Grindylow: The Water Demons of British Folklore - (British/English Folklore Explained)

[@EndoScorpion]

As someone from Yorkshire I've never heard of these outside of Harry Potter. Would love to hear more folklore pertaining to Yorkshire or the British Isles in general.

[@marcusw.bryant4857]

Same here

[@EnLaMatrix1]

In Mexico we have a similar creature from the time of the Aztec and Mayan empires. The creature is said to live in/near rivers and lakes and takes children away to make them slaves. If I remember correctly, they will use magic to keep the child from aging but they will live eternally as a slave or be eaten. They apparently were limited to their territory and could be tricked into believing that they were about to cross into another's territory by placing stone statues of the creature. Last time I went to a rural town near a river, I saw two statues near the river, they also made bridges to go across the river but these were at least 3m above ground, enough to "avoid being seen by a curious one"

[@Cesar_M_Romero]

Sounds amazing! What’s the name of these creatures?

[@EnLaMatrix1]

@@Cesar_M_Romero I have not been able to remember or find its name, when I do I will post it. Hopefully someone else that knows will share that information. I mistakenly remember him as Xoloescuincle but that is a dog breed.

[@robertoruelas4695]

Go kukui and chupacabra somewhere else bro

[@robertoruelas4695]

Calling someone out on their chat got it

[@robertoruelas4695]

Cilindrino

[@crystallight2]

This reminds me of the water baby's of Pyramid Lake in Nevada. Pyramid Lake gets its name from the unusual pyramid-like shaped rocks that jut out from cool and tempting waters. These waters reach impressive depths of over 350 feet, but the eerie legends that surround this beautiful lake have more to do with what lies beneath. Unexplainable events occur here each year, especially during the Spring. The main two are hearing the cries babies near the shore or in the lake and fisherman who set out on these waters and never to returned home. There are a number of stores that try to give reason for the haunting sounds and the missing people. Two legends, are most commonly told by the locals: one of which is referred to as the legend of the “water babies” and begins with the American Indian Paiute tribe, who were said to have thrown malformed and premature babies into the dark and murky waters to drown in an effort to keep the tribe strong, keeping only the children who would grow to be capable and useful members of their tribe. And so the story goes, that the shrieks and cries that are heard late into the night are the ghosts of the drowned babies from the Paiute tribe. Those who are lured to the water by the cries of these babies are often found drowned later if at all. Another rendition of this haunting fable involves a Paiute tribesman and a mermaid from Pyramid Lake who fell madly in love, only to have the union rejected from the tribe. The heartbroken mermaid was exiled from the lake by the Paiute tribe- but not only did she not leave, she remained there in her growing fury, cursing the waters and seeking vengeance on any man that attempts to enter her lake. This, of course, would explain all the missing fishermen. Some believe that this version of the story was concocted by the Paiute tribe themselves in an effort to repair their name and cover up the stories of them drowning their own babies. Both stories could be real of they are just stories used to keep the young or the foolish from the real dangers of the lake.

[@merentori]

That's a really interesting story, thank you, and I know where I'd like to visit next.

[@itaybron]

This was a great read, thank you.

[@soccerandtrack10]

@@merentori please,let it be jennifer lawances vagina...

[@theworldoverheavan560]

@@soccerandtrack10 lol

[@bmichel2002]

Yeah growing up I always heard about water babies because I live in sparks. It’s funny though because besides the water babies at pyramid. I don’t know any other local monsters or legends

[@afnanbogey]

This is extra fascinating to me because my local area was previously known as Grindlow Marsh (around Longsight, Manchester). Never heard of these folk creatures before though.

[@n.u.k.2188]

I love your videos. Would you consider making more videos on "water cryptids" they are always intetressting.

[@raykhan5056]

I first heard of Grindylows through the Harry Potter books, so to have someone explain them in so much detail is a delight! Thank you❤️

[@lenastorm6280]

Phantastic video! Please make more videos on British Folklore and myths!

[@johnoneil9188]

There is also a German folkstory about a creature that is very similar to this called a Wassermann (water man). I can´t quite remember the details but I think it is about people getting grabbed and dragged under the water of a lake or pond by such a creature.

