Mythologies around the world contain some of the scariest tales ever told.
They went on to inspire countless folk songs and horror movies, and still do to this day. The most fascinating thing is their diversity.
Every civilization gave its tales a very specific flavor, and few are as único como o Celta!
Here are some of the scariest myths the Celts ever told, packed with sick curses and monsters!
1. Math fab Mathonwy
The Fourth Branch of the Mabinogion contains a myth so dark it still makes readers wince!
Gwydion was an evil and manipulative sorcerer. Together with his brother, Gilfaethwy, he committed a terrible betrayal of their uncle, Math.
King Math had a virgin footholder named Goewin in his service. Her job was to hold the king’s feet while he slept, and according to the story, her “purity” was required for the job.
However, Gilfaethwy lusted after her, so to help his brother get to Goewin, Gwydion tricked another king into starting a war against Math and distracting him.
Gilfaethwy used that opportunity to assault Goewin.
King Math decided to punish their lust and cruelty in the most terrifying manner he could think of.
He turned the two brothers into a pair of mating animals for three years. First, he turned them into deer, and they had offspring.
Next, he turned them into wild boars, and after that, into wolves.
His goal wasn’t pain but humiliation and a loss of identity, which was exactly what the brothers did to Goewin.
2. The Dullahan
Before you see Dullahan, you hear the hooves of his horse. The sound reaches you in the dead of night, approaching, until you finally see the headless horseman coming your way!
In the Irish myth, this horseman carries his own decaying head under one arm, and he uses it like a lantern while he searches for those doomed to die.
His skin is said to be moldy, like old cheese, and his eyes can spot a dying soul from miles away!
His black horse breathes fire and gallops at an unnatural speed!
There’s only one way to save yourself: show him gold.
Gold is the only charm that works on him, but not for the reasons you might think. He doesn’t take bribes. He’s actually afraid of gold!
This mythical rider is the Death’s courier in the flesh!
3. The Dearg Due
Many mythical monsters chase you, but not Dearg Due. She waits, and you come to her!
Irish legend paints her as a woman of striking beauty. However, her name means “red blood sucker,” and her beauty is bait!
It’s said that she was once a mortal woman forced into a loveless marriage. Her father was cruel, and her husband abusive, and she died of heartbreak.
But Dearg Due came back, and she came back hungry for vingança.
Now she haunts lonely roads and graveyards, appearing to travelers as an irresistible stranger.
She lures them somewhere quiet and then drains every drop of blood from their body!
People tried to stop her by piling stones on her grave, generation after generation. But should the stones ever be disturbed, she turns restless again!
4. The Cù Sìth
Scottish myths speak of a creature that appears on dark, foggy nights. It announces itself by three sharp barks.
The first two barks are a warning. By the time the third sounds, it’s already too late!
Cù Sìth is a shadowy dog that’s said to be the size of a cow! It’s got dark green fur and enormous paws, but despite the striking appearance, no one ever sees it coming.
According to legend, its job is to act as an omen for the fae, often dragging people off to the Otherworld itself!
Farmers and travelers were terrified of encountering it after dark, and mothers used its name to keep children from wandering too far from home.
Some tales say that the first bark can be heard from a great distance. The second means the beast is much closer.
By the third, it’s already at your throat!
5. Balor of the Evil Eye
In this myth, Balor is the one-eyed king of the Fomorians. He needs no claws or weapons to be lethal; eye contact is enough!
O seu single, huge eye is said to be cursed or scorched by dark magic so severe that it became shut. The eye was so swollen that it took multiple people to lift his eyelid!
But the results of lifting it were nothing short of apocalyptic!
With a single glance, Balor could destroy armies and turn people and earth into ash!
Prophecy warned him that he would be killed by his own grandson, so Balor locked his daughter away in a tower so she would never have children.
As it usually happens in mythology, she did have an exceptional son, the hero Lugh!
They engaged in battle, and by the time Balor’s eyelid was lifted, Lugh attacked first, hitting the massive eye with a slingstone!
6. The Púca
The myth of Púca brings you a creature that won’t kill you personally; it will only scare you to death!
Este shape-shifting creature belongs to Irish folklore, and it takes many forms: a black horse, a goat, a rabbit…
However, if you look closely, you might recognize it by its golden eyes.
Its favorite act of mischief is approaching lonely travelers in the form of a horse and inviting them to hop on its back.
Those who are foolish enough to climb on are carried across fields and rivers at neckbreaking speed while the eerie horse laughs at their fear!
The ride always ends the same way: the mythical creature dumps the rider into a patch of thorns or freezing water, and disappears.
While not necessarily deadly, it still forces people to stay inside during November, when it’s most active.
7. The Kelpie
Celtic mythology is filled with mysterious lochs, and one of their many beasts is the Kelpie.
This water spirit can also change shape, and it usually chooses to appear to people as a beautiful pony. It might pretend it’s abandoned or tired, or just looking for affection.
Travelers approach it because of its beauty or simply because they’re tired and want to ride the rest of the way.
But the moment they’re seated, the Kelpie’s skin turns sticky, making it impossible to get off.
The creature then jumps into the lake, dragging the unfortunate victim to the bottom to drown.
Some versions of the myth go even further, claiming that the Kelpie eats the victims. Liver is the only thing it leaves behind, and it surfaced days later as grim evidence.
The only possible defense against the Kelpie is ripping its reins, which causes it to lose control over you.
8. The Cat-Sìth
Across mythologies, cats have a mysterious reputation.
The Cat-Sìth belongs to Scottish folklore, where it’s described as a large, black cat with a single patch of white fur on its chest.
The spectral creature roamed the Highlands, looking for a almas of the recently deceased. It would steal them before they could reach the gods.
This left the souls lost or roaming forever!
When losing a loved one, a family couldn’t permit a Cat-Sìth to step over them or even get near.
This fear actually created the funeral ritual of watching the deceased. In many cultures, someone’s presence is always required by the deceased until the funeral is complete.
Some also believed that the Cat-Sìth was a witch who could turn into a cat nine times before she would be trapped in that shape.
A little Aquarius, devoted to writing and embroidery. Through my writing, I hope to empower readers to align with their true selves and navigate life’s mysteries with confidence.