Seelie

Fairies in Scottish folklore

Seelie is a term for fairies in Scottish folklore, appearing in the form of seely wights or The Seelie Court. The Northern and Middle English word seely (also seily, seelie, sealy), and the Scots form seilie, mean "happy", "lucky" or "blessed."[1] Despite their name, the seelie folk of legend could be morally ambivalent and dangerous. Calling them "seelie," similar to names such as "good neighbors," may have been a euphemism to ward off their anger.[2][3]

## Etymology

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The word derives from the Old English sǣl and gesǣlig and the Proto-West Germanic *sālīg (“blissful, happy”). The Modern Standard English word "silly" is also derived from this root.

The antonym, unseely (also unsall,[4] unsell[5]) means "unhappy", "misfortunate" or "unholy."

## Seelie wights

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Many Scottish ballads and tales tell of "Seilie wichts" or "wights," meaning blessed beings.[1] Julian Goodare theorized that these were legendary nature spirits, similar to but distinct from fairies. Goodare additionally hypothesized that there was a sixteenth-century shamanistic cult centering around these beings, comparable to the Italian Benandanti and doñas de fuera. One of the earliest pieces of evidence comes from the sixteenth-century theologian William Hay, who complained of witches and local pagans claiming to meet with fairy-like women called "celly vichtys." The name is also similar to the Swiss-German "Sälïgen Lütt."[3]

## Seelie and Unseelie courts

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The Seelie Court is a group of fairies, often specified as good fairies who contrast with the wicked Unseelie Court.[6] As described by British folklorist Katharine Mary Briggs, the Seelie Court were those fairies who would seek help from humans, warn those who have accidentally offended them, and return human kindness with favors of their own. Still, a fairy belonging to this court would avenge insults and could be prone to mischief. They gathered in courts or troupes.[7]

Conversely, the Unseelie Court were the darkly-inclined fairies who would attack without provocation. Briggs equated the Unseelie fey with the Sluagh (who abducted travelers at night and fired elf-shot) as well as the shellycoat, nuckelavee, redcaps, baobhan sith, and various other wicked fairies from English, Scottish and Irish lore.[8] Though the Edinburgh Magazine[9] calls them the 'Unseelie Court', Briggs does not use this term.

The "seely court" is mentioned in the ballad of "Allison Gross," where they play a benevolent role.[10] "Allison Gross" was recorded from Anne or Anna Gorden of Aberdeen, Scotland, sometime around 1783.[11][12] The seely court is also named in at least one fragmentary version of "Tam Lin," where they are more negative figures.[13]

## Welsh folklore

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A possible equivalent to the Scottish "seelie" appears in the Welsh "sili," used in some individual fairy names. In a Welsh tale, "Sili go Dwt" was the name of a Rumpelstiltskin-like fairy whose name had to be guessed.[14] In a possibly related fragmentary story, a fairy woman was heard singing the words "sili ffrit" while she spun thread. Sir John Rhys found that "sili ffrit" was sometimes used as a term for a child of the Tywlyth Teg or for anything small.[15]

Rhys proposed that "sili" came from the English "silly" (in this sense meaning happy) and "ffrit" from "fright," thus a term for a ghost. The term would have come to Wales via the Welsh marches. He also suggested that "Sili go Dwt" was a corruption of English fairy names featuring the syllable "tot" (such as Tom Tit Tot).[16]

## See also

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* Classifications of Fairies

## References

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1. ^ a b "SND: Seil". Dsl.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 2014-05-13. Retrieved 2014-05-11.
2. ^ Briggs, Katharine Mary (1976). An Encyclopedia of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Brownies, Boogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures. Pantheon Books. pp. xi.
3. ^ a b Goodare, Julian (2012). "The Cult of the Seely Wights in Scotland". Folklore. 123 (2): 198–219\. doi:10.1080/0015587X.2012.682483. ISSN 0015-587X. JSTOR 41721541. S2CID 161104856.
4. ^ Dunbar, William (1860). The Life and Poems of William Dunbar. W. P. Nimmo. p. 295.
5. ^ Lindsay, David (1879). The Poetical Works of Sir David Lyndsay, Volume 2. W. Patterson. p. 305.
6. ^ "On Good and Bad Fairies". Edinburgh Magazine. 5: 16–19\. 1819.
7. ^ Briggs, Katharine Mary (1976). An Encyclopedia of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Brownies, Boogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures. Pantheon Books. p. 353.
8. ^ Briggs, Katharine Mary (1976). An Encyclopedia of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Brownies, Boogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures. Pantheon Books. pp. 419–420.
9. ^ "On Good and Bad Fairies". Edinburgh Magazine. 5: 16–19\. 1819.
10. ^ Francis James Child, The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, "Allison Gross"
11. ^ Kekäläinen, Kirsti (1983). Aspects of Style and Language in Child's Collection of English and Scottish Popular Ballads. Suomalainen tiedeakatemia. ISBN 9789514104589.
12. ^ Publications of the Edinburgh Bibliographical Society: Papers, 1890-95. Edinburgh Bibliographical Society. 1896.
13. ^ Child, Francis James, ed. (1890). Tam Lin. Vol. I Part 2. Boston: Houghton Mifflin and Company. pp. 507–508. Retrieved 2017-11-19. `{{cite book}}`: `|work=` ignored (help)
14. ^ Thomas, William Jenkyn (1907). The Welsh Fairy-book. T.F. Unwin. pp. 178–179\. ISBN 9787250005481. `{{cite book}}`: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
15. ^ Rhys, John (1901). Celtic Folklore: Welsh and Manx, Volume 1. Clarendon Press. pp. 64–66.
16. ^ Rhys, John (1901). Celtic Folklore: Welsh and Manx, Volume 2. Clarendon Press. pp. 590–593.