[@2a2777f2g]

Thank you for this video, yours are fun to watch! BTW, in Russia we have a similar female water spirit/demon called Kikimora

[@nerdwizard]

Would you mind a silly American asking for a brief synopsis of your guys' myth? The closest thing we have to a proper fairy here in the US (that I'm aware of, anyway) is a Tommyknocker, which is a gnome-like creature that lives in mines and, depending on their moral alignment, can either create cave-ins to kill unsuspecting miners as a morbid joke (evil) or else "knock" on stones with a rock or some sort of mining implement to warn miners of cave-ins just before they occurred (good).

[@29gopikrishnap2]

I’ve only heard of that name from shin Megami tensei lol in which she looks lika a mix of little red riding hood and an anteater ....an old granny of sorts

[@bella-uy7rs]

Hmmm good to know .... Kiki mora :water demon Kiki waka:cartoon for kids Based on a camp near a big lake. Coincidence ????

[@bella-uy7rs]

@@emu5298 interesting.this world is really full of mysterious things

[@alecbyrd3031]

I remember seeing them on Harry Potter and the goblet of fire.

[@rosalesantonio]

Alec Byrd I was just ganna say that

[@soccerandtrack10]

emma watson says it sexy...

[@Marcus-ls6uw]

Alec Byrd same here

[@cremation_ritual]

Alec Byrd yo I JUST thought of the same thing as ya'll

[@cremation_ritual]

Great minds think alike 😏

[@samuelharris6540]

Love this, and your channel. Always well researched, but never dry or too long. Excellent stuff, really. I would love to hear more about Inuit mythology as their culture hooked me a while back and I've been devouring every sounce of it I can find. Frankly, any Native American mythology would be great, especially the Mayans or Aztecs. Keep up the wonderful work!

[@floor990]

Hello

[@Beryllahawk]

A possible connection between Grendel of Beowulf fame, and the water demon: Grendel and his mother lived in an enchanted pond or pool, in a marshy part of the wood. Similar stories to Beowulf may have been told in the lands of Britain by the descendants (and survivors) of the Viking raids. Just a thought. Certainly small terrifying creatures that snatch children into the water is a fairly reasonable explanation for children lost to drowning (reasonable to a primitive people anyway). And consider another factor: when people begin to drown, they are not screaming or flailing by that point, they are exhausted and begin to move slowly, sluggishly, almost dreamily: when you don't know what that looks like, it can seem as if they are enchanted, as if some spell has claimed them and is making them *want* to sink below the water's surface. Thus explaining even more water-spirit stories such as Rusalka, Kelpie, maybe even nixies.

[@daddy-odizzy5180]

Love these types of lores!

[@Ins0mn3sia]

Right as you mentioned Kappa, I was just thinking the Grindylow sounded a lot like a western variant of the Kappa

[@The_Wild_Witch]

This was very fascinating, thanks for sharing your knowledge with us!

[@JayChampagne]

Kind of reminds me of the Kelpie myth (in behavior, not appearance).

[@WickedWicka]

The kelpie lures children to ride it, then drowns the children and eats them--and then the children's entrails wash up on the lake shore.

[@captainanopheles4307]

I've always thought the Kelpie was Chinese whispers/travellers tales of the crocodile explained to people who never saw one.

[@glookrazy8495]

Love you content is it possible you can talk about the lost Giants in norse mythology??👍🏽😇

[@kravatarnihailes6489]

Hidden purpose? Of course! To scare little kids to avoid lakes and marshes for not to get drown.

[@InhabitantOfOddworld]

Great video! More British folklore please, like Hinky-Punks and the Gytrash

[@wcapewell3089]

I just looked up hinkypunks, and they just seem to be in the world of harry potter, nearest your gonna get is a will-o-the-wisp.

[@InhabitantOfOddworld]

@@wcapewell3089 Hinkypunks are an actual thing, it's a dialectal alternative name for Will O The Wisp and Jack o Lantern, Harry Potter just borrows it (as it does everything)

[@mkfonacier4441]

@@InhabitantOfOddworld Now that you've made me curious, you simply must share something about the Gytrash too 😋

[@jenniferj7934]

I really love this channel. It's a *great* break from the top 10 lists and 'from sub-Reddit' channels.

