Also called Flidas, Flidais Foltchaoin.
Their story
Flidais was a woman of the Tuatha Dé Danann linked with wild beasts; medieval poets called deer the cattle of Flidais. In Táin Bó Flidais she is the wife of Ailill Finn and loves Fergus mac Róich, and she owns a marvellous cow that could feed three hundred men in a night. When she went with Fergus, her cattle fed the army of Ulster.
Best times to give to them
- Bealtaine
- Lughnasadh
- when walking in woodland
What they like being given
- milk poured on the earth
- oats
- a donation to wildlife care
- fruit left well away from roads
How to honour them
- Watch deer from a respectful distance and never feed them by roads.
- Support woodland and wildlife conservation in her name.
How they can help you
- connection with wild animals
- abundance
- care of livestock and pets
Symbols
- the deer
- the hornless cow
- the chariot drawn by deer
Modern writers often call her a forest goddess; the medieval texts show her mainly as a wealthy owner of cattle and deer.
Sources
- Táin Bó Flidais
- MacKillop, Oxford Dictionary of Celtic Mythology
More Celtic goddesses
- Brigid Keeper of the sacred flame
- The Morrígan Great Queen of battle and prophecy
- Danu Mother of the Tuatha Dé Danann
- Rhiannon The queen on the white horse
- Cerridwen Keeper of the cauldron of inspiration
- Epona Great Mare, protector of horses
- Arianrhod Lady of the silver wheel
- Airmed Keeper of the healing herbs