9 Mermaid Myths From Around The World

Selkies come from the Orkney Islands, where the word just means 'seal'. These creatures look like seals in the water, but they can come to land, shed their skin, and assume the form of a beautiful human.

Most tales depict them as peaceful creatures who come to land to dance on the beach in the moonlight or lay in the sun. One common thread in the stories is that the selkies need their skin to return to water. They are thus very protective of it and will run back to safety in the water if humans appear nearby.

Some tales say that young men will steal a female's skin so that she will be forced to stay on land with him. She will often marry the man and have his children. However, in most stories she ends up getting the skin back and returning to the ocean with or without her kids, leaving the man behind.

Male selkies are equally beautiful and coveted among humans. They will sometimes come to shore and find a young girl to sleep with. If a woman wants to call a selkie man, she has to go stand in the ocean and let seven tears drop into the water. He will then come to satisfy her needs.