Nain: a Breton Folkloric Being

Synonyms:
Brezh:

The Nain is a creature from Breton folklore. It is a fearsome creature, resembling a gargoyle is aspect — black and menacing of countenance with feline claws and caprine satyr-like feet and legs. These demons have elflocks at the backs of their heads; gleaming eyes red as fire rubies and speak with harsh, cracked, voices. They haunt the ancient dolmens erected by a lost race and at night they dance around these ancient tombs to a primitive refrain: 'dilun, dimerzh, dimerc'her. diyaou, digwener'. Thus they sing out the days of the week, save for disadorn and disul (Saturday and Sunday) as these are sacred to the fair folk.

According to legend ill-luck attached itself to the human who chanced to behold the midnight revels of the nains, and if he entered the charmed circle and danced along with them his death was certain to ensue before the year was out. Wednesday, precisely in the middle of the week, was the nains' high-day (or night to be accurate, for the Breton like the Cymry count days as starting from the night before) and and their great nuit festale (feast night) occurred on the first Wednesday in May. This would indicate that the Nain were once probably deified and like other Celtic deities such as Cernunnos they literally became demonized.

The Nain also have subterranean mints where they fashion gold coin in the dark recesses of dank caverns. Tales used to abound of the youth who sells some item to a fairy in the market and later as he extends his hand into his pocket he finds nothing there save a handful of beans; or a housewife who receives gold from a fairy and secretes it away safely only to find out later that she holds nothing more than a pile of withered leaves. The Nain's coin is preserved by faery glamour for a while but soon enough reverts to its original form.

The Nain were also considered as the originators of the strange alphabet inscribed on the megalithic monuments of Morbihan (and most especially those of Gavr'inis). Tradition says that the one who deciphers this enchanted script will be able to tell where all the hidden treasure of Brittany is to be found. The Nain is also attributed with the power of enchantment as well as prophecy and divination. Another indication that the Nain may once have represented a deity.

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