Pooka: Solitary Spirit And Not Entirely Benevolent Prankster In Irish Folklore
A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - One of the most famous creatures of Celtic folklore is the Pooka (or puca).
Pooka is a November spirit and it is worth mentioning that November-day is sacred to this creature. This staring phantom has many shapes. One time it is a horse, another time it appears as an ass or perhaps a bull, a goat, or an eagle.
The Pooka promised Brian Boru , the High King of Ireland. He was the only one man has ever managed to ride the pooka.
Ancient people’s beliefs say that if you treat the Pooka with respect, this creature will give you helpful advice or an important prophecy.
It is commonly believed that the Pooka has the power of human speech, and used it to lead people away from harm.
But if the Pooka is offended, it can vandalize your house and destroy crops, when it usually comes at night and enjoys creating mischief and havoc.
This creature seems to be the most feared faerie in Ireland and many people don’t really understand why, because there are no records of any incidents of a Pooka actually causing a human any harm.
This psychological fear in people who believe in them can be compared to the devil in Christianity that creates fear in Christians.
According to legend, a Pooka, which lives in the mountains and hills, is a quick and skillful shapeshifter, capable of assuming a great variety of terrifying or nice and good-looking and trustworthy forms. It may appear as a goat, dog, rabbit, goblin, but often, it takes a shape of a black horse with a flowing mane and luminescent golden eyes.
In this form, the Pooka wanders across vast areas of countryside, always at night, destroying gates and fences, damaging crops, and generally causing small disasters.
What's important is that no matter what shape it takes, its fur is almost always very dark or black.
There is not only one Pooka but many of them; they can be found in any rural location across Ireland, in the vicinity of small springs and mountainous lakes. Such locations are called by the Irish people ‘Pooka Pools’ or ‘Pollaphuca’, which means Pooka or Demon Hole.
Over the last thousand years, Christians have changed the name of certain Pooka Pools, which today are called St. Patrick’s Wells
The old belief in this fascinating prankster still exists, along with a lot of old customs and superstitions. If you would like to consult the Pooka, you can wait at night on November 1, (the Pookas Day). The creature appears and gives prophecies and all kinds of warnings to those who wish to consult it.
Though not classified as wholly malevolent, this spirit is considered to be a vicious prankster that really enjoys confusing and terrifying both people and livestock.
Tradition has it that only one man has ever managed to ride the pooka and that was Brian Boru, the High King of Ireland.
Using a special bridle containing three hairs from the pooka's tail, Brian managed to control the magic horse and stay on its back until, exhausted, it surrendered to his will.
The Pooka promised Brian Boru two things: firstly, that it would no longer torment Christian people and ruin their property, and secondly, that it would never again attack an Irishmen except those who are drunk or abroad with evil intent.
The spirit kept the promises but only over the intervening years. Later, it seems to have forgotten its bargain and began new attacks on properties and travelers on their way home and so it continues to this day.
Written by – A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer
Updated on January 22, 2024
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
More From Ancient Pages
-
Ancient Egyptian Blue Powder Makes Fingerprints Glow And Will Be Used By Crime Scene Investigators
Ancient Technology | Jun 15, 2017
-
Mythical Temple Of Wingded Warrior God Haldi In The ‘City Of The Raven’
Civilizations | Jul 21, 2016
-
Unique Ancient Figurine Puzzles Scientists – Was She An Unknown Pre-Historic Water Goddess?
Archaeology | Jul 21, 2022
-
Advanced Flying Machines And Interplanetary Travel Described 7000 Years Ago In India
Civilizations | Aug 20, 2015
-
Hawass Says Claims That The Ancient Egyptian Civilization Was Black Are Lies
Civilizations | Jun 21, 2024
-
Binary Code Was Used In Ancient India And Polynesia Long Before Leibnitz Invented It
Ancient Technology | Sep 28, 2017
-
Palermo Stone: One Of The Earliest History Records Of Ancient Egypt
Artifacts | Apr 15, 2016
-
Archaeologists Dug For Evidence Of The Rosetta Stone’s Ancient Egyptian Rebellion – Here’s What They Found
Archaeology | Mar 7, 2023
-
Men And Women Had Equal Access To Resources 6,000 Years Ago
Archaeology | Jun 17, 2024
-
Fragment Of Unique Egyptian Sphinx Unearthed In North Israel
Archaeology | Jul 13, 2013
-
Are Thunderbird Petroglyphs In Bighorn Basin Linked To Golden Eagle Nests?
Civilizations | Apr 26, 2017
-
Numa Pompilius – Remarkable Legendary Second King Of Ancient Rome Who Succeeded Romulus – Did He Ever Exist?
Featured Stories | Mar 2, 2018
-
Egypt Calls On Christie’s Auction House In London To Stop Sale Of Tutankhamun Statue Head
Archaeology | Jun 14, 2019
-
Secret Catacombs With Incredible Ancient Skeletons Covered In Priceless Jewelry
Featured Stories | Nov 20, 2018
-
Oldest Fossil Human Footprints In North America Confirmed
Archaeology | Oct 6, 2023
-
Thousand Unearted Artifacts Reveal ‘Major’ Ancient Migration To Timor Island
Archaeology | May 23, 2024
-
Spread Of Early Farming Across Atlantic Coast Of Europe – In New Light
Archaeology | Apr 27, 2020
-
Persephone: Greek Goddess Of The Coming Spring And Lady Of The Land Of The Dead
Featured Stories | Jun 26, 2021
-
Vettuvan Koil Temple Spectacular Monolith Dedicated To Lord Shiva And Built By Pandya Dynasty
Featured Stories | May 25, 2021
-
Amazing Ancient Chumash Cave Paintings In California Offer Insight Into Ancient Shamanism And Supernatural Beliefs
Civilizations | Nov 5, 2018