9. Folk Tales from the Forest

Matkustat turvallisi mielin tänä kesänä. Klarna Premium ja Max jäsenyden tarjoavat kattavan matkaisuajan sekä arvokkaat edut jokaiselle reissuille. Max jäsenena voit perua matkasi mistä tahansa syystä täysin kuolelta, liityny ja saat 30% alennuksen kolmeltä ensimmäiseltä kuukaudelta. Lataa klarnasovellus tai käy osoitteessa Klarna Piste-Kom. Klarna jäsenyden tarjotaan kuukausilisemaksulla edut vaihtelevat jäsenydenukan voit peruttaa milloin tahansa klarnasovelluksessa. Verouta mistä tahansa syystä palvelun tarjoaa Klarna, eikä se ole vakutus. Vakuutus ja turva edut tarjoaa X-Cover Coverage Injus Europe BV. Tarjous on voimassa vain uusille Premium ja Max käyttäjille ja vanhenee 30% ensimmäinen 7,2,2,6. Ehdo ja sovelletaan. [Muutus] Hello and welcome to the Scottish Folk floor podcast. My name is Jenny, and in this episode we are wondering between the gently swaying Scots Pine and shimmering birch of a peaceful Scottish forest, and exploring some folktales that unfold in such places. I'm currently reading a book about Shindran Yoku, the Japanese practice of forest bathing, and it's all about how being mindful amongst the trees is good for us in a whole myriad of ways, who'd have thanked it, and I've been thoroughly enjoying spending as much time as I can in as many forests as possible. And so I thought I'd take you in there with me, and together we can bathe in the wonder of the Scottish forests. From the mighty oak to the rugged Rowan, there is much folklore about each species of tree that can be found in the forest of Scotland. But in this episode, I'll be telling two tales that come from the forests themselves. And the first is that of the Gilly Dew. The story of the Gilly Dew is a strangely sad one, and it starts with exile. Ferrys, for the most part, are social beings, and they live in large groups under fairy notes, and in this land they are ruled by the fairy queen. But she isn't exactly known for her fair and democratic rule. And so, if for some reason or another one gets on the wrong side of her majesty, then she has no qualms about exiling one from the fairy flock and sending one off to survive on one's own. And this is just what happened to one unfortunate fairy fellow up in the Highlands. For reasons lost to time, he was banished from his hillock home and forced to live a solitary life. He wondered the land for a long, long time, searching for companionship and company. But it's rare to find another on some fairy, and so he remained just that, a on some fairy. By the time he eventually settled in a birch forest on the slopes surrounding Loch and Drang out past Gailoch in Wester Ross, he was reclusive and withdrawn. Humans would occasionally come through his forest, foraging for food and wood, hunting deer in hair, and fishing from the banks of the Loch. But whenever they did so, he hid himself away as best he could. And his best was pretty dang good! He dressed from head to toe in leaves and mosses. His long, dark hair fell down his back in a bird's nest of twigs and leaves, and his bushy beard was woven with lichen of all sorts. And like this, he camouflaged himself in the forest so efficiently that over the span of 40 years or so in the 1700s, he was spotted only a handful of times. But it's from these few sightings, the wild fairy of the birch forest got his name, the gillidoo. This translate says the dark haired lad, or the dark haired helper. For this is all the folk could really discern about the solitary forest spirit, who watched silently from high up in the trees as hunters passed below. For many decades he protected the forest and all the living things within it. If a fire broke out, he helped the animals escape to safety. And when the flames had died down, he planted seeds in the ashes of their destruction. If humans came with axes, he ensured they took only their fair share. And if anyone became lost amongst the grassy glades and winding undergrowth of the forest, he would silently guide them on their way. Well, almost always silently. For there is one person he did actually speak to. And this was a young lass of about 11, called Jessie McGray. Jessie had been out chasing rabbits and counting mushrooms on the edge of the forest one day, when she got a little carried away on her adventures and wondered deeper and deeper into the woods. When the sun was all but set, she looked up and realised that she did not know where she was, nor how on earth to get home. Panicking, she ran this way in that, becoming more and more frantic with each passing minute. Eventually she clambered up a muddy slope, only to trip on a route and come tumbling down, landing with a peined thwap into a particularly jagged gorsbush. And here she lay sobbing, so she was cold and scared and so very far from home. Her parents