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Image by J.L.Hopgood |
CHANGELING
Noun & adjective. Mid-16th century.
[from CHANGE verb + -LING.]
A1 noun. A person given to change; a waverer, a turncoat. archaic. M16
A2 noun. A person or thing (surreptitiously) put in exchange for another;
specifically a child secretly substituted for another in infancy. M16
3 A halfwitted person. archaic. E17
B obsolete. adj. Changeable, variable, inconstant. M17-E18
A particularly disturbing myth from folklore is that of changelings - creatures that were substituted for human children during infancy, variously by fairies, trolls, the Devil, or some other malevolent force. Common to the folklore of Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales and Scandinavia, changelings would usually be deceptively human in appearance, but would subsequently manifest some inhuman behaviour as they grew, such as displaying great strength, abnormal features, or never developing the ability to walk or talk. The motives for changelings varied - some believed the abducted human children were raised as slaves to their new families, others that it was for some necessary mixing of human and non-human bloodlines; it was often said that only unbaptised babies were taken, or that their human blood was used in paying some kind of tithe to Hell. Unsurprisingly, various superstitions arose to ward off creatures that might substitute a changeling, such as the use of charms and amulets, or simply keeping a constant watch over a child lest it be taken away.
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Two trolls leading away their abducted human child John Bauer (1882-1918) |
Are there tales of changelings where you're from?
Do please comment in the box below.
Are there any parents in the world who haven't occasionally wondered if they've got a changeling on their hands? This genetic stuff isn't all it's made out to be, you know.
ReplyDeleteThere are certainly kids out there who have always wondered if their real parents aren't in fact Lord and Lady Richington from the Barony of Mintington in the Duchy of Loaded-on-Thames.
DeleteOne can dream anyway ...
Yes Im sure my son is a Changeling, What if these autistic children, like my son are actually Changelings
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