Púca
Sign in to savethumb|Depiction of the Pwca in Wirt Sikes's book British Goblins: Welsh Folk-lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions, 1880
Article
12 sectionsContents
- Etymology and analogues
- Nature of the púca
- Morphology and physiology
- Agricultural traditions
- Regional variations
- Art and popular culture
- See also
- Explanatory footnotes
- References
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Further reading
thumb|Depiction of the Pwca in Wirt Sikes's book British Goblins: Welsh Folk-lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions, 1880
The púca (Irish for spirit/ghost; plural púcaí), puca (Old English for goblin), also pwca, pooka, pookah, phouka, and puck, is a creature of Celtic, English, and Channel Islands folklore. Considered to be bringers both of good and bad fortune, they could help or hinder rural and marine communities. Púcaí can have dark or white fur or hair. The creatures were said to be shape-changers that could take the appearance of horses, goats, cats, dogs, and hares. They may also take a human disguise, which includes various animal features, such as animal ears or a tail.