Outlander's roots in Celtic myths and legends explained - from standing stones to the Loch Ness monster

Outlander has brought folklore and myths to worldwide audiences. The show, based on Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling books, mixes history, fantasy and romance with aspects of Celtic mythology.

The interest in the Celtic mythology contained in the Outlander universe is still high, with almost 100,000 Google searches. The show ranks third in popularity among TV shows with Celtic influences, after Game of Thrones and Teen Wolf, as per a study by SlotBox.

Outlander features several Gaelic feasts and symbols passed down over generations by Celtic people. One such symbol is the standing stones.

The story begins when Claire Randall, an English nurse played by Caitriona Balfe, is transported to 1743 through these stones.

This happens at the fictional Craigh na Dun standing stones, where Claire had seen a druid festival on Halloween, the day before the Gaelic festival of Samhain on November 1.

Stone circles that are thousands of years old can be found in Scotland. While there’s still debate about their origins, it’s believed they were used for rituals and ceremonies. People often gather at these sites during the summer and winter solstices.

Scotland’s most famous standing stones are in Callanish on the Isle of Lewis. There are also many in Orkney and Shetland. If you’re hoping to visit the Outlander location, sadly, the scene was filmed in Perthshire’s Ranoch Moor with fake stones.

outlander's roots in celtic myths and legends explained - from standing stones to the loch ness monster

Lotte Verbeek as Geillis Duncan

Like Claire, Geillis Duncan is a time traveler who goes back hundreds of years after killing her husband. Both women are put on trial as witches.

Geillis Duncan is based on a real person from the 1500s who was accused of witchcraft. She was known for her healing abilities and midnight walks, and was said to have “the Devil’s mark” on her neck.

Despite trying to retract a false confession made under torture, she was executed in Edinburgh.

Scotland’s lochs are full of lore, including stories of the Loch Ness monster. But you might not have heard of kelpies, another creature said to lurk beneath the water.

In the Outlander books, Claire spots Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster, beneath the water. The legend of Nessie is thought to have come from the myth of kelpies, with the dinosaur-like shape of the monster being a modern idea. Kelpies are shape-shifting spirits believed to live in lochs and often appear as horses.

Outlander also mentions selkies, creatures from Celtic and Norse mythology that can change from seals to humans by shedding their skin.

In Scottish islands, it was considered bad luck to kill a seal because of this myth. Male selkies are said to be very handsome and good at charming human women.

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