Hello Wicked Hares! Today I was quickly calculating the number of designs I have ready for Nashville, and, as usual, I started to panic… Since my beloved model stitcher is incredibly busy, I decided to take my time to calmly work on something I’ve been putting off for quite a while: the legend of the Fairy Flag of Dunvegan.
I don’t usually reveal what I’ll be bringing to Nashville before my newsletter is ready, but since it will take a little longer to have the photographs ready to send to the shops, I thought I’d at least share a beautiful story with you.
Do you know the legend of the Fairy Flag? No? Well, let me tell you about it… Enjoy!
The Fairy Flag of Dunvegan, a cherished relic of Clan MacLeod, is surrounded by an enchanting legend steeped in magic and devotion. One of the most captivating versions of the story begins on a night of celebration at Dunvegan Castle. The MacLeods were hosting a grand feast, and the halls were alive with music, laughter, and dancing. Among those caught up in the revelry was the nursemaid charged with caring for the clan’s infant heir.
Eager to join the festivities, the nursemaid left the baby unattended in his cradle in the castle’s tower. As the night wore on, the child awoke, disturbed by the cold draughts that swept through the stone chamber. Dislodging the covers that had been wrapped around him, the baby began to cry, his wails echoing faintly above the noise of the celebration.
Unheard by the revelers below, the infant’s cries reached the ears of the fairies, who were said to dwell in the nearby glens and hills. Drawn by the sound of his distress and moved by the child’s innocence, the fairies entered the tower to comfort him. They sang lullabies sweeter than any mortal tune and wrapped the infant in a shawl of gossamer silk, shimmering with an ethereal glow. This enchanted shawl, imbued with their protective magic, became what is now known as the Fairy Flag of Dunvegan.
The flag’s powers, according to legend, are extraordinary. When unfurled, it could summon aid in battle, protect the clan from harm, ensure abundance, or even heal the sick. However, these magical blessings came with a cost: the flag’s power could only be invoked three times, and after the final use, its enchantment would be exhausted forever and the flag returned to the Fairies.
Despite the passage of centuries, the Fairy Flag has endured, fragile yet revered, as a symbol of the enduring bond between the MacLeods and the mystical realm of the fairies. Today, it resides in Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye, a reminder of the deep magic that once wove its way into the lives of those who walked the rugged landscapes of Scotland. And it can still be used one more time. One more…..
©the primitive hare for text and pictures
flag from Pinterest
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