had warned her not to go wondering, and now she had wondered so far that they would never find her. Why are you crying little one? Jessie jumped up from the bush and scrambled around to see who the strange voice had come from. And there, in the shadows between the trees, stood the oddest man she had ever seen. But although he looked utterly wild, all covered in leaves and mosses and mud, he had soft, kind eyes, and his merry cheeks were dimpled with his gentle smile. He crouched down to her height and asked again why she was crying. But Jessie did not feel in the least bit afraid, for the forest furious kindness emanated from him, and she knew that he would do her no harm. I've become ever so lost, and I'm scared of what the night will bring. Ah, don't be afraid little one. I'll get you back to your mother and father. Where do you live? The girl told the fairy, and with a smile, he said, "You are a far away from home indeed. You've been running every way but the right way. But what are you not? I'll show you home." "Say, do you like birds? You do. Well, what's your favourite one?" "I like the blackbird." With a wink of his eye, the gillie do opened his strange mouth, and from it came the perfect blackbird song. Jessie was amazed, and as they made their way through the dark forest, she rattled off every bird she knew, and the gillie do sang each one song as though he were a bird himself. When they reached the edge of the forest, Jessie thanked the kind forest spirit, and ran home to her worried mother and father, a blackbird singing from the shadows as she went. Many years passed, and Jessie grew up to be a fine young lassie. And when she and her husband, a fellow named John McKenzie, came to turn into farm on the shores of Loch and Drang, just across the water from the gillie do's forest, Jessie told John of her encounter with the kindly spirit. But rather foolishly, John then told the story to Sir Hector McKenzie of Gearloch while talking on the hill one day. Sir Hector was a brash fellow who loved nothing more than a good hunt, and fancying some sport, he declared that he and a band of men would go down to the forest and hunt the elusive gillie do. Ugh, men. The very next morning, Sir Hector McKenzie and his band of hunters shouldered their guns and headed into the woods by Loch and Drang. But, luckily for our forest fairy, he was a master of disguise, and the hunters caught not a whiff of him. However, the sinister sentiment seemed to stick, and the gillie do was never again seen in the forest of Gearloch. And so it seems he was chased from his home and forced to continue his solitary path through the Highlands. But Jessie never forgot the gillie do, and whenever she heard a blackbirds call, she thought of him and his kind gentle soul. [Music] Larnapreemiun ja Maxi-Sennyydet tarjoavat kattavan matkaisuajan sekä arvokkaat edut jokaiselle reissuulle. Maxi-Senena voit perua matkaisin mistä tahansa syystä täysin huolella, liitynyt ja saat 30 % alennuksen kolmeltä ensimmäiseltä kuukaudelta. Lataa klarnasovellus tai käy osoitteessa klarna-pistekomma. Klarna-Jäsennyydet tarjotaan kuukausilisemaksulla edut vaihtelevat jäsennyyden mukaan, voit peruuttaa milloin tahansa klarnasovelluksessa, veruuta mistä tahansa syystä palvelun tarjoaa klarna, eikä se ole vakutus, vakutus ja turva edut tarjoaa Xcover Cover Genius Europe baby. Tarjosa voimassa vain uusille preenium ja maxkältäjille, ja vanhenee 30 ensimmäinen 7-12-20-6. Ehdoja sovelletaan. Sä oon tullut, mutta mukaan saa tullut, mutta mukaan saa tullut, ja mukaan saa tullut, ja mukaan saa tullut, ja mukaan saa tullut, ja mukaan saa tullut, ja mukaan saa tullut, ja mukaan saa tullut, ja mukaan saa tullut, Plus, I have my dog and she keeps me well guarded if ever I need it. For money, tried another. I need not money. I can make money whenever I need it with my axe. For love, said another. Love! I've not an ounce of love for any of you. Now, away, and let me get on with my wood chopping. The lads all grumbled and mumble about the headstrong last who couldn't be frightened as they made their way back to the village, but she cared not, and rejoiced in the peace and quiet of her forest once more. That night, however, she used the last hover oatmeal for a panic, and while the panic was very tasty, it meant that now there was no meal left for porridge in the morning, but it was a long summer eve, and so, thinking there were still plenty of light left, she took her sack of oats and headed out of the forest to Huguie the Miller's Mill. But when she reached Huguie's house, she saw that all the chimneys were smokeless and the windows were dark. Ah, rats! Huguie must be away visiting friends and family, for the mill was locked tight too. She sat on the step of the mill and thought for a while, before deciding