Open call for traditional supernatural tales! If you live in Scotland and know any traditional supernatural stories, we would love to hear from you.
Inspired by Walter Scott’s interest in Scottish supernatural stories and the ‘community of fable’ created by the ‘transmission of similar tales from age to age, and from country to country’, researchers from the Walter Scott Research Centre are gathering traditional supernatural tales told by people living in Scotland today.
We welcome stories from Scotland and other countries and cultures about:
- mythical creatures (selkies, kelpies, banshees, giants, dragons etc.)
- fairy folk (elves, fairies, brownies, imps etc.)
- magic (witches, wizards, enchantments)
- visions, prophecies, psychic abilities (second-sight)
- spirits, ghosts, hauntings
- other supernatural creatures or occurrences
Following our wonderful Being Human Festival events, the 'Communities of Fable' project will continue in 2024 with an online exhibition, thanks to the generous support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund. We have therefore extended our open call for traditional supernatural tales and a selection will be featured in the online exhibition. You can choose to submit your tale anonymously or provide your details along with the story.
You can take part in this exciting project by sharing the supernatural tales you've heard to preserve our traditional stories and create new communities of fable. Click on the panel to submit your tale today!
If you have any questions about the project or encounter any difficulties with the online submission form please email community.of.fable@gmail.com.
This event was set up as part of the Being Human Festival 2023 – Communities of Fable: Telling and Retelling Supernatural Tales, led by the Walter Scott Research Centre, University of Aberdeen, with the support of our community partners Abbotsford, Aberdeen Arts Centre and the Grampian Regional Equality Council.
The project is made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Being Human is the UK’s national festival of the humanities. The 2023 edition took place from 9–18 November 2023, led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, with generous support from Research England, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy. For further information please see beinghumanfestival.org.
You can find full details on our series of activities for the Being Human Festival here.