* v
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Fairies in folklore

Classifications of fairies

Related articles|

* Álfheimr
* Changeling
* Elfshot
* Elves in fiction
* Middle-earth
* Fairy godmother
* Fairy-lock
* Fairy painting
* Fairy riding
* Fairy tale
* List
* Fairy Tale (color)
* Familiar
* Genius loci
* Household deity
* Hungry grass
* Nature spirit
* Sacred trees and groves
* Celtic
* Germanic
* Tutelary deity
* Water spirit

Abodes and structures|

* Fairy fort
* Fairyland
* Fairy path
* Fairy ring

Attested fairies

A–E|

* Adhene
* Aibell
* Alp Luachra
* Anjana
* Aos Sí (Aes Sídhe)
* Arkan Sonney
* Asrai
* Baobhan sith
* Banshee
* Barghest
* Bean nighe
* Billy Blind
* Biróg
* Bloody Bones
* Bluecap
* Blue men of the Minch
* Bodach
* Boggart
* Bogle
* Boobrie
* Brag
* Brownie
* Brown Man of the Muirs
* Bucca
* Buggane
* Bugbear
* Bugul Noz
* Caoineag
* Cat sìth
* Cù Sìth
* Ceffyl Dŵr
* Clíodhna
* Clurichaun
* Coblynau
* Colt pixie
* Cyhyraeth
* Drude
* Duende
* Duergar
* Dullahan
* Dunnie
* Each-uisge
* Elf
* Alp
* Dökkálfar and Ljósálfar
* Elegast
* Erlking
* Half-elf
* Huldufólk
* Queen of Elphame
* Svartálfar

F–L|

* Fachan
* Fairy Queen
* Fear dearg
* Fear gorta
* Fenodyree
* Finfolk
* Finvarra
* Fuath
* Gancanagh
* Ghillie Dhu
* Glaistig
* Glashtyn
* Groac'h
* Grindylow
* Gwragedd Annwn
* Gwyllion
* Gwyn ap Nudd
* Habetrot
* Hag
* Haltija
* The Hedley Kow
* Heinzelmännchen
* Hinzelmann
* Hob
* Hobbididance
* Hobgoblin
* Hödekin
* Iannic-ann-ôd
* Jack-o'-lantern
* Jack o' the bowl
* Jenny Greenteeth
* Joan the Wad
* Joint-eater
* Kelpie
* Kilmoulis
* Knocker
* Knucker
* Kobold
* Klabautermann
* Korrigan
* Lady of the Lake
* Lazy Laurence
* Leanan sídhe
* Leprechaun
* Lubber fiend
* Lutin
* Ly Erg

M–Z|

* Mare
* Margot the fairy
* Meg Mullach
* Melusine
* Merrow
* Mooinjer veggey
* Morgen
* Morvarc'h
* Moss people
* Nain Rouge
* Nelly Longarms
* Nicnevin/Gyre-Carling
* Nisse
* Nixie
* Nuckelavee
* Nuggle
* Oberon
* Peg Powler
* Pillywiggin
* Pixie
* Púca/Pwca
* Puck
* Rå
* Bergsrå
* Hulder
* Radande
* Sjörå
* Skogsrå
* Redcap
* Schrat
* Sebile
* Selkie
* Seonaidh
* Shellycoat
* Sleih beggey
* Sluagh
* Spriggan
* Sprite/Water sprite
* Sylph
* Titania
* Tomte
* Tooth fairy
* Trow
* Tylwyth Teg
* Undine
* Water bull
* Water horse
* Wicked fairy
* Wight
* Will-o'-the-wisp
* Wirry-cow
* Xana
* Yallery Brown
* Yan-gant-y-tan

