Púca facts for kids

The púca (pronounced POO-ka) is a magical creature from Celtic folklore. Its name comes from the Irish word for spirit or ghost. Púcaí (plural) are believed to bring both good luck and bad luck. They could either help or cause trouble for people living in the countryside and near the sea.

Púcaí are known for being shape-changers. They can transform into many different animals, like horses, goats, cats, dogs, and hares. Sometimes, they even take on a human form, but they usually keep some animal features, like ears or a tail. Their fur or hair can be dark or white.

Similar creatures exist in other Celtic cultures across Northwest Europe. For example, in Welsh mythology it is called the pwca. In Cornish, it's known as the Bucca. In the Channel Islands, the pouque were said to be fairies living near old stones.

What Does "Púca" Mean?

The name "púca" comes from the Old Irish word púca. This word was borrowed into Old English very early, possibly around the 700s. This suggests that people in England and Ireland had more cultural contact back then than previously thought.

The word also seems to have spread to Scandinavian languages. For example, in Old Icelandic, there was a word púki meaning a mischievous demon or the Devil. Similar words exist in Faroese, Norwegian, and Swedish, all referring to evil spirits or goblins.

The Púca's Personality

The púca can be seen as either scary or helpful. Some old stories describe them as "wicked-minded, black-looking, bad things." They might appear as wild colts with chains, trying to harm travelers. Children were even warned not to eat overripe blackberries because a púca might have touched them!

Púcaí are often known for playing tricks. They might tempt humans to ride on their backs. Then, they would give the rider a wild and scary journey before dropping them back where they started. These encounters usually happen in quiet, lonely places, far from towns.

In Irish tales, there's a way to control a púca. Riders might use sharp spurs to prevent being taken or to steer the creature if they are already on its back. This idea might come from the old Irish belief that "cold iron" can protect against supernatural beings.

A Story of Control

A story called "An Buachaill Bó agus an Púca" (The Cow Boy and the Púca) tells of a boy who used this trick. The púca had targeted him before.

The boy's farmer told him, "I have spurs. Put them on tonight. If he takes you, give him the spurs!" The boy did this. The púca threw him off its back, and the boy got home safely. A week later, the púca appeared again.

"Come to me," the boy said, "so I can get on your back."

"Do you have the sharp things on?" the púca asked.

"Certainly," the boy replied.

"Oh, I won't go near you then," the púca said.

The Helpful Púca

However, púcaí can also be kind and helpful. Lady Wilde tells a story about a farmer's son named Padraig. He offered a coat to an invisible púca. The púca appeared as a young bull and told him to meet at the old mill at night.

From then on, the púca secretly came at night. It did all the work of grinding the corn into flour. Padraig later made the púca a gift of a fine silk suit. This made the púca decide to "see a little of the world" and stop working. But by then, the farmer was rich enough to retire. At Padraig's wedding, the púca left a golden cup as a gift, which brought them happiness.

Some stories even say púcaí act as guardians. They might warn people before a bad accident or before they meet a mean fairy. In these tales, the púca often tells the human who it is, which is unusual for many other folklore creatures.

It's important to know that some stories describe púcaí as bloodthirsty or even man-eating creatures. However, these are less common than the tales of mischievous or helpful púcaí.

What Does a Púca Look Like?

According to legends, the púca is a skilled shape-shifter. It can take on many scary or pleasing forms. When it takes human form, it often has animal features like ears or a tail.

As an animal, the púca most often appears as a horse, cat, rabbit, raven, fox, wolf, goat, or dog. No matter what shape it takes, its fur is almost always dark. It is most commonly seen as a sleek black horse with a flowing mane and glowing golden eyes.

If a human is tricked into riding a púca, it will give them a wild ride. But unlike a kelpie, which might drown its rider, the púca usually does no real harm. Some stories say that only Brian Boru, a High King of Ireland, ever truly rode a púca. He did this using a special bridle made with three hairs from the púca's tail.

The púca can also speak human languages. It has been known to give advice and guide people away from danger. Even though púcaí enjoy confusing and scaring humans, they are generally thought of as good-natured.

Púca and the Harvest

The púca is connected to certain farming traditions. It is especially linked to Samhain, a Goidelic harvest festival. This is when the last of the crops are brought in. Anything left in the fields after Samhain is considered "puka" or "fairy-blasted." This means it's not safe to eat.

In some places, farmers would leave a small part of their crop, called the "púca's share." This was meant to keep the hungry creature happy. November 1st is considered the púca's day. It is the one day of the year when it is expected to behave politely.

Around the beginning of November, some stories say the púca would either poop or spit on wild fruits. This made them inedible and unsafe to eat after that date.

Different Púca Stories

In some areas, people treat the púca with more respect than fear. If you treat it well, it might even help you. The púca is a creature of the mountains and hills. In these regions, there are stories of it appearing on November Day. It might offer prophecies and warnings to those who ask.

In parts of County Down, the púca appears as a short, strange-looking goblin. This goblin demands a share of the harvest. In County Laois, it looks like a huge, scary bogeyman. In Waterford and Wexford, the púca appears as an eagle with giant wings. In Roscommon, it takes the form of a black goat.

See also

In Spanish: Púca para niños