| Ghosts, Goblins & Ghoulies
 Edythe Preet writes on the creepy creatures inhabiting forest, fen,
hillock, and shore of the Emerald Isle.
When it comes to goblins, ghosts and ghoulies, most folk – without a
fluttering heartbeat’s
hesitation – will name Transylvania as
the epicenter for scary creatures of the night. There’s hardly a soul
that hasn’t shivered in fear while watching one of the many filmed
scenes of a midnight visitation from that archetype of the undead Count
Dracula, a chancy encounter with some sinister siren from the Count’s
bevy of blood-lusting beauties, or a fatal
full-moon face-off with a snarling
fang-gnashing werewolf.
Few folk, however, realize that the author of literature’s ultimate tale
of Transylvanian terror was, in fact, an Irishman named Bram Stoker, who
was born November 8, 1847, in Clontarf, a coastal suburb of Dublin. A
victim of physical frailties that kept him bedridden for most of his
childhood, his
birthday fell in the shadow of Samhain, the Celtic year-end celebration
when legends warned that all should wear
disguises when traveling so as not to be whisked away by one of the
malevolent spirits stalking the land. It is no wonder, then, that the
best of Stoker’s tales spring from nightmarish themes.
The story of Count Dracula, though set in Transylvania, could as easily
have been situated anywhere in Erin with Ireland’s own Dearg-due (Red
Blood-Sucker) as its central character. Dracula’s seductive vampire
companions, in fact, are most likely drawn from Waterford tales of a
local female Dearg-due who rises from her coffin on certain nights to
lure unsuspecting men into her arms and suck the lifeblood from their
necks.
Though not so universally known as Dracula, three other of Stoker’s
works treat matters filled with foreboding and fear. His rarely found
first book of tales Under the Sunset (1881) recounts many of Ireland’s
grisly myths. Though innocuous sounding, The Jewel of Seven Stars (1903)
is a tale about a vengeful mummy’s curse. In Stoker’s final tale, Lair
of the White Worm (1911), the protagonist finds himself caught up in a
horrifying web of inexplicably evil circumstances. (For those who would
rather watch than read, the latter was filmed in 1988 by director Ken
Russell. But I must tell you that the pace of reading is so much more
exquisitely terrifying that once while reading Dracula, when a light
suddenly switched off, I leaped and shrieked aloud!)
Transylvania may have its vampires and werewolves, but the list of
creepy creatures inhabiting forest, fen, hillock, and shore of the
Emerald Isle is a veritable encyclopedia of the scary supernatural from
which seanachies have drawn tales to chill the very marrow of listeners’
bones since time immemorial.
The majestic equine Phouka tosses unwary folk upon its back for a
terrifying soul-searching gallop across hill and dale. Fishermen ply
their trade on ocean and lake ever mindful of the watery grave awaiting
should they cross paths with the ravenous crocodilian Wurrum that
measures more than fifty feet long and can swallow man and boat in one
scaly lunge. Teine Sidhe, the fire fairies fond of darting about in peat
bogs, lead those who would foolishly
follow their flickering flames to a marshy grave. A 13th-century poem
entitled Wonders of Ireland tells of the Laignech Faelad, men who under
a full moon can change into wolves and despite returning to human form
have been spied with gobbets of raw flesh clamped in their bloody jaws.
The Lanhuan Shee, or Fairy Mistress, casts a glamour on men with her
dazzling beauty and draws off their lifeforce until they wither away and
die. Dubhlachans, the headless drivers of the Death Coach, strike fear
in the hearts of all with the sound of their snorting steeds and
cracking whips as they rattle through towns to carry off the souls of
the newly deceased. Even the pretty gossamer-gowned Daoine Sidh has the
nasty habit of spiriting unwary mortals away from friends and families
to live in the fairy mounds and dance jigs beneath the moon forever.
Of all the supernatural creatures found in Irish myth, none is more
feared than the Bean Si (Banshee). Hearing her mournful wail was said to
predict the death of a family member and seeing a Banshee foretells
one’s own death. Perhaps the most unsettling trait of these spirits is
that they can appear in the guise of a lovely lass, a maternal Machree
(mother) figure, or an aged woman. Thus, you are well advised to be
courteous to all women regardless of their age. Whether young,
middle-aged, or elder, the Banshee always has long ashen hair that she
untangles with a silver comb. She may wear a flowing dress of white,
green, or black covered by a billowing grey cloak, or she may be wrapped
in a linen grave shroud.
