Trows of Yuletide: Shetland’s Festive Folklore

Annie and Jenny explore the Shetlandic legends of the trows, wee fairy folks who become especially active during the season of Yule.

We explore how Shetlanders have interacted with the trow folk over the past few centuries, and question ‘are there any trows left?’ What happens when people stop believing in trows, and where do the trows go?

Why are trows so interested in drinking and merriment over the winter season?

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Some of the music you heard in this episode was beautifully played by Nicky Murray and Chloe Rodgers.

References:

Fairies Frequent a Well on a Shetland Island, Contributor: Brucie Anderson, Fieldworker: Calum Iain Maclean, SA1956.129, The School of Scottish Studies Archives, University of Edinburgh. [https://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/33428]

Playing the Fiddle at Yule Celebrations, Contributor: Tom Anderson, Fieldworker: Aom Atkinson, SA1977.010, The School of Scottish Studies Archives, University of Edinburgh. [https://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/79451]

A Minister Ousted the Trows with His Preaching, Contributor: Tom Tulloch, Fieldworker: Alan J Bruford, SA1978.63, The School of Scottish Studies Archives, University of Edinburgh. [https://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/81182]

Auld Yule Een, Contributor: Tom Tulloch, Fieldworker: Peter Rich Cooke, SA1973.6.1, The School of Scottish Studies Archives, University of Edinburgh. [https://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/81530

We use articles from The Scotsman in 1914.