Tradition: French Mythology
Alternative Names: Trottes-vieilles
Category: Fairy
The Myth
The Trottes-vieilles are three ancient fairies, said to be several thousand years old and to wear deer antlers upon their heads. They are described as daughters of the Gaulish god Cernunnos, giving them a close connection with the ancient supernatural world of the forest and wild animals. Their presence is particularly associated with the folklore of Saulnot in Haute-Saône.
At Christmas, the Trottes-vieilles watch over children and distinguish the well-behaved from the disobedient. Good children are rewarded, while naughty children are threatened with a terrible fate: the three fairies seize them, carry them away, and throw them into the nearest stream. Their warning describes how they impale the children upon their hard antlers before carrying them to the river and drowning them in its rushing waters. Despite this frightening role, their visit could also bring happiness to a household when they were properly welcomed.
Before nightfall, families traditionally prepared a large cauldron of milky porridge called paipai for the Trottes-vieilles. Leaving this offering was believed to win their favor, and a household visited by the three ancient fairies was considered fortunate. Thus the Trottes-vieilles could appear both as terrifying punishers of naughty children and as supernatural visitors whose presence brought prosperity and happiness to those who respected them.
Sources
“Trottes-vieilles.” Wikipédia, l’encyclopédie libre (French Wikipedia). Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 5, 2026.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trottes-vieilles