Get ready to dive into the wild tale of Tam Lin, where a fearless gal named Janet takes a stroll through the haunted woods of Caterhaugh and bumps into a fairy knight. Seriously, this isn’t your run-of-the-mill fairy tale; it’s got twists, turns, and a hefty dose of bravery. So, picture this: Janet, ignoring all the spooky warnings, picks a rose and summons Tam Lin, who’s got a bit of a backstory – he’s trapped in the fairy realm and on the verge of becoming a sacrifice. But don’t worry, Janet’s not just a damsel in distress; she’s ready to break the rules and rescue him in a showdown of epic proportions. This story’s all about taking charge, defying the odds, and proving that sometimes the rebels are the real heroes. So, buckle up, because we’re about to unpack some serious folklore magic!

Takeaways:

• Bitesized Folklore serves up eerie stories and customs, with a side of friendly banter.
• The tale of Tam Lin is a bold adventure where a woman breaks the rules to save her love.
• In Caterhaugh, the local lore warns about a ghostly knight and mischievous fairies, so beware!
• Janet's brave act of defiance against the fairy queen shows us that love takes courage.
• The story highlights the importance of agency and challenging the status quo in relationships.
• Tam Lin's transformation during the rescue scene is a wild ride of magic and danger, but Janet holds on tight.

Welcome back to Bitesized Folklore, where we serve up strange stories, eerie encounters and curious customs one bite at a time.

Today we're headed to the misty borderlands between Scotland and England, to the haunted woods of Caterhaugh, where a bold young woman met a mysterious knight and unraveled a centuries old spell. This is the tale of Tam Lin. The story of Tam Lin has been passed down for centuries, most famously through the old Scottish ballads.

Sung by travelling balladeers and whispered in low voices by firesides is part of the Child Ballads, a collection of old English and Scottish folk songs that were compiled in the 19th century by Francis James Child. But even before that, people on the border regions knew the name Tam Lin and they knew to stay wary of Caterhaugh.

Caterhaugh is a real place, tucked between Selkirk and the Ettrick Forest in the Scottish Borders. But in folklore, it's no ordinary glade. It's said that if a maiden wanders there alone, she might meet the fairy knight Tam Lin.

Once, a young woman named Janet, spirited, noble born and not one for obeying rules, rode into those woods despite every warning. The locals whispered of a ghostly rider who demanded payment from trespassers. A token, a glove, even a lock of hair. But Janet, she wasn't afraid.

She picked a rose from the forest floor. And right on cue, Tam Lin appeared. He asked why she'd come. She said plainly, the land is mine to walk, and if roses grow here, I'll gather them.

Bold move. But Tam Lin was impressed. And here's where things get a little bit complicated. Tam Lin revealed he wasn't a ghost. Or not quite.

He was once a mortal knight, captured by the Queen of the fairies, who kept him trapped in her realm beneath the hill. Once every seven years, the Fair Folk must pay a tithe to Hell, and Tam feared he would be the next chosen sacrifice.

But there was one chance to free him. On Halloween night, the queen and her court would ride through the forest from fairy mound to mound. Tam Lin would be among them.

He told Janet, if you love me, if you dare, pull me from my horse and hold on tight, no matter what I become. And here's the kicker. He'd change into a serpent, a lion, a burning brand, a lump of red hot iron.

The fairies would try to scare her off, but if she held on, he'd be free. That night, Janet waited. The fairy host rode by wild and glittering. She recognized Tam Lin and seized him. And he changed just as he warned.

Scorching, writhing, monstrous. But Janet didn't let go. And finally, when she cast the last shape into a well, Tam Lin stood before her, a man again furious.

The fairy queen cursed her. Had I known, she said, I'd have torn out your eyes and replaced them with wood. But the queen was bound by ancient laws. Janet had won.

The Tale of Tam Lin is one of Scotland's most enduring ballads. An unusual story where a woman is the rescuer and love isn't passive, but brave and bloodied.

It's about agency, about a mortal breaking the rules of both the fae and her own world. And it reminds us that sometimes the ones who defy the warnings are the ones who make the difference.

Thank you for joining me on this episode of Bite Sized Folklore. If you like the tales, subscribe and leave a review. Unless the fairies have stolen your voice.

Until next time, stay curious and maybe don't pick roses in enchanted woods.