Ghillie Dhu

In Scottish folklore the Ghillie Dhu is "Ghillie Dubh" is a faerie, a guardian spirit of the trees. He is kind to children, but generally wild and shy. Said to be dark haired, he is described as clothed in leaves and moss (similar to a Green Man in England and Wales). He especially likes birch trees, and is most active at night. In lore, this solitary spirit is said to reside primarily near Gairloch and Loch a Druing.

pquote|There was once a fairy exile who lived in a wood in Gairloch, Ross-shire. He was called Gillie Dhu, which means "dark servant", because he had dark hair and dark eyes. He wore a green garment made of moss and the leaves of trees. Nobody feared him, for he never did any harm.Once a little girl, whose name was Jessie Macrae, was wandering in the wood and lost her way. It was in summer time, and the air waswarm. When evening came on Jessie began to grow afraid, but although she hastened her steps she could not find her way out of the wood. At length, weary and footsore, she sat down below a fir tree and began to weep. A voice spoke to her suddenly from behind, saying: "Why are you crying, little girl?"

Jessie looked round and saw the Gillie Dhu. He had hair black as the wing of a raven, eyes brown as hazel-nuts in September, and hismouth was large; he had a hundred teeth, which were as small as herring bones. The Gillie Dhu was smiling: his cream-yellow cheeks had merry dimples, and his eyes were soft and kindly. Had Jessie seen him at a distance, with his clothing of moss and leaves, she would have run away in terror, but as he seemed so kindly and friendly she did not feel the least afraid."Why are you crying, little girl?" the Gillie asked again. "Your tear-drops are falling like dew on the little blue flowers at your feet."

"I have lost my way," said Jessie in a low voice, "and the night is coming on."

Said the Gillie: "Do not cry, little girl; I shall lead you through the wood. I know every path--the rabbit's path, the hare's path, the fox's path, the goat's path, the path of the deer, and the path of men."

"Oh, thank you, thank you!" Jessie said. She looked the fairy up and down, and wondered to see his strange clothing.

"Where do you dwell, little girl?" asked Gillie Dhu.

Jessie told him, and he said: "You have been walking every way but the right way. Follow me, and you'll reach home before the little stars come out to peer at me through the trees."The Gillie turned round about, and began to trip lightly in front of the girl. He went so fast that she feared she would lose sight of him, but he turned round again and again, and when he found she was far behind, he danced a pretty dance until she came up to him. Then he scampered on as before.At length Jessie reached the edge of the wood, and saw her home beside the loch. The Gillie bade her good-bye, and said: "Have I not led you well? Do not forget me. I am the Gillie Dhu, and I love little girls and little boys. If ever you get lost in the wood again, I shall come to your aid. Good-bye, little girl, good-bye."He laughed merrily, and then trotted away and was soon lost to sight among the trees.From "A Hundred Years in the Highlands" (Mackenzie pp. 175,176)

Etymology

"Ghillie Dhu" translates from Scottish Gaelic as Dark Servant

Modern Uses

* Ghillie Dhu are a "race" in the RPG

References

1. Mackenzie, Osgood Hanbury (1949) "A Hundred Years in the Highlands" [http://books.google.com/books?id=5b8kAAAAMAAJ&q=hundred+years+in+the+highlands&dq=hundred+years+in+the+highlands&pgis=1]

2. Briggs, Katharine Mary (2002). "The Fairies in Tradition and Literature" [http://books.google.com/books?id=si_cXO1yJNwC&pg=PA284&lpg=PA284&dq=ghillie+dhu&source=web&ots=nrl0vHi_KW&sig=ukgW07_jrps72es_R2eVRQi0SPQ#PPA284,M1] . pp. 284. Routledge; 2 edition (July 30, 2002)

ee also

*Dryad
*Ghillie suit
*Gillie
*Sidhe

External links

2. EncyclopediaMythica [http://www.pantheon.org/articles/g/ghillie_dhu.html] 3. Mysterious Britain [http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/folklore/scottishfolkapp.html#GlossG] 4. Tour Dunkeld [http://www.visitdunkeld.com/faeries.htm]