Fairy-like beings worldwide

Worldwide|

* Bogeyman
* Crone
* Demon
* Humanoid
* Little people
* Merfolk
* Mermaid
* Merman
* UFO
* Vampire

Africa|

* Abatwa
* Asanbosam
* Aziza
* Bultungin
* Eloko
* Jengu
* Kishi
* Mami Wata
* Obayifo
* Rompo
* Simbi
* Tikoloshe
* Yumboes

Americas|

* Alux
* Anchimayen
* Caipora
* Canotila
* Chaneque
* Christmas elf
* Chullachaqui
* Curupira
* Encantado
* Fastachee
* Fearsome critters
* Grey alien
* Hopkinsville Goblins
* Ishigaq
* Jogah
* Little green men
* Muki
* Nimerigar
* Nordic alien
* Nûñnë'hï
* Pombero
* Pukwudgie
* Saci
* Trauco
* Yunwi Tsunsdi

Asia|

* Diwata
* Dokkaebi
* Fallen angel
* Fox spirit
* Hồ ly tinh
* Huli jing
* Huxian
* Inari Ōkami
* Kitsune
* Kumiho
* Hyang
* Irshi
* Jinn
* Ifrit
* Kijimuna
* Korpokkur
* Mazzikin
* Mogwai
* Mrenh kongveal
* Orang bunian
* Peri
* Preta
* Hungry ghost
* Tennin
* Yaksha/Yakshini
* Yōkai
* Yōsei

Oceania|

* Bunyip
* Manaia
* Menehune
* Mimis
* Muldjewangk
* Nawao
* Patupaiarehe
* Ponaturi
* Taniwha
* Tipua
* Wandjina
* Yara-ma-yha-who

Europe|

| Eastern|

* Bannik
* Căpcăun
* Domovoy
* Iele
* Karzełek
* Kikimora
* Leshy
* Lidérc
* Likho
* Ovinnik
* Polevik
* Rübezahl
* Rusalka
* Samodiva
* Sânziană
* Siren
* Spiriduș
* Ursitory
* Vadleany
* Vâlvă
* Vântoase
* Vodyanoy
* Zână

|

Northern|

* Aitvaras
* Ajatar
* Badb
* Black dog
* Ent
* Gabija
* Gremlin
* Haltija
* Headless Horseman
* Hiisi
* Hobbit
* Jack Frost
* Jimmy Squarefoot
* Lauma
* Menninkäinen
* Morgan Le Fay
* Pictish Beast
* Troll
* Tuatha Dé Danann

Southern|

* Basajaun
* Centaur
* Cercopes
* Circe
* Dionysus
* Doñas de fuera
* Farfadet
* Faun
* Hecate
* Hippocampus
* Kallikantzaros
* Kobalos
* Lamina
* Mairu
* Mouro
* Enchanted Moura
* Nymph
* List
* Pan
* Satyr
* Silenus
* Siren
* Squasc
* Thiasus
* Trenti
* Vila

Western|

* Dames blanches
* Dusios
* Dwarf
* Imp
* Lorelei
* Perchta
* Venus in German legend
* Vittra
* Witte Wieven/Weiße Frauen

Cross-regional|

* Christmas gift-bringer
* Santa Claus
* Companions of
* Elemental
* Fates
* Goblin
* Gnome
* Ogre
* Salamander
* Sandman
* Wild man

See also|

* List of hybrid creatures in folklore
* List of beings referred to as fairies

Category

* v
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* e

Celtic mythology series

Creatures in Scottish mythology and folklore

Beasts|

* Beithir
* Gigelorum

Birds|

* Boobrie

Cryptids|

* Loch Ness Monster

Deities|

* Beira
* Cailleach

Demons|

* Nuckelavee

Fairies/spirits|

* Aos Sí
* Baobhan sith
* Bean-nighe
* Biasd Bheulach
* Blue men of the Minch
* Bodach
* Caoineag
* Cat-sìth
* Changeling
* Cù-sìth
* Each-uisge
* Finfolk
* Finn-men
* Fuath
* Gancanagh
* Ghillie Dhu
* Glaistig
* Kelpie
* Meg Mullach
* Nuggle
* Sea Mither
* Seelie
* Seonaidh
* Trow
* Water bull

Giants|

* Fachan

Gnomes|

* Pech

Goblins/hobgoblins|

* Bauchan

Mermaids|

* Ceasg
* Selkie

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