Scottish Folk Creatures
The Trowies
Trowie Folktales
The trowie is a creature that is common in folktales of the Shetland islands in northern Scotland. In the past, these islands were passed between Scotland and Norway making the culture of these islands heavily influenced by both countries. The trowie is a small fairy spirit that resembles a troll. In different cultures they are different sized, but tales of the trowie in the Shetland islands describe them as small creatures that live in the ground and come out at night to cause mischief. Trowies are said to have a fondness for music, especially fiddle music. Some tales describe trowies kidnapping fiddlers and bringing them back to their earth mounds where they engage in revelry. After what seems to have been just a short stay for the fiddler, they leave the mound only to find that many years have passed and because of this, the fiddler turns to dust. Keeping with the idea that trowies play the fiddle, in the traditional Shetland music culture, there are many tunes called “trowie tunes” that are said to either have been written by the trowies or just named after them. Such tunes include The Trowie Burn, Da Peerie Hoose in under da Hill, and Da Trow’s Reel.
Mythical Origins
Trowies tales are heavily influenced by Norse folklore. The name is reminiscent of the Norwegian word trold which means troll. The word drow is also used to describe trowie. This word comes from a dialect of Scots Gaelic. This word drow is also seen in an extinct language that was once used around the Shetland islands. The idea that some traditional tunes were learned from fairies or fae-like spirits is also an idea that stems heavily from old Norse and Celtic folklore. Because it is said that trowies live in mounds in the earth there are many geologic features, especially on the Orkney islands that are rumored to be trow-haunted. It is theorized that tales of the trowies were inspired by the Picts, who were sent into hiding by the vikings when they invaded the Shetland islands. The Picts were much smaller and darker than the blond vikings and hid in sea caves when their land was stolen, only coming out at night to steal from the vikings.
