Púca

Púca, also Puka, Phooka, Phuka, Pooka, welsh Pwca or Bwca, Cornish Bucca, in Manx Glashtyn, is a creature from Celtic mythology. He is a mischievous and magical powerful but relatively harmless ghost or goblin who lives in the ground along with gnomes and dwarves. In Ireland, it belongs in the vicinity of the Fairies and Leprechauns from the Side, in Scotland, to the brownies. It can be associated with the Gaulish god Bugius and the German Puk. Especially at Samhain Púcas should appear to men in Ireland. The Welsh / Cornish Knockers are very similar to Púcas.

Púcas are changeling, every now and then they appear in human form of various animal forms, such as a dog, goat or horse, but always with black fur. The preferred form is the appearance of a black ponies. Unwary travelers invites Puca like a ride on his back a who but soon turns out to be a horror trip over hill and dale and sometimes through brambles for the unsuspecting traveler. Most Puca throws his "guest" then somewhere in the bog off and disappears under guffaws.

Since Púcas speak the language of the people, they can also warn of disaster but sometimes. When grain harvesting is all that remains after Samhain in the fields of grain ears, the property of Púcas. After Ó Súilleabháin Halloween is also called " Puca night".