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selkies

Selkies are mythological beings from Scottish and Irish folklore, especially in Shetland and Orkney. They are said to be seal folk who can shed their skins to become human on land, and they may return to sea by reclaiming their seal skins. The word selkie derives from Gaelic for seal.

In traditional tales, female selkies often live as humans after marrying a fisherman or farmer. A common

Themes of selkie stories include longing, freedom, and the boundary between sea and land. The seal’s skin

Regional variations exist, with different communities emphasizing different aspects of selkie life—often a blend of romance,

plot
centers
on
a
man
discovering
a
selkie
wife’s
seal
skin,
hiding
it,
and
forcing
her
to
stay
on
land.
When
the
skin
is
eventually
found,
she
can
return
to
the
sea,
sometimes
taking
children
who
are
of
sea-born
lineage.
Male
selkies
appear
in
fewer
stories
but
are
also
depicted
as
shapeshifters
linked
to
coastal
communities.
functions
as
a
license
to
return
to
the
sea,
and
its
discovery
or
loss
drives
the
narrative.
The
lore
reflects
coastal
peoples’
ties
to
the
sea
and
to
creatures
of
the
ocean,
as
well
as
concerns
about
captivity
and
migration.
tragedy,
and
the
supernatural.
In
modern
culture,
selkies
appear
in
literature,
poetry,
and
film
as
symbols
of
dual
nature,
transformation,
and
the
lure
of
the
ocean.