been done, the victim would sit upon the doorstep of the oppressor, taking no food and telling passersby of the crime committed.“
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore #nonviolence
Photo: Le_leggi_di_Brehon_MG Galloz, Le leggi di Brehon, CC BY-SA 4.0
#WyrdWednesday: Amadán was the son of a king, who was dispossessed of his lands by invasion. Hiding in the wildwood, the fool grew into a hairy giant who, despite his unattractive features, married into the usurping family, only to kill his in-laws in retribution for their crimes. After many adventures and battles, the Amadán was restored to his own family and went forth to battle other giants.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore https://twitter.com/MinaStillwater/status/1592851574916644865
#MythologyMonday: #Fintan mac Bochra (= his mother or a reference to the ocean), not only escaped the pestering of 50 women but also the Deluge by turning into a salmon. When the water masses had receded, he turned into an eagle, then a hawk, afterwards into all the different animals of #Ireland and finally back to human form.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore
In a Native American tale, a group of women pondered how to dispose of Snapping Turtle after trapping him. Because their captive acted most afraid when the option of drowning him was brought up, the women threw him into a lake, allowing the turtle trickster to swim to freedom. #MythologyMonday
Hello, Myth Lovers! Join us for Monday's theme: Escapes. Which myths feature someone who escapes? What story features a special item or place that helps with an escape? Us the tag #MythologyMonday for reposts!