In this new series, we’re gonna be looking at some of the folklore and history behind some of the Wesen, gangs and other monsters of Grimm.

This week, we’re gonna look at the Wulver, a friendly werewolf type creature who must have inspired Monroe’s character.

The Wulver, said to have never been a man and instead is an immortal spirit, is said to be non-aggressive, provided you leave it alone.

It comes from Scotland, but is not a shapeshifter. It has the head of a wolf and a man’s body, and is most known for leaving fish on the windowsills of poor people.

Despite the legends saying it is an immortal spirit, sightings of it have only been recorded for about 100 years. However, rumours have gone back much further.

One rumour is that they often appear in places where gold or treasure is hidden. Another is that they are an omen of impending death – but another story suggests that rather than bringing death, they hang forlornly around the property of someone who’s terminally ill to give comfort, rather than fear.

They often rescue frightened travellers, silently beckoning to follow and leaving the traveler at the edge of the nearest town.

There are many theories about the real life existence of Wulvers, and that’s something that we will look at next week, along with real life examples of werewolves, weredogs and other shapeshifting stories that may be true…

Sources:

http://www.scotsman.com/heritage/people-places/scottish-myths-wulver-the-kindhearted-shetland-werewolf-1-4025249

http://monstropedia.org/index.php?title=Wulver

http://thedemoniacal.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/wulver.html