Mermaids
According to legend and mythology, mermaids are supernatural creatures that dwell predominantly beneath the sea. These aquatic beings take on a human female form from the waist up, but are fish-like from the waist down, spawning a tail. The male version of the mermaid is referred to as a merman. Collectively, they are called merfolk or merpeople.
Many different cultures have tales about such creatures. Mermaid legends have been with us for a very long time. Depicted often as having lovely, long, flowing hair, mermaids are beautiful in appearance. They are said to possess enchanting voices that have lured sailors to their deaths with their songs, distracting them from their tasks at hand. Though mermaids are aquatic and spend most of their time in the water, legend has it that they occasionally take on complete human form and traverse the land.
While in some folklore it is suggested that the spotting of a mermaid is a bad omen, foreboding looming danger and death, in other myths, mermaids are said to be benevolent creatures that aid, offer power, and grant wishes to those who have assisted them in some manner.
Mermaids appear often in popular culture, and "The Little Mermaid" is a prime example. This fictional character is the creation of Danish author and poet Hans Christian Andersen. The story tells the tale of a young mermaid who, for the love of a human prince, foregoes her mermaid identity and bids farewell to her sea existence. "The Little Mermaid" is beloved by many, particularly little girls. The tale has been adapted to musical theatre and animated film, among other media forms.
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