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According to legend, the
phooka is a shape-shifter, able to take on a variety of forms. It may appear as
many different animals: horse, rabbit, goat, goblin, or dog,
but its fur is almost always dark. Its name is a cognate of the early Irish
‘poc’, ‘a male goat’, The Púca has the power of human speech, and has been known to give advice and lead people away from danger. Though the
phooka enjoys confusing and sometimes terrifying humans, it is considered to be benevolent.
Certain agricultural traditions surround the Púca. It is a creature associated with
Samhain, when the last of the crops is brought in. Anything remaining in the fields is considered
“puka,” or fairy-blasted, and hence inedible. In some locales, reapers leave a small share of the crop, the “púca’s share,” to placate the hungry creature. Nonetheless, November Day is the
Púca’s day, and the one day of the year when it can be expected to behave civilly.
In Greek mythology satyrs are described as roguish but faint-hearted folk — subversive and dangerous, yet
also shy. As Dionysiac creatures they are lovers of wine, women and boys, and are ready for every physical pleasure. They roam to the music of pipes
(auloi), cymbals, castanets, and bagpipes, and love to dance with the nymphs (with whom they are obsessed, and whom they often pursue), and have a special form of dance called
sikinnis. Because of their love of wine, they are often represented holding
wine-cups, and appear often in the decorations on drinking
vessels.
Ancient deities with goat-horns are found in Gaul and Britain. Many frightening creatures in folklore are wholly or partially goat: the Irish
bocanách; the Manx goayr heddagh; Scottish glaistig (half-woman) and
ùruisg (half-man). A goat was once enthroned in a mock ceremony at
Mullinavat, Co. Kilkenny, while a similar ceremony, the three-day long Puck Fair, a modern survival of the
Lughnasa feast, still draws thousands to Killorglin, Co. Kerry, each August.
All
brooches can also be ordered as necklaces
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Colour: Transparent black with silver foils and 173,111,
241, 186, 50
inspiration
artifact:
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