Guernsey Folklore
Throughout the generations, Guernsey families have handed down dozens of stories of fairies, witches and other mythical beings. And, over the years, history and legend have become inextricably linked as many edifices built by early settlers became associated with less worldly beings.
Take, for example, Le Creux es Faies, a Neolithic passage in the parish of St Peter’s. Folklore would have us believe that this was the entrance to fairyland and the night fairies came out to play there. At Pezeries Point, in Torteval, a stone circle built in the 1700s is known locally as the Fairy Ring is believed to make wishes come true for those who walk around it three times.
Fairies and witches
According to legend, two different types of fairy, those who invaded the island and the indigenous species known as Pouques, inhabited Guernsey. It was believed that these generally liked to live in caves but occasionally some would prefer the warmth of a cottage fire. They would do no harm and often helped out local families in return for a favour.
One of the oldest Guernsey legends tells of two such fairies, Le Grand Colin and Le Petit Colin, who used to bake at night using the furze oven of a local couple, Colette and Jacque. Now Colette had become aware of their existence but did nothing as every morning in way of recompense, there was a lovely white loaf and some Guernsey gâche and sometimes even a bean jar on the table. However, when she told her husband he was not so tolerant and tried to catch the fairies. Once the two Colins found out, they were very angry and marched out of the cottage, banging the door behind them and never again was there free food on the couple’s table. So, if you are lucky enough to have fairies in your home, it is best to be nice to them.
The fairies that invaded the island were generally not so pleasant as they had a tendency to steal local women. One fairy prince from across the seas put a spell on a beautiful local girl, Michelle, and took her away to fairyland, leaving behind a magical pink lily to comfort her family. The flower, now known as Nerine sarniensis or the Guernsey lily, is to be seen blooming in Island gardens in October, as well as the Nerine Festival, held at Candie Gardens.
And Guernsey was once invaded by an army of fairy soldiers who landed at Vazon and killed all the local men (apart from two who had hidden in an oven!) and Rouge Rue in St Peter Port, said to be the scene of this great battle, is so named because of all the blood that flowed there. These invaders had fallen for the beauty of Guernsey women after a compatriot had brought one home as his bride. Once victorious, the fairies treated the local women well, often marrying them, tending the fields and bringing food to the table. They stayed on the island for some considerable time, bringing an era of peace and tranquillity.
However, fairy folk who come to the land of mortals are not allowed to stay forever and the day came when they had to leave - but the island has prospered ever since.
Fairyblood and Guernseymen
It is said that Guernseymen are shorter than average because of the fairy blood running through their veins, which also has made them polite, industrious and helpful. Local witches, benefited too as they no longer needed broomsticks to fly because of their inherited invisible wings.
When travelling around the island, visitors can see evidence of these local witches as traditional Guernsey granite houses often have a ‘corbel’, a protruding stone, specifically designed for them to rest on. It was thought safer to be kind to witches and encourage them to sit down outside the home rather than cause havoc within!
Many legends exist around witchcraft, some very dark and others not quite so. One of the lighter ones is that of a witch who got tangled in a hedge on her way to a meeting. A local woman named Nicolette rescued her. Before leaving, the witch warned against mentioning the incident to a mortal soul. However, Nicolette thought she could get around the command and asked her husband to follow her into the garden and stand by a clump of Guernsey lilies. Then she walked a few paces away and told the tale to a tree. However, this subterfuge didn’t work and before the close of day, Nicolette was struck with deafness, thus proving that it is very difficult to outwit a witch!
For further details on folklore sites on Guernsey click here