The Founding of Wintermuir

If you have ever chatted with a born and bred Wintermuirian for more than a polite small talk -though to be honest, sometimes no more than a polite small talk is needed - more likely than not you have had the privilege of hearing them to tell you the tale of The Founding of Wintermuir. And of course, if you have ever visited the city itself, it has been impossible to not come across at least some echoes of the tale, as fragments of it can be found in  City of Wintermuir from anywhere from the coat of arms of the city to the lovely logos of the local coffee shops. And in the happy case you happened to be born in the city, it is more than likely that you have taken part in one or two plays depicting the tale during the tender years of school age.

Summary

According to the legend, The Founding of Wintermuir takes place during the Wars of Scottish Independence. It tells the tale of a small Highland clan, Clan Gilmour, that had had the most horrendous misfortune year after year. First came the vikings, or so they say, and burned their village down. Then came the rival clan, and burned the village down again. And then came the storm and the lighting and the fire once more, until there was nothing left.

The chief of the clan was desperate, and as it had been the fire that took his village over and over again, he turned to the water and nearby river for help. For three days and two night he prayed for help, until on the third night he finally succumbed to exhaustion and fell asleep right there on the riverbank. It was then he had the vision that would change the course of the history of his clan:

He saw the river, flowing as gentle as always. Then, suddenly, the village came alive and flooded his beloved village but he did not feel fear, as the river was still gentle. The river took all the buildings, all the cattle and all the people and carried them with her upstream as gently as a mother would carry her child. And in his dream, the clan chief heard the words, spoken with the beautiful voice of a woman, telling him to follow the silver eels, and if he did that, no fire would ever destroy his village again.

It is told that the clan chief woke up to the surprised cries of the villagers, as one of them had just found three silvery eels from the river - fish that no-one had seen there before and would never see again. But the clan chief took the words from his dream to his heart, and with the help of his people he gathered up everything they had and started their journey up the river. The eels as their guides, they eventually found a great loch, and there, standing on the water like it was ground, was The Queen of the Loch waiting for them. And she showed them where to build their village, and like in the vision of the clan chief, the village was never burned down again. And that village would eventually grow to become the city of Wintermuir. And the loch would be named Loch Easgann, The Lake of the Eels, to honor those three eels that guided the villagers to their new home.

Historical Basis

The historical basis of the tale depends on who you ask. For the mundane historians, it is a mere allegory for small migration of people due to the poor living conditions on their first settlement, with an added folklore explanation for a species of eels that is otherwise foreign to the area. For those who know more, however, the tale hold a bit more truth to it. The city of Wintermuir is indeed build on the lands of The Queen of the Loch, a powerful fey patron of the Winter Court.

Variations & Mutation

As with any tale, the details of The Founding of Wintermuir vary. For example, in different versions it is different people who notice the eels first: in some versions it is the fishermen of the village, in others it is the children playing on the riverbank, and in some the village women washing the clothes in the river. In some versions, it is not the clan chief himself that pleas for help, but actually her wife.

Few details, however, are always the same regardless of the version. It is always fire that keeps destroying the village, it is always the three silvery eels that come to a rescue and it is always The Queen of the Loch waiting for them. For some, that could imply that these are the parts that hold the most truth in them.

In Art

The Founding of Wintermuir is featured in a famous glass painting that can be found in the town hall. It is also the subject of many romantic paintings created by Victorian painters.

The eel featured in the tale can be found in the coat of arms of Wintermuir.

Date of Setting

The 14th Century

Related Locations

• City of Wintermuir
• Loch Easgann