[@PureVikingPowers]

Bro i never heard inuit folklore so hope could do a video on it sometime

[@mdssdm6243]

That I would watch!!

[@alimario6294]

This creature kinda reminds me of another British myth called Black Agnes who would drag children into ponds and eat them.

[@justicegraceful2171]

they remind me of the zora from the legend of Zelda Ocarina of time

[@gotisc]

When I's a youngin I met some kids at the lake. They informed me that if you go out too far in the water there were giant fish that might eat you. I believed it until I asked my mom about it later that night. She let me know it was just a scare tactic.

[@tigerz8174]

Dude I love hour your channel evolved and grown, and that voice 😍 Great channel and content!!!!!!

[@aishafai626]

There is always a purpose for these stories whether the creature did exist or a creature similar to that creature and also to protect children and loved ones

[@charleetatman6012]

welp, i know what imma be drawing till next week

[@DatcleanMochaJo]

Interesting bit of folklore!

[@brandyrose9997]

Great video, as usual. Super excited to get the book with my little bit of Christmas gift cardage. 💜

[@wcapewell3089]

Before this video, I actually thought that the grindylow was just a creature that jk rowling made up for harry potter, like the thestral. Thanks for expanding my knowledge of my own countries mythology, really appreciate it.

[@Dadutta]

do a video about the Umibozu

[@margaretblessednfavoredmcg4727]

I love this video

[@greyworld6242]

Interesting. Can you do succubus?

[@hielokasama5574]

Grey World Hot babe who wants people men pp and soul

[@davidkamps9879]

Grey World and inccubus as well

[@itaybron]

I wish i could do one

[@soccerandtrack10]

jennifer lawarnce?

[@Patar99]

Another great video from mythology and fiction explained.

[@Dracoofthevas]

I live in Hungary. We have something similar called the "Kutasbéka". It translates to "Well Frog". Well Frogs are almost human sized frog people who live in the bottom of wells and can travel with the under ground water the wells feed off. We were told stories that these creatures used to live in grate number in the large swamps. Often luring people, especially children to their doom. But after the swaps were drained, they moved to the underground waterways... So us as kids, were always told never to look deep into the well, 'coz is we did, the Kutasbéka would jump up, pull us in, drown and eat us. But it only did this if they saw a face. So putting the bucket in and pulling up water was safe. Grindylow remind me of these tails.

[@dymonddavis7847]

Excellent job on this video

[@acerockman3520]

Can you do more videos on English monsters? I think it’s interesting to learn about the folklore of your ancestors, especially those that came from Yorkshire.

[@dollelectrique8436]

its sad that our myths arent spoke about much im from yorkshire and ive never heard of it its really cool and now im thinking of making a doll based on it

[@FrejthKing]

Doing Arthurian Roleplay! This is coming in handy

[@aracelisrodriguez2927]

I do have a question are you planning to do a series of books explain the different kinds of Mythology? That will be pretty cool if you do.

[@MythologyFictionExplained]

It mostly depends on how well the current book does, what we're working on now includes aspects from different mythologies but more fiction than explanation.

[@themartialartgod5425]

Need more Egypt

[@nixnoct4883]

Awesome 👍 didn't know this things existed

[@flightlesslord2688]

British mythology, according to JRR Tolkein we don't have any... hmm thanks Tolkein. But basically British history and folklore has been butchered by the various royal families we've had, including the Windsors. But this is very cool.

[@doctorwhovian4243]

Didn’t Grindle’s mom have an underwater lair? Maybe it’s a nod towards that story.

[@MrQuaye-bh7nq]

interesting creature

[@chriscalvin5083]

good video

[@whovian1591]

Please do a succubus

[@skeletonjon]

Thanks for this. I used this as a basis for a song I wrote.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

Now I know why there are instances that some of our fishhooks are cut when we were fishing at the river.

[@michellecowell4104]

Never Hurd of this and I'm a Lancashire lass thanks for posting will look into this Michelle uk

[@nobodyimportant4503]

As an english person, the grindylow was only ever mentioned in Harry Potter which is sad since there's many unique parts of our mythology that go unmentioned stuff like fairies being the main focus.