that she would head to the far end of the next village to go over and go to all the lakhe's mill. It would be late by the time she got there, aye, but if she wanted porridge in the morning, then it was worth the trip. And so, she picked up her sack of oats and set off to the next village over. When she arrived at all the lakhe's, night had long settled, and the mill was all locked up, but the houses windows were lit, and so, the last who couldn't be frightened, sat down her oats and knocked upon the door. All lakhe the miller opened the door, and looked at her. Good evening, sir. I'm sorry it's so late, but would you mind milling my oats for me then out? No. That would indeed mind. I'll know be milling anything then out. Ah, please go on. It won't take but a minute to mill them for me tonight. Else, I'll have no breakfast in the morning. Then come back in the morning fasting, because I'll know be milling anything the night. Oh, come on, man. I've come all this way, and I'll take no time at all. Why don't you give me the key, and I'll just mill them myself. Look, woman, I'll know grind your meal, or give you the key to grind it yourself. And for good reason, too. Because whenever any man tries to grind grain in that mill at night, a great stinking goblin comes up from the floor, steals the mill, and beats the fellow black and blue. I'll know be doing it. Ah, hoot, I'm no fellow, and I'll grind my grain goblin or not. Now give me the key. At a loss with the lass at his door, the miller called his daughter down to witness that he would not be to blame should anything happen to her. The miller's daughter, who was a body woman herself, looked wide-eyed at the lass who couldn't be frightened, amazed that someone could be so brave. Agreeing that if any harm came to her, the miller would not be at fault. The lass took the key, scooped up her bag of oats, and headed down to the mill. But before she reached it, the miller's daughter came running out after her. Wait, I've little lantern for you. Be careful in there. It'll be awful sad if something were to happen to such a brave lass like you. The lass who couldn't be frightened thanked the miller's daughter and took the lantern, before unlocking the mill and going inside. She checked every nook and cranny in the whole building, but no goblin was to be found, and so, with a laugh, she cranked open the water. And as it ran through the mill, the huge stones began slowly turning and grinding the oats as the lass fed them into the hopper. In no time at all, her oats were ground to kneel, and she scooped them all into the sack and tied the top nice and tight. After shutting off the water, she slung the sack over her shoulder and said, "Ah, that old miller's all worked up over nothing." But, just as she picked up the lantern and turned to leave, a great stone slab in the floor slid up, and outcrawled a great stinking goblin. In one of its gnarly, wart-covered hands, it held a big black club. And with the other, it reached forwards to snatch the stack of mill from the lass' shoulder. "Oh, no, you don't!" she cried. And thinking only of her morning's porridge, she slammed the sack of oats down onto the goblin's fungacy feet. As it shrieked in pain, the lass, who couldn't be frightened, grabbed the club from its hand, would cutters swing at it. Well, the goblin had come across many a man in this mill at night, but never before had he come across a lass who couldn't be frightened. Now, goblins haven't the fastest whips at the best of times, and this one could think of nothing else to do, but run away from the lass' a shite. charged after him, swinging with such force it's a wonder the club didn't splinter with every hit. Round and round they went, the club striking the goblin, the wall and everything in between, and oh what a racket they made! The Miller bolted his door and coward in the corner for fear that the goblin would burst in there next and wreak the same havoc in his house. Oh he had warned that last so he had, and now goodness knows what evil the goblin was inflicting upon her. Well if only the Miller knew what evil the last was inflicting upon the goblin, he might almost feel sorry for it. She chased it high up in the mill, up above where the grain was poured into the hopper. And when it spun to try and fight her she gave it a mighty kick in the back so that it flew head first into the hopper. She pushed it down with the big black club and then threw the water on once more. The huge millstones began turning and turning and between them the goblin was ground. But worry not dear listener, for nothing, not even the pulverising power of millstones can kill a goblin. Still that doesn't exactly mean it was a merry go round for the creature. Oh no, it hauled and yowled and shrieked and screamed so much so that