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The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911)

Chapter 19: Accessories of Cult

by

J. A. MacCulloch

This chapter covers Temples, Altars, Images, Symbols, and the Cult of Weapons of the Ancient Celts.

Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts.

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The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911)

Chapter 18: Festivals

by

J. A. MacCulloch

The Celtic year was not at first regulated by the solstices and equinoxes, but by some method connected with agriculture or with the seasons.

Names Used in this Section

oidhche Samhain

Geimredh

Earrach

Oimelc

Samradh

Beltane

Cét-soman or Cét-samain

Samono-s

Cyntefyn

Foghamar

Lugnasadh

Brontroghain

Tille

Keating

samhanach

Mongfind

Mag-tured

Tuatha Dé Danann

Fomorians

Belenos

M. D'Arbois

belo-te[p]niâ

Belisama

te[p]nos

Beltane carline

cailleach

Professor Pearson

Mannhardt and Dr. Frazer

Cæsar, Strabo, and Diodorus

Irish as Lugnasad, in Gaelic as Lunasdal or Lunasduinn, and in Manx as Laa Luanys

Lugudunum

Goel-aoust, Gul-austus, and Gwyl Awst

Lugh mac Ethlenn

Rennes Dindsenchas

Demeter and Kore

Namnite women

Dionysius Periegetes

S. Gregory of Tours

Berecynthia

Augustodunum

Professor Anwyl to be the goddess Brigindu

Teutonic cult of Nerthus, the Phrygian of Cybele, the Hindu of Bhavani, and the Roman ritual of the Bona Dea.

Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911)

Chapter 17: Tabu

by

J. A. MacCulloch

The Irish geis, pl. geasa, which may be rendered by Tabu, had two senses. It meant something which must not be done for fear of disastrous consequences, and also an obligation to do something commanded by another.

Names Used in this Section

geis, pl. geasa

Diarmaid

Ben Gulban

Oengus

Fionn

Cúchulainn

Conaire

Cruachan

Doel

The Destruction of Da Derga's Hoste

síd-folk

Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911)

Chapter 16: Sacrifice and Prayer

by

J. A. MacCulloch

The Celts offered human victims on the principle of a life for a life, or to propitiate the gods, or in order to divine the future from the entrails of the victim. We shall examine the Celtic custom of human sacrifice from these points of view first.

Names Used in this Section

The Semites

Marseilles

Taranis

Teutates

Esus

Diodorus

Strabo

Varro

Tacitus

druidarum religionem diræ immanitatis

Dio Cassius

Dindsenchas

Cromm Cruaich

Dr. Joyce

Nemedian

Fomorians

Fair of Taillte

Perseus and Andromeda

Becuma

S. Oran

S. Columba

Vortigern

Emain Macha

Pausanias

Ammianus and Livy

Cúchulainn

Conall Cernach

Emer

oppidum

Dayak

Poseidonius

Artemis

Mallius

Gairloch

S. Maelrubha

Eilean Maree (Maelrubha)

Eilean mo righ

Eilean a Mhor Righ

Sir Arthur Mitchell

Brianniul

Gruagach

Compiègne

Artemidorus

Deiotaurus

Dalan

Mider

Imbas Forosnai

Filé

Teinm Laegha

Cétnad

taghairm

baile

fidlanna

Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911)

Chapter 15: Cosmogony

by

J. A. MacCulloch

The Celts may have possessed the Heaven and Earth myth, but all trace of it has perished. There are, however, remnants of myths showing how the sky is supported by trees, a mountain, or by pillars.

Names Used in this Section

Uranus

Gæa

Kronos

Dyaus

Prithivi

Indra

Eleusinia

Brigit and Patrick

drochet bethad

drochaid na flaitheanas

Tuatha Dé Danann

M. D'Arbois

Senchus Mór

Gargantua

Partholan and Nemed

Nevyd

Dwyvan and Dwyfach

Apollonius

Eridanus

Belenos

Badb

Voluspa

Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911)

Chapter 14: Tree and Plant Worship

by

J. A. MacCulloch

Animal worship pure and simple had declined among the Celts of historic times, and animals were now regarded mainly as symbols or attributes of divinities.

Names Used in this Section

Tarvos Trigaranos

Esus, Juppiter, and Vulcan

Táin bó Cuailgne

Cimbri

Hallstadt and La Tène

Donnotaurus

Deiotaros

Cúchulainn

Medros

Haguenau

Meduris

Boeuf Gras

Moccus

Diarmaid

Twrch Trwyth

Cruachan

Dionysus

M. Reinach

Thracian Dionysos-Zagreus

Cernunnos

Loeg

Berne

Artioni Licinia Sabinilla

Dea Artio(n)

Andarta

Die (Drôme)

Welsh Arthgen, Irish Artigan, from Artigenos, "son of the bear."

Matugenos

MacMahon, Mac-math-ghamhain

Epona

Rudiobus

Each Labra

Damona

damatos, "sheep," cognate to Welsh dafad, "sheep," and Gaelic damh, "ox."

manitou

Bibroci

Eburones

Fir Bile

Ossory

Lughaid mac Con

Cattraeth

Cinel Gabran, "Little goat clan," and Cinel Loarn, "Fox clan."