There is some basis for fact in the myth of the Banshee, as it was
common at funerals for a woman to sing a caoineadh from which comes the
modern word ‘keen’ meaning ‘to sing a sad lament.’ While most families’
keeners were mortal women, legend tells that five ancient bloodlines
(the O’Gradys, O’Neills, O’Briens, O’Connors, and Kavanaghs) each had
their own personal Bean Si who would appear to keen the funeral song. As
time passed, however, these families widely intermarried and the
Banshee’s wail, supposedly shrill enough to shatter glass, became feared
by folk throughout the land.
Lastly, there is the Tash – the Irish ghost. From ruined castle and
stately manor house to busy thoroughfares and remote country lanes,
Ireland overflows with stories of ghosts, phantoms, specters, and
wraiths that can appear as humans or dogs, cats, horses, birds, rabbits,
or even butterflies. Most Tash are believed to be the spirits of people
who died violently and are bound on the mortal plane to haunt their
place of death as a lesson to others.
Why we humans enjoy being scared out of our wits is a mystery no one can
explain, but since ancient days, autumn with its death of all
green-growing things has been the chief time to do so, especially on
Samhain (11/7/06) and on All Hallow’s Eve (10/31). Witness the roster of
horror movies that Hollywood releases each October.
This year, how about doing something really scary? Ask some friends over
for a night of spooky Irish storytelling guaranteed to send shivers up
the staunchest spines. Set the scene with copious flickering candles.
Costumes optional, but are advised so that spirits stalking the streets
won’t recognize you. Tasty food and drink must be served to quell the
hunger and quench the thirst of the seanachies. And don’t forget to
leave a plate of Soul Cakes at the door. You might even be visited by
one of the wandering goblins, ghosts, and ghoulies. Sláinte!
For information on artist
Gertrude Degenhardt visit www.gertrude-degenhardt.com
RECIPES
CREEPY CIDER
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Apple cider
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Red food coloring
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Disposable latex gloves
Two days before your Scary Story Night, rinse 6-10 disposable gloves
free of all traces of powder. Fill each glove with water, close tightly
with rubber bands, and place in freezer to harden.
Before guests arrive, fill a large punchbowl with apple cider and add
enough red food coloring to turn the cider a deep shade of ‘blood.’
Remove ice ‘hands’ from the freezer, peel away latex glove material (do
this most easily under running water), and place ‘hands’ in the
punchbowl. [NOTE: Ice ‘hands’ can also be used to chill a bowl of
eyeball crudités. (Adapted from Martha Stewart, Halloween)
EYEBALL CRUDITÉS
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Radishes
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Pimento-stuffed green olives
Trim ends and peel or scrub radishes until streaky red like a bloodshot
eyeball. Carve out a small depression on one side. Slice olives in
halves, and wedge one half cut side out in each depression.
FADGE FINGERS & TOES
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Mashed potatoes, well seasoned
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Flour
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Blanched almonds
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Red food coloring
Add enough flour to the mashed potatoes to make a dough. Take
meatball-sized pieces of dough and roll between your palms until each
piece becomes a knobby 4-inch long 1-inch thick pretzel shape (like a
knuckled finger). Place the fadge ‘fingers’ on a parchment-lined baking
sheet. Dunk one almond per ‘finger’ in a quarter cup of water, tinted
dark red with food coloring, until the almond turns red. Stick an
almond, pointed end out, in one end of each dough strip like a
fingernail. Bake in a preheated 350F oven until firm and lightly browned
(10-15 minutes). To make toes: use walnut-sized pieces of dough and roll
into stubby big toe shapes. Use blanched almonds (undyed and round end
out) for
toenails. Sprinkle with dried dill if you want them to look hairy
(ugh!).
(Adapted from Martha Stewart, Halloween)
SOUL CAKES (Personal Recipe)
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1 3/4 cups oatmeal flakes
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1/4 teaspoon baking powder
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1/2 teaspoon salt
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1 tablespoon melted butter
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8 tablespoons hot water
Preheat oven to 350F. Pulverize 1 cup oatmeal in a blender. In a small
bowl, combine ground oats, baking powder and salt. Stir in butter.
Gradually add water to make a thick dough. Gather into a ball, place on
a board lightly sprinkled with 1/4 cup oatmeal and roll around until
completely covered with oat flakes. Spread another 1/4 cup of oatmeal on
the board and roll the ball to 1/4-inch thick. Cut into 2-inch circles
(I use a whiskey glass). Transfer circles to a pan sprinkled with the
remaining oat flakes. Bake 10-15 minutes or barely brown. Remove from
oven and dry on wire racks. Makes approx 3 dozen. [Serve with a crock of
Port-Cheddar Cheese that looks like it’s streaked with blood.] NOTE: You
may want to double or triple this recipe as Soul Cakes appeal to humans
as well as wandering ghosts.
(Adapted from Martha Stewart, Halloween) |
