Blue men of the Minch facts for kids
The blue men of the Minch, who are also known as storm kelpies (in Gaelic: na fir ghorma), are amazing creatures from Scottish myths. Legends say they live in the sea between the northern Outer Hebrides and the mainland of Scotland. Stories describe them as looking for sailors to pull underwater and boats to sink.
These mythical beings look a lot like humans and are about the same size, but their skin is blue. They are said to have the power to create storms. When the weather is nice, they float peacefully, sleeping on or just below the surface of the water. The blue men swim with the top half of their bodies out of the sea, twisting and diving just like porpoises.
A fascinating part of their legend is that they can speak. When a group of blue men approaches a ship, their chief might shout two lines of a poem to the ship's captain. The captain must then complete the poem with two lines of his own. If the captain fails, the blue men will try to tip the ship over and sink it.
There are a few ideas about where the story of the blue men came from. Some people think they are a way of describing the sea itself, which can be powerful and dangerous. Others believe the legend might have started with the Picts, an ancient people of Scotland who painted their bodies. Another theory connects the story to North African people who were brought to Scotland by the Vikings long ago.
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What's in a Name?
The blue men are said to live in The Minch, a channel of water that separates the northwest Highlands from the northern Outer Hebrides. The name for the blue men in Scottish Gaelic is na fir ghorma.
The blue men are also called storm kelpies. In Scottish folklore, kelpies are famous water spirits, usually described as powerful horses. However, the name "kelpie" is used for many different kinds of water creatures in stories across Scotland.
Legends of the Blue Men
What Do They Look Like?
According to legend, the blue men are human-sized but have blue skin. The writer Lewis Spence believed they got their color from the sea itself, suggesting they were "personifications of the sea." Their faces are described as long and grey. Some stories say they have long, grey arms and wear blue hats.
The blue men are said to live in a very specific area. The stormy water around the Shiant Isles, about 19 kilometers north of Skye, is known as the Current of Destruction because so many ships have been wrecked there. This is believed to be the blue men's main territory.
Folklorist Donald A. Mackenzie noted that stories about the blue men are unique to this part of Scotland. It is rare for a myth about spirits to be found in only one small area.
Creating Storms and Challenging Sailors
In the old tales, the blue men can create powerful storms. When the weather is calm, they sleep or float just under the water's surface. They are said to swim with their upper bodies out of the sea, moving like a porpoise. They are also known to be playful, sometimes playing the game of shinty on clear nights.
When they approach a ship, they can be very loud, roaring with laughter as they splash water on the vessel.
The most famous story about them is their poetry challenge. When the blue men decide to attack a ship, their chief rises from the water and calls out two lines of a poem to the captain. If the captain can't add two more lines to finish the verse, the blue men will try to sink the ship.
Here is an example of a quick-thinking captain who saved his ship:
Blue Chief: Man of the black cap what do you say
As your proud ship cleaves the brine?
Skipper: My speedy ship takes the shortest way
And I'll follow you line by line
Blue Chief: My men are eager, my men are ready
To drag you below the waves
Skipper: My ship is speedy, my ship is steady
If it sank, it would wreck your caves.
The blue chief was so surprised by the captain's clever answers that he and his men gave up and returned to their caves, letting the ship pass safely.
Capturing a Blue Man
There are no stories about anyone trying to harm the blue men, but one tale from folklorist John Gregorson Campbell tells of a blue man being captured. In the story, sailors find a blue man sleeping on the water, pull him aboard, and tie him up.
Soon, two other blue men appear, swimming after the ship and calling out:
Duncan will be one, Donald will be two
Will you need another ere you reach the shore?
Hearing his friends, the captured blue man broke his ropes, jumped back into the sea, and shouted his reply:
Duncan's voice I hear, Donald too is near
But no need of helpers has strong Ian More.
This story led sailors to believe that all blue men have names and can talk to each other.
Where Did the Legend Come From?
No one knows for sure how the story of the blue men began, but there are several interesting theories.
The Sea Itself
One simple idea is that the blue men are a personification of the sea. Their blue color matches the water, and their ability to create storms reflects the ocean's unpredictable and dangerous nature.
The Ancient Picts
Another theory connects the legend to the Picts, an ancient group of people in Scotland. The name "Pict" is from a Latin word meaning "painted people," as they were known for painting or tattooing their bodies. If Picts were seen crossing the sea in small boats that looked like kayaks, people might have mistaken them for strange blue creatures rising from the waves.
Vikings and African Sailors
A third theory suggests the legend began with the Vikings. Hundreds of years ago, Vikings traveled to Scotland and sometimes brought people from North Africa with them. In the old Scottish Gaelic language, the term for "blue men" (fir ghorma) could also be understood as "black men." These African people, far from their homes, may have inspired the stories of strange, powerful men living in the sea near the Shiant Isles, where the Vikings often spent the winter. This idea is supported by historical records of Vikings traveling to and from Africa.
See also
- Kelpie
- Water bull
