Friday, February 18, 2011

Creature Feature: Changelings





Changeling legends were popular in Europe, especially during medieval times. Fairies, trolls or other strange creatures would steal the offspring of humans and exchange them for their own children or an object enchanted to look like a human child. The new child, or changeling, would then be cared for by the unsuspecting parents. The creatures could then take the human baby back to their world where they could raise it as their own child, exploit it, or feed on it. Male children tended to be taken more frequently than female ones, and babies with blond hair and blue eyes were thought to be the most desirable to the fairy world.

Some people believe that the changeling legend was actually started during invasions when people would steal healthy children in exchange for sick ones. People strongly believed in the concept of changelings and often children with birth defects, high levels of intelligence, or strange habits were thought to be changelings.

 Some children suspected to be changelings were abused, killed, or left to die by their parents. Many cultures had rituals that were intended to expose a changeling, such as boiling beer in an egg shell or suspending the child over fire. This was thought to cause the changeling to expose itself or run back to its own world. The changeling legend, like so many others, was a way for people to explain something they couldn’t understand.

Have you ever heard any stories about changelings?

9 comments:

  1. Just the George C. Scott ghost story called "Changeling". It's very frightening and if you've never seen it, I suggest you netlix it and watch it.

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  2. I have heard of them but they don't seem to be one of the myths too prevalent in today's society.

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  3. I have something I would like to show you Alyson but would have to put it as an attachment in E-Mail. I thought I would talk to you about it before I sent it so you would know who it comes from.

    Would this be OK?

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  4. Jennifer, go ahead and send it. Thanks for the heads up, I'm usually a bit leery of attatchments unless I know where they are coming from.

    Michael, I haven't seen that film but I've seen it advertised and it looks pretty good.

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  5. I have heard stories such as the ones you are talking about. I love the idea of a changling, even though it is quite upsetting to read that it was believed that children with disabilities were changlings!

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  6. It is a pretty interesting concept Stu, except for poor children mistaken for changelings!

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  7. That's pretty interesting.
    But why would fairies prefer babies with blonde hair and blue eyes?

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    1. I'm really not sure. Maybe that combination is unusual or different to them, so it catches their attention.

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    2. I'm really not sure. Maybe that combination is unusual or different to them, so it catches their attention.

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