Redcap

VampireScotland · Western EuropeLegendFear 8/10

Description

스코틀랜드 설화에 등장하는 Vampire. The redcap (or powrie) is a type of malevolent, murderous goblin found in folklore of the Anglo-Scot

Origin & Background

The Redcap is a type of malicious and murderous goblin found in the folklore of the Anglo-Scottish border region. It is said that Redcaps particularly inhabit ruined castles where tyranny or evil deeds have occurred.

The Legend

Redcaps are described as 'short, plump old fairy with long prominent teeth, slender fingers with eagle-like sharp claws, burning red eyes, terrible hair flowing over their shoulders, iron boots, a pickaxe in their left hand, and a red hat on their head.' When travelers seek refuge in his lair, he throws large stones at them, and if they kill him, he dyes his hat red with their blood. He is not affected by human strength, but when the words of the Bible or a cross are wielded, he lets out a lonely scream and disappears into the flames, leaving behind large teeth.

Variants

The Redcap story from Perthshire describes him as a gentler little man living in the high room of Grantully Castle. It is said that he bestows good fortune on those who see or hear him. The Dutch folklore's Kabouter (Kaboutermanneken) or Redcap is more similar to Brownies and is generally translated as 'gnome.' The ruins of Blacket Tower, a border fortress owned by the Bell family in the parish of Kirkpatrick-Fleming in Dumfriesshire, are said to be haunted by a traditional ghost known as 'Old Red Cap' or 'Bloody Bell.' Descriptions of this tower and ghost are provided in William Scott Irving's poem 'Fair Helen,' where the 'terrible ghost' is depicted holding a bloody dagger under the red eastern moon.

This article is based on the Wikipedia article "Redcap" (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Wikipedia