There are many legends that differentiate on where did the Selktic people come from. For such an old legend, one would think that there would be a bit of consistency within the legend, but this is where the wonders of the tale starts. Selkies derive their enigmatic aura and mysticism from the unknown origin of Selkies.
One of the first possibilities within the tale comes from when the tale becomes written within the 18th or 19th Century, where people believed that the selkies were those who were condemned to live as animals until the Judgment Day of Biblical lore, where they can then become humans (Townie). This was an interesting aspect to the legend, in that it gives the tale a different connotation, though it severely alters the original lore. In this variation, it states that people become the Selkies for a sin they have done that is punishable by condemnation.
A variation states that these people won't even return to their human form, where their crimes are punishable with them to live out as Selkies for the rest of their lives.
Another origin states that Selkies are those who died in sea, the lost souls of the drowned. This becomes more as a haunted tale, for one night out of the year the Selkies are able to walk back to the land as the human form they once were (Selkie). This shows the aetheral aspect of the ocean, where the sea can take away without mercy, but the sea is also able to circumvent the death it causes. The death of those who drowned- children lost to the sea or husbands who died while fishing/sailing- are two aspects of lives that are the most changing in any family. This theory of origin could be a way to assuage griefs of death, where a connection towards nature can possibly bandage the wound.
Citation
Townie, Sigurd. "The Origin of the Selkie-folk." Orkneyjar - The Heritage of the Orkney Islands. Web. 14 Nov. 2010. <http://www.orkneyjar.com/index.html>.
"The Selkie Folk." Hilanders Lair. Web. 19 Nov. 2010. <http://thecelts.fortunecity.com/selkie.html>.
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