The Scottish Lowland names for fairies and are confused in tradition with the Picts, the mysterious people of Scotland who built the Pictish brughs and possibly also the round stone towers. The Pechs were considered tremendous castle builders and were credited with the construction of many of the ancient castles. They could not bear the light of day and so only worked at night, when they took refuge in their brughs or “sitheans” at sunrise. It seems likely that some historic memory of an aboriginal race contributed one strand to the twisted cord of fairy tradition.
Peg Powler
One of the many Green Hags with sharp teeth who drag their victims down to watery graves.
People of Peace
The Irish often referred to the Sidhe in this manner. The word sidhe means peace. See Daoine Sidhe in Faery Lineage.
People in the Hills, the
Fairies who live under the green mounds, or tumuli, all over England.
Phooka
An Irish Goblin with a variety of rough beast like forms. He appears sometimes as a dog or a horse, or even a bull, but is generally jet black with blazing eyes. As seemingly friendly, shaggy, sway backed pony Phooka offers the unwary traveller a welcome lift; but once astride he is taken for a wild and terrifying gallop across the wettest and most thorny country, eventually to be dumped headlong into the mire or deposited in a ditch. The chuckle is that of the Phooka as he gallops away.
Picts
The original peoples who dwelled in the northeastern coast of Ireland. They were called the “Cruithne” and migrated down from Gaul or Galia (France). As the conquering waves of invaders arrived in Ireland, eventually the Picts retreated to the woods and lived in caves and underground forts. They were a small, dark people and became known as the classic Faery people. See Pechs.
Pigsies
See Pixies.
Pixies, or Pigsies, or Piskies
These are the West Country fairies belonging to Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. There are varying traditions about the size, appearance and origin of the Pixies, but all accounts agree about their being dressed in green and about their habit of misleading travelers.
Plant Rhys Dwfen
(plant hree thoovn) The family name of a tribe of fairy people who inhabited a small land which was invisible because of certain herb that grew on it. They were handsome people, rather below the average in height, and it was their custom to attend the market in Cardigan and pay such high prices for the goods there that the ordinary buyer could not compete with them. They were honest and resolute in their dealings, and grateful to people who treated them kindly.
Polevik
A Polish faerie, he appears as a two footed goat and helps to bring in the harvest.
Portunes
Small agricultural fairies. It was their habit to labor on farms, and at night when the doors were shut they would blow up the fire, and, taking frogs from their bosoms, they would roast them on the coals and eat them. They were like very old men with wrinkled faces and wore patched coats.
Puck
Thanks to Shakespeare, the most famous of the mischievous shape shifting hobgoblins. He is closely related to the Welsh Pwca and the Irish Phooka.
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