Broonies and Brownies 🧹

2024-08-08

You might recognize the term “brownie” from the rank in Girls Scouts, but do you know where the scouts got that name? Folklore! They were named after a story called “The Brownies” by Juliana Horatia Ewing, which was based on Scottish folk tales.

A brownie in folklore is a domestic fairy that tends to attach itself to a family, and help them with all sorts of work.They are generally described as around three feet in height, and dressed in shagy clothes.

They are, however, sometimes women. Maggy Moulach is one of the most popular brownies from Scottish folklore. This chore-completing brownie had a son called Brownie-Clod, who was said to be a dobie. A dobie is a variety of brownie that, while well-meaning, is said to be a bit dull-witted. Does that sound familiar, Potter fans?

Brownies would do almost every chore, and in exchange, they would like a cream, milk, bannock or cake.

He is allowed his little treats, however, and the chief of these are knuckled cakes made of meal warm from the mill, toasted over the embers and spread with honey. The housewife will prepare these, and Brownie lay them carefully where he may find them by chance. When a titbit is given to a child, parents will still say to him, ‘There’s a piece wad please a Brownie. ’

Notes on the Folk Lore of the Northern Counties of England and the Borders, by William Henderson (1866)

These offerings of food were never to be called a payment, as that would imply the brownie works for you and cause offence. Instead, the food was a gift of appreciation.

As well as that, even though their clothes are shaggy, giving them clothes will cause them to leave. Most stories have the leaving brownie lament sadly at being made to leave.

The offer, indeed, of other than this simple food, or the leaving out for him of clothing, was fatal, and compelled Brownie, in obedience to some condition of his existence not understood, to forsake the abode of the gift-givers and depart, generally reluctantly, to seek other quarters.

Witchcraft and Superstitious Record in the South-Western District of Scotland by J. Maxwell Wood (1911)

Some families are said to have had a resident brownie for many generations, and are so beloved, that they are occasionally offered a small stool or shelf by the fire.

(Illustration of a brownie by Alice B Woodward)

Sources:

“He lived on eating porridge and slept on a bed of straw in the barn, working tirelessly each night for the farmer and his wife, who are said to have appreciated his work greatly.”

The Brownie of Boghall Farm

They are generally described as small men, about three feet in height, very raggedly dressed in brown clothes, with brown faces and shaggy heads, who come out at night and do the work that has been left undone by the servants.

A Encyclopedia of Fairies by Katharine Briggs (Published in 1976)

Historic Recording References:

• Helping with chores: 1953
• Eternal life: 1976
• Old men description: 1976
• Leaving out milk: 1958 and 1976
• Helping in Mills: 1976 and 1979
• Friends with humans: 1976
• Pity for cold humans: 1958
• Helping a birth: 1976
• Saving from witchcraft: 1980
• Helping with wealth: 1956

Books:

• A Encyclopedia of Fairies by Katharine Briggs (Published in 1976)
• Witchcraft and Superstitious Record in the South-Western District of Scotland by J. Maxwell Wood (1911)
• Notes on the Folk Lore of the Northern Counties of England and the Borders, by William Henderson (1866)

Other References:

Note: Some of these are from England, but I did my best to keep them Scotland specific.

• Rewarding with work will make them leave: link
• Do not make a mess at night: link
• Gifting of clothes will make them leave: link, link, link
• Maggy Moulach: link
• The Brownies: A Cartoon and Commercial Craze: link