the Fairy faith

"Dr. Tylor has brought together examples from all parts of the globe-----veneration paid to natural living objects such as trees, fish, animals, as well as inanimate objects of almost every conceivable description, including stones, because of the spirit believed to be inherent or resident in that particular object.-------Certainly well-defined Celtic traditions entirely fit in with this theory, e.g. Canon Mahe writes, 'in accordance with this strange theory they (the celts) could believe that rocks set in motion by spirits which animated them, sometimes went to drink at rivers, as is said of the Peulvan at Noyal-Pontivy' and I have found a parallel belief at Rollright, Oxfordshire, England, where it is said of the King Stone, an ancient menhir and according to some folk-traditions, a human being transformed, that it goes down the hill on Christmas Eve to drink at the river."

The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries
~ W.Y. Evans Wentz