[@skeetersaurus6249]

You asked about 'grendel' as a source-name...it is because of the description and behavior of Grendel...'a creature that comes out at night, with a hunger for men, returning to the dark before sunrise'...add 'from the deep' to that, and you have quite a frightening description, in a simple name!

[@thedoruk6324]

Celtic mythology has some damn F*cked up Creatures man ! D:

[@sombraenlaluna]

La llorona - kept me away from the near by river during the evening hours.....

[@rolyngeorges7315]

These creatures look terrifying and very creepy.

[@bhavanmattu3197]

if your doing more british folklore i beg you cover Spring Heeled Jack

[@filip7253]

The closest my country coms to the grindelow is Nøkken or the nokk. A watertroll luring people to the water by music and shapeshifting. Thay often drown children by turning into a beautiful white hors and doing the same as a kelpie.

[@captainanopheles4307]

Jenny Greenteeth? Also please do Trash, the demonic black invisible* dog from Lancashire that follows in your footsteps in the Moors, but was really only the sound of your own heart beating.. *Mostly invisible, obviously. If you did see it, you rarely escaped it and it's burning red eyes.

[@Ace-rv6bg]

from kpop to mythology wow i traveled far to youtube

[@pbr-streetgang]

Thanks for the vid.

[@Hopeless0890]

Being half native American my tribe has stories of monsters and creatures that go bump in the night but they're just allegories to help explain horrible things.

[@n.a.a.b.7311]

Here in Chile we have a mythical creature called "El Cuero", which would translate to "The Leather", that is described as a huge cow skin looking thing that lives underwater in rivers beds and lakes bottoms, coming up to the surface to take away babys or kids that are lying in the shores unatended. It had two purposes I think, to educate new mother that went to the river to clean clothes with their children to always keep them in ther sight and for kids not to wander too deep into the rivers or lakes.

[@keddakedda7939]

Can I ask but of all the stories of gods and monster I haven’t come across anything about fairies nor the different type within the legends about them I would love to see a video about them if you ever get the chance thanks 🤗

[@mkfonacier4441]

Lol I actually forgot that grindylows were mentioned in HP! [Disclaimer: semi long comment on 'other versions of grindylows in other countries'] the closest I could think of is the creature "syokoy" from Philippine myths and urban legends. They're usually characterized as "ugly mermen" with fishy heads and humanoid, scaly bodies who lurk under/near bodies of water waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting victim. Whether they're corporeal or spiritual entities, I've heard versions of both as invisibility is one of their 'powers/abilities'. I heard people in rural areas still strongly believe in the existence of these "syokoys" especially in places where mysterious drownings and disappearances near bodies of water have occurred. The kidnapping part has been associated with them but I'm not sure about the eating part. They are not limited to preying on kids though. Or Humans for that matter? Basically, anyone or anything that disappears near/under water are pegged as "taken by the syokoy".

[@Will-ig3yj]

How about voodoo? There very interesting. Also great vid as always

[@doctorpicardnononono7469]

there's a similar creature here in Nederland called Haantjepik.

[@TacDyne]

There is no description of Grendel in Beowulf though. All it says is he is the spawn of Cain, basically akin to ogres and orc-nass which are undead.

[@scouttyra]

Would you consider doing a video on the "myling", unbaptized children buried in secret. Swedish/(Scandinavian?)

[@jordanpeaks1653]

Please make a Poseidon video !!

[@melissajury7670]

I would really love for you to do Indigenous Australian mythology

[@1tiptip187]

I think this is what was in a nightmare I had as a kid

[@franxz4401]

More please, papa.

[@anitamaria4540]

The first time I heard of Grindyllop was in Harry Potter. Especially the 3rd one prisoner of Azkaban

[@HVLLOW99]

Britian from humble beginings as the rest of humanity to EARTH'S LARGEST EMPIRE. Very interesting history and mythology. Dosen't get enough clout as it should.

[@bar-1studios]

Given it has the same behavioral patterns as the Japanese Kappa, I'd say they existed to set prohibitions and warn children to stay away from the water.

[@Sm0king1194]

As a fellow Brit, i was not told this as a child .

[@ricardonecochea5814]

Video cuts off but audio works fine.

