I’ve written before about mermaids and even mermaid-themed books, but today we have a twist on that theme. Rather than half-fish, this creature is all seal (and a little bit of magic, too!).

The selkie is a mythological creature that looks like a seal, but can shed its sealskin to become a human on land. They can be both male or female, but either way, they’re said to be very beautiful. Most stories of selkies describe a human falling in love with one and then stealing its sealskin coat so that the selkie has to stay on land. This usually doesn’t work out well for anyone involved, and eventually, the selkie finds its skin and escapes to the sea.

“Selkie” comes from the Scottish word “selch,” meaning grey seal. Stories about selkies (and similar creatures) come from Scotland, Ireland, and Iceland as well. Some historians have suggested that selkie folklore originally grew out of Scottish people meeting and falling in love with Finnish or Inuit people, who often used sealskin cloaks and kayaks.

If you want to see a selkie today (and you’re not able to go as far as Finland), you’re in luck. According to some stories, selkies appear more often during the summer– especially on Midsummer’s Eve. Just keep an eye out for beautiful people who seem to have misplaced their bathing suits when you’re on the beach! But please be respectful and don’t steal their clothing. 😉

Selected Resources

“Selkie.” Myths and Folklore Wiki, here. [Normally I’d avoid any kind of Wiki as a final source, but this page is a great compilation of the various aspects of selkie stories!]

Ventura, Varla. Among the Mermaids: Facts, Myths, and Enchantments from the Sirens of the Sea. Weiser Books, 2013.