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Myths & Folklore Day
“We are all monsters. But there’s a time when you can choose to stop being one.”
~ Geralt of Rivia, The Witcher 3
Scotland has never been short of dark monsters. Highland and Gaelic folklore sends the deadly Each-Uisge galloping from its lochs, the strange and shapeless Brollachan creeping from the shadows, and the dreaded Sluagh, the supernatural host, sweeping through the night sky. And somewhere in the dark waters, of course, lurk Scotland's legendary loch monsters.
So a tartan called An T-Uilebheist Dorcha — “The Dark Monster” seems perfect for Myths & Folklore Day. But this particular monster has a wonderfully unexpected origin.
Designer and handweaver Peter Dickie created the tartan during the V&A Dundee's Tartan exhibition in 2023, taking inspiration from the dark-fantasy world of The Witcher 3. Its black, gold, red, silver, steel-grey and near-white threads represent the game's darkness, monsters and its monster-hunting “White Wolf,” Geralt. Gold recalls both Geralt's eyes and the coins he earns hunting monsters, red the blood of the monsters he kills, and the greys his white hair and the two swords he carries on his back — silver for monsters and steel for humans.
The tartan acquired its nickname later, when Peter decided to handweave enough of it for his own kilt. More than 1,000 mostly black Shetland-wool warp ends, repeated broken threads and a warp that fell disastrously out of order five times turned the project into a monster in its own right. Peter says he “complained bitterly the entire time”—and The Dark Monster was born.
After surviving the beast, the cloth became Peter's own kilt and, according to research undertaken afterward, apparently the first kilt handwoven in Stirling in about 150 years.
Perhaps our fascination with monsters has always been about more than creatures lurking in dark waters or beyond the firelight. Folklore gives darkness a shape we can recognize, while reminding us that the most dangerous monsters are not always imaginary—and that recognizing and resisting them is ultimately the most human of choices. 🖤 💛 ❤️ 🤍 🖤 ⚔️ ⚔️
Scotland has never been short of dark monsters, sinister spirits and things best avoided after sunset. Highland and Gaelic folklore sends the deadly Each-Uisge, perhaps the most dangerous of the supernatural water horses, galloping from its lochs to lure victims onto its back before plunging beneath the water; the great green Cù-Sìth prowls the hills like an enormous spectral hound; the mysterious Am Fear Liath Mòr, the Big Grey Man, stalks the high slopes of Ben Macdui; and the grotesque Fachan, with its single eye, arm and leg, presents a decidedly unpleasant encounter on a lonely road. The shapeless Brollachan creeps through the darkness, while the beautiful but deadly Baobhan Sith dances with unsuspecting travellers before revealing her more vampiric intentions. The mournful Caoineag wails as a warning of approaching death, and overhead the dreaded Sluagh, a restless host of unforgiven souls, sweeps through the night sky.
The waters are hardly safer. Alongside innumerable kelpies and loch monsters lurk the enormous shapeshifting Boobrie, the colossal Cirein-cròin, and the monstrous Stoor Worm of Orkney, a gigantic sea serpent whose poisonous breath could bring sickness and destruction to the land. Orkney also contributes the horrifying Nuckelavee, a skinless, horse-like demon whose breath was blamed for disease, ruined crops and general catastrophe. Elsewhere one might encounter the lightning-associated serpent Beithir, the enormous supernatural Cat-Sìth, malevolent Redcaps inhabiting ruined Border castles, mischievous or dangerous bogles, goblins and trows, or the eerie Ghillie Dhu lurking among the trees. Add witches, wraiths, brownies turned unfriendly, phantom dogs, merfolk and creatures whose names have almost disappeared from memory, and the Scottish landscape begins to look remarkably crowded after dark. Even the familiar Loch Ness Monster belongs to a much older Scottish tradition in which deep, dark water was never assumed to be empty—and whatever was living down there was not necessarily pleased to see you.
For more creatures you may not have heard of lately, click the dark image.