[@jackchase5727]

I have never heard of this.

[@chrisgates3357]

Hello really great, thank you. I wonder if this is a Norse equivalent of the Greek “Potamides” as nymphs are often confused and nearly all creatures of British Isles legends mixed and retranslated through the ages, generations and various cultures of settlers. In Somerset fairies and pixies in particular were considered present in orchards and places where streams flow and springs rise if any one knows of Romano-Brit or Pictish or Saxon equivalents I would very interested to hear.

[@diegos7337]

Another myth I didn´t knew about!

[@mathieuleader8601]

Jenny Greenteeth is a more powerful Grindylow

[@josephbjornkintanar5986]

Can you do phillipine folklore please

[@sarahporter-woolery6365]

Love how all these "creatures" are now known as all different kinds of catfish... all over the world... Jeremy Wade covered it nicely. Still a great way to terrify ypur kids

[@kieronbevan7489]

Corpse candles, willo the wisp etc

[@gwyndolin1536]

I wonder why there never was a "junk food" monster created to scare kids into eating all their veggies.

[@kennethsatria6607]

Hmm, Grendel and the Grindylows...

[@Pauline12365]

Please tell me you read the book on audible? 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@zanelindley2665]

Do the tengriism and tungri the Mongol shamans

[@heavyweaponsguy6824]

Is Hellboy apart of any mythology. If so could you please give info.

[@Almighty_Mage]

He is a comic book character

[@Heidiblackrose84]

To be honest I think all countries have very similar folklore and mythology but the way there told is what makes them different and no matter what religion says I think we will always keep coming back to the mythology and folklore of anything but there could be truth to the story’s who knows

[@Zirconia2498]

The same creatures in Harry potter and the Goblet fire.

[@shiniopXx]

Boi have not finish the vid but love it already I’m Scottish I’m i British I’m dumb

[@thegreenmage6956]

British Mythology means Welsh Mythology, as in Arthurian, British Celtic, etc. English is Germanic. It’s the difference between a Nix and a Nokken. They aren’t obscure. They’re just hidden under lies.

[@bilgezeybek]

In Turkic and Tibetan shamanism rivers, trees, fire and believed to be a home for spirits. Only some of them were evil but after Turks converted to Islam all of them became evil. The belief that you can tame them still exists both in Tibetan and Turkish cultures

[@N7Landry]

Any Liverpool mythology? I've heard of something called Jenny green teeth

[@InhabitantOfOddworld]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_Greenteeth

[@alexisogun]

Please talk about the gregareans :)

[@rickyhunt4075]

Do some asoiaf stuff please

[@Buckydhu]

There is another option maybe they actually exist in one form or another.

[@kaiserkater2308]

This one is pretty similar to the Kelpie

[@realityisdigital]

Imagine these poor fellas tied up with one another in demon binds

[@realityisdigital]

getting them out of a body feels weird

[@realityisdigital]

but imagine how it feels for them..

[@realityisdigital]

Anyhoo...one just left with an imprint of me on it SLIGHT PAUSE probably the nicest demon I have ever met

[@heidibevan1916]

I'm sorry Mythology and Fiction Explain bt I haven't been very well, so I hope that you don't mind bt I'l watch your vid when I feel better & I can enjoy it more 😔

[@mkfonacier4441]

Aww, you're sick too, Heidi? So sorry to hear that, 'sick buddy'. Hope you (we) get better soon. ...coz Myth's book is coming soon 😂✌ so excited!

[@heidibevan1916]

@@mkfonacier4441 Ye I am 🤧 it's not nice at all because it's turned into a chest infection 😷 bt thanks & I hope that you get better soon as well, I know what you mean, I'm REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE BOOK AS WELL 😎👍

[@mkfonacier4441]

@@heidibevan1916 lung issues too? Woah. My asthma + pneumonia is acting up again hence my "need" for soothing tones to help me sleep. Come on, lungs! We can do this! Rest well and hope to hear good tidings from you soon 😊

[@heidibevan1916]

@@mkfonacier4441 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gperfoKff9Zqhqs This may help, it's very soothing & do take care ye, my sis has Asthma so I know how bad it can get, here is a big hug 🤗 from across the internet 🤗