We all know about vampires and werewolves, or at least we think we do. The legends and myths that inspired these monsters are sometimes surprisingly different, but no less chilling. In this series of posts, Monster Monday, we’ll investigate the monsters that have informed our modern notions, as well as some lesser known monsters. Today, we talk about the Blue Men of the Minch.

In Scottish folklore, the Blue Men of the Minch are fairy-like or mermaid-like creatures that inhabit the Minch, the strait that separates the northern Highlands of Scotland and the Inner Hebrides from the Outer Hebrides. The are the size of a regular man, but with blue skin, hence the name. They swim with their torsos completely out of the water. When they sleep, they float either on the surface or just underneath.

They are capable of creating storms and try to capsize ships and drown the sailors. In some legends, their chief will approach a boat first and recite two lines of poetry. If the captain of the ship cannot finish the poem, the Blue Men will try to overturn the boat.