the roof of the mill was near blowing off with the noise. The Miller and his daughter had never been so frightened. They head under their beds and pulled their pillows over their ears but still the monstrous shrieks near deafened them and oh the miller's daughter cried a tear for the brave lass while the miller said a prayer. "Let me out!" shrieked the goblin. "Ah, whoot, I think it'll do you some good to stay a little longer." "Let me out, I'll leave, I don't never come back, I'll leave forever." "Will you now?" "I will, I promise I will." "I'll hold you to that promise, goblin," said the lass, as she turned off the water and stopped the mill. The horrible screeching relented, but the goblin did not appear. And so, rolling up her sleeve, the lass who couldn't be frightened reached down into the hopper grabbed the goblin by the neck and yanked him from the mill. And oh dear listener, never before in the history of goblins has there ever been such a used up, and dropped, and clobbered goblin. The thing said not a word as it hobbled past the lass and out into the night. The lass then did her best to tidy up the mess they'd made before lifting her sack of meal once more and locking the mill. She went over to the miller's house and knocked on the door, but no answer came. Again, she knocked, and knocked, and knocked. But it was not until she called out that the miller's daughter crept to the door and eaked it open just a centimeter. She and her father were sure this was a dastardly goblin coming to get them, but no, it was the lass who couldn't be frightened. I have milled my oats and I got rid of your goblin for you. Sorry for the noise. I'll be off now. And she handed back the key in the lantern. All struck, the miller's daughter stammered. Keep the lantern. You'll need it for your way home. Thanking her, the lass who couldn't be frightened set off back to her forest, the lantern lighting the way. By the time she'd made her porridge the next morning, word had already spread through the village and beyond about her triumph over the great ugly goblin in all Blackays mill. For the miller and his daughter had been out and about telling everyone they met of the amazing feat. And when the miller's daughter learned that the brave lass lived all alone, away up in the forest, she decided to head up there and thank her. And although at first she was frightened by the forest and all the danger that might be in it, she could not deny how peaceful a place it was. And by the time she reached the wee cottage, she thought that she would also very much like to live in such a place. But just as the miller's daughter opened the gate, a terrible shriek came from inside. Thinking something truly awful must be happening to the brave lass, if she was made to shriek in such a manner, the miller's daughter balked in terror. But inspired by the brave feet from the night before, she put aside her fear and charged into the wee cottage to help. And inside in the kitchen, she found the lass atop a chair as a wee brown mouse ran all about its legs. "Oh get rid of it! Get rid of it! Get it out!" she cried to the miller's daughter. And so, chuckling as she did so, the miller's daughter scooped up the wee mousey and took it out into the forest. When she returned, the lass who could not be frightened said, "I'll bake you the finest bannock you've ever had if you never tell us all that I'm afraid of wee mice." "I, that sounds like a grand deal," agreed the miller's daughter with a smile. And so, over bannock with honey, the lass who couldn't be frightened told the miller's daughter all about her life in the forest, and their friendship flourished from that day on. "Oh someone get me a cottage in a forest and a wee dog and a few goats and a vegetable patch, and honestly I don't think I'd ever be seen again." "All right, I hope you enjoyed these folktales from the forest. If you did, then I would love it if you gave the show a follow and left a five star rating and review on whichever platform you listen on. Not only does it make me feel like an axe-wielding lumberjack just destroying log after log, it also helps others find the show." You can find me on Instagram @ScottishFotlerPodcast where I post silly memes and content from the forest. You can also help support me as I make this little show by joining my Patreon. Not only do you get ad free episodes and extra content, but you also get an adorable little sticker. Yay for adorable little stickers. You can find links to my Instagram and Patreon in the show notes, and also a link to an interactive map where you can explore the locations in the stories from this episode. All right, thank you so much for listening, and I'll see you next week for more of the Scottish Folklore podcast. *The sound of the music* *The sound of the music*