With the first half of Outlander season 1 wrapping up, many fans might be looking for ways to keep the excitement alive. Aside from diving into the books, exploring the rich folklore that inspired Diana Gabaldon’s book series and Ronald Moore’s TV adaptation can be quite fulfilling. Have you ever wondered about the mythical standing stone circles, Druids, and witches in the Scottish Highlands?
The Scottish Highlands have always been steeped in storytelling traditions that date back centuries. Bards, harpers, and seanachies were the original storytellers, while Christian scribes, mainly monks, documented Scottish history, folktales, and songs. These scribes were akin to the Grimm brothers who collected and wrote down oral stories. By the 1600s, wandering seanachies began traveling and sharing tales tailored to their audiences. In the Outlander TV series, there’s even a bard singing folk tales to the clan, instilling hope in Claire that she might return home by escaping to Craigh na Dun, a direct nod to the cultural significance of standing stone circles.
Sorche Nic Leodhas points out in “Heather and Broom: Tales of the Scottish Highlands” that Highland and Lowland Scottish tales differ in their storytelling styles. Highland tales are more poetic and dance-like, while Lowland tales are straightforward. Interestingly, in Highland stories, witches were feared, but fairy folk were considered a different race that humans lived alongside intimately. This perspective often appears in their folklore, portraying witches as either malevolent figures or misunderstood healers, and fairy folk as beings you should be cautious around.
Scottish Highland folklore also reflects the society’s deep superstitions and pride in their ancestry and homeland. This is evident in Outlander when the characters misinterpret events based on these superstitions. For example, Claire’s fear of being accused of witchcraft and the misbelief that two boys were possessed by a devil instead of poisoned by a deadly plant show the impact of these fears. Such themes are also present in stories like “The Witch of Fife” where a man discovers his wife is a witch and meets a grim fate.
The mystical elements of the Scottish Highlands include deep belief in fairies, brownies, giants, and other magical beings. This rich oral tradition provides a perfect backdrop for Outlander’s story of time travel through standing stones.
In Episode 3, Claire hears a folktale, translated by Jamie, which mirrors her own experiences. Though the tale is fictional, it draws on real folklore surrounding the Eve of Samhain, a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the new year. According to Irish mythology, Samhain is when the boundary between the otherworld and our world is at its thinnest, allowing spirits to cross over. This is where Halloween has its roots.
Claire’s journey back in time coincides with a Samhain ritual, blending ancient legends about the standing stones and the festival. Such tales make for fascinating storytelling, suggesting that “travel” can mean more than just physical journeys—it can also be a journey through time, as seen when Frank encounters a ghostly figure in Episode 1.
The standing stones, specifically Craigh na Dun in Outlander, are fictional, but they have real-world counterparts in Scotland that intrigued Gabaldon. Inspired by their mysterious purpose, she imagined them as portals through time, a concept further explored by Mrs. Graham in the show. Folktales often describe the stones as having supernatural properties and being protected by spirits, with severe consequences for those who tamper with them. Some stones are even said to move yearly in a “march,” adding to their enigmatic presence.
The show and books weave these elements of folklore into their narrative, using the standing stones and Samhain rituals to explain Claire’s time travel. This blend of myth and history enriches the story, making everything come together seamlessly.
Additionally, while Outlander touches on many aspects of Scottish and Celtic folklore, including sea legends like the Loch Ness monster, these stories add another layer to the rich tapestry of the series.
For those captivated by Outlander and its filming locations, there’s now an Outlander Tour in Scotland offered by Brit Movie Tours. It’s a day tour guided by a local expert that takes you to filming locations such as Inverness and Castle Leoch. If you’re interested, you might want to check it out for a deeper dive into the world of Outlander.
