Selkies are faeries from Orkney and Shetland. They take the form of seals in the sea, but when they come ashore they shed their seal skins and assume human form. Some say they are bewitched humans who can come ashore on Midsummer Eve, cast off their seal skins, and resume their true shape. Others say they are faeries and can only take a human shape at certain times, perhaps only every Midsummer Eve, though others say it is every ninth night.
Once ashore and in human form, the selkie-folk will dance on the seashore and if they are disturbed they will grab their skins and run back to the sea. If a man can steal and hide the shed skin he can force a selkie maid to marry him, though if she ever finds her skin she will put it on and be off back to the sea. The man will pine away and die of a broken heart. Though the female selkies sometimes marry humans, they can never settle: their dual nature means they are not truly happy either in the sea or on land.
Descendantsof such unions have webbed fingers and toes or a horny substance on their palms and soles. The Mac Codrum clan from North Ulst in the Hebrides claim descent from selkies; they are known as Sliochd nan Ron, the Offspring of Seals. A distant ancestor stole the skin of a seal maiden as she danced and kept it hidden for many years, during which time she bore him many children.
The male selkies also come ashore to make love to human women, to whom they appear very seductive. Island men who do not keep their wives satisfied risk their wives taking selkie lovers. If a human woman wants to attract a male selkie for a lover, she should go to the sea and drop seven tears in it at high tide. Generally, the male selkies have no love for humans, causing storms and overturning the boats of seal hunters and fishermen.
According to folklore of the Orkneys, selkies are fallen angels, thrown out of heaven and into the sea after offending God. Others say that they are the souls of drowned humans, allowed once a year to resume a human shape. Tales of seal people are found all over Shetland, Orkney, the Hebrides and Faroe Islands. Seals are a common sight in these parts and the name of Orkney is derived from the Norse Orkneyjar meaning ‘Seal Islands’.
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