★ Overview
CHANGELING
In old Celtic and European lore, changelings were believed to be offspring of fairies, pixies or ogres, who were swapped with human babies. The swapped changeling would very closely resemble the human baby it traded places with, so much so that the mother could not immediately tell the difference.
There are a number of explanations as to why these creatures would swap their offspring for human babies, and they differ from story to story. Fairies or pixies might want their offspring to get their nutrition, or a better life, from a human mother. Some religious theologians argued that witches were swapping babies for changelings on behalf of the devil.
It is possible that Martin Luther once wrote the following: “Changelings and killcrops are laid in the place of legitimate children by Satan in order to plague mankind. He often pulls certain girls into the water, impregnates them, and keeps them with him until they deliver their children; afterward he places these children in cradles, taking the legitimate children away.”
There are rumors that King Charles I of England (1600-1649) may have been a changeling, as his childhood was marked by a difficult temperament and a nursemaid’s claim that a mysterious figure draped a cloak over his sleeping cradle.
In 1895, Bridget Cleary fell ill (likely due to pneumonia) and was killed by her husband and cousins. Local storyteller Jack Dunne accused her of being a fairy changeling.
Various cultures have tales of children being exchanged at birth.
A movie Changeling (2008) was made about a woman who had a son who was an impostor.
Origin & History
The Changeling, at least in the classical sense, probably stems from British folklore, and specifically stories surrounding fairies. Though the most common tales of changelings tend to have specifically Christian trappings, there are plenty of pre-Christian rites and tales that surround this particular creature. In fact, some place the origins of the Changeling myth back into both ancient, pre-Anglo-Saxon Britain and even to Rome.
There is also a startling amount of evidence to suggest that the roots of many Changeling myths might be ancient reactions to certain disabilities. It’s thought that the fanciful stories might be how primitive societies dealt with the seemingly-random occurrences of children who had conditions like hydrocephalus and Downs Syndrome. There are others who suggest that Changeling stories might also have been used to explain conditions like autism, which in some cases might have manifested late enough to make children seem like they had ‘changed’ over time.
Powers & Abilities
- Illusory Glamour: They can maintain the appearance of a human child for long periods, though the magic is often "thin" and can be broken by specific triggers.
- Abnormal Intelligence: Some legends say a Changeling will play beautiful music on a pipe or speak in complex riddles when they think no humans are watching.
- Siphoning Vitality: They act as "psychic leeches," draining the emotional and physical energy of the parents who care for them.
- Fae Connection: They can communicate with the "Old Country," sometimes acting as a spy for the Fae Queen to report on human activities.
Appearance
- The Mimicry: At first glance, it looks like the stolen child, but it often appears sickly, wizened, or "old" beyond its years.
- The Eyes: Changelings are said to have eyes that are far too intelligent for an infant—dark, piercing, or ancient, as if a centenarian is staring out of a baby's face.
- The Physical Deformities: Over time, the illusion may slip, revealing a long, thin body, a slightly humped back, or fingers that are too long and spindly.
- The Temperament: Unlike a normal child, a Changeling is often incessantly crying or, conversely, unnervingly silent. They possess an insatiable appetite but never seem to grow or gain weight.
- The Skin: Their skin may feel cold to the touch or have a slightly grey, doughy texture that doesn't quite look human under direct sunlight.