Also called the Shetland wolf-man.
The tale
The wulver of Shetland has a man's body and a wolf's head, covered in short brown hair. He lived in a cave dug into a hillside and spent hours fishing from a rock called the Wulver's Stane. He did no harm to anyone, and would often leave fish on the windowsills of poor families.
When they are met
- on lean winter days
- when fishing from the shore
Staying on their good side
- leave him in peace at his fishing rock
- repay kindness with kindness
- give to those in need
Honouring them, or keeping safe
- Leave food for someone struggling, as he left fish on the windowsills of the poor.
- Donate to a local food bank in his honour.
What their tales teach
- the tales teach that kindness hides in unexpected shapes
- charity
- not judging by appearance
Symbols
- the wolf's head
- fish on a windowsill
- the fishing rock
He is known mainly from Jessie Saxby's twentieth-century account.
Sources
- Saxby, Shetland Traditional Lore
More Celtic folklore
- The Banshee The keening woman of the fairy mound
- Selkies The seal folk who come ashore
- The Púca The shape-shifter of November
- The Aos Sí The people of the fairy mounds
- The Kelpie The water horse of the lochs
- The Tylwyth Teg The Fair Family of Wales
- Leprechaun The solitary fairy shoemaker
- Clurichaun The fairy of the wine cellar