Cruithne

Dispater

Artigenos, Matugenos, "son of the bear" (artos, matu-); Urogenos, occurring as Urogenertos, "he who has the strength of the son of the urus"

Cúrói

Tadg

Lug mac Ethnend, Conchobar mac Nessa, Indech, son of De Domnann, Corpre, son of Etain

Fer Tlachtga

Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911)

Chapter 13: Tree and Plant Worship

by

J. A. MacCulloch

The Celts had their own cult of trees, but they adopted local cults. This chapter also details how the Celts made their sacred places in dark groves, the trees being hung with offerings or with the heads of victims.

Names Used in this Section

Fagus Deus

Sex Arbor

Toulouse

Dea Arduinna

Dea Abnoba

Fatæ Dervones

Pliny

Maximus of Tyre

daur, dia

Dr. Evans

Marseilles

The Irish bile

Dindsenchas

Fir Bile

bile maighe Adair

Maelocohlen

Borrisokane

Eburones

Bituriges

Guidgen (Viduo-genos, "son of the tree"), Dergen (Dervo-genos, "son of the oak"), Guerngen (Verno-genos, "son of the alder")

Cyperissa

Naisi and Deirdre

Bailé Mac Buain

Aillinn

Amator, Bishop of Auxerre

S. Martin of Tours

Cúchulainn

sùgh an daraich, "sap of the oak,"

Druidh lus, "Druid's weed."

Selago

Diancecht

Mag-tured

Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911)

Chapter 12: River and Well Worship

by

J. A. MacCulloch

Among the Celts the testimony of contemporary witnesses, inscriptions, votive offerings, and survivals, shows the importance of the cult of waters and of water divinities. This chapter also details the many fairies and folklore creatures associated with water.

Names Used in this Section

Mr. Gomme

aurum Tolosanum

Lake Gévaudan

Bormanus, Bormo or Borvo,

Danuvius (the Danube)

Luxovius

Acionna, Aventia, Bormana, Brixia, Carpundia, Clutoida, Divona, Sirona, Ura

Icauna (the Yonne), Matrona, and Sequana (the Seine)

Dubrogenos

Enigenus

Virdumarus

Conchobar

Nessa

Deuona

Deus Nemausus

Nimes

Nemausus

Nemesa

Moselle

Nemh

Tara

Nimis

Appian

Matrona (Marne), the Moder, the Madder, the Maronne and Maronna

Sirona

Grannos

Apollo, Æsculapius, and the Nymphs

Dea Sequana

Niskas

Lerano, Dibona, Dea

Peisgi

Connla

Sinend

Banffshire

Loch na piast

Dracs

Each Uisge

Manannan

Epona

Goborchinn

Eochaid Echchenn

Tarbh Uisge

Tarroo Ushtey

Uruisg

Boand

Nechtain

Slán

Vicarello

Clitumnus

St. Thenew

Saône

Fynnon Elian in Denbigh

Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911)

Chapter 11: Primitive Nature Worship

by

J. A. MacCulloch

McCulloch talks about animism, where everything was a person and the greater objects of nature were worshiped for themselves alone.

Names Used in this Section

Gildas

Loegaire

Da Derga's Hostel

MacCecht

Gara

Morrigan

Fomorians

Bres

meisi

Milesians

urtrochta

guidemain

siabra

Táin

bocânachs, banânaichs, and geniti-glinni

Feast of Bricriu

Dr. Johnson

accouchements

Lausanne

Camden

Manannan, Morgen, Dylan

M. Jullian

M. D'Arbois

St. Lunaire

Tuirbe Trágmar

Cúchulainn

Muireartach

Battle of Ventry

Cael

Conwy

Clidna's, Tuaithe's, and Rudhraidhe's

Magounos

Magonia

Bishop Agobard

Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911)

Chapter 10: The Cult of the Dead

by

J. A. MacCulloch

The custom of burying grave-goods with the dead, or slaying wife or slaves on the tomb and other grave customs is the subject of this chapter. McCulloch also talks about the role of fairies and the festival of Samhain.

Names Used in this Section

King Cottius

brownie, lutin, or pooka

M. Dechelette

Lar

Laribus augustis

Kilranelagh

Taillti

Lug

Tailtiu

Leinstermen

Carman, King Garman

Tuatha Dé Danann

fylgjur

disir

Modranicht

Disablot

Dr. Frazer

Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911)

Chapter 9: Gods and Men

by

J. A. MacCulloch

In this chapter, he examines the Gods of the Celts and their relationships to man. How kings adopted divine names and characteristics.

Names Used in this Section

Bran

Fionn

Fians

Tuatha Dé Danann

Manannan

Goibniu

Boduogenos

Camulognata

Morgen, from Morigenos

Boii

Nuada Airgetlam

Irél Fáith

Nudd (Nodons)

Brennus (Bran)

King Conchobar

día talmaide

Drunemeton

Deiotarus

Pessinus

Boudicca

semnotheoi

succedaneum

Bile

Namnite

Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911)

Chapter 8: The Fionn Cycle

by

J. A. MacCulloch

The story of the mighty hero, Fionn and his warband, the Fianna. McCulloch examines the origins of the Fionn myth and asks how much of the Epic McPherson poem is truly ancient.

Names Used in this Section

Cumal

Oisin

Diarmaid

Fergus

Caoilte mac Ronan

Conan

Goll mac Morna

Kalevala

Lonnrot, in Finland

MacPherson

Michael Comyn

Tir na n-Og

Fians

Keating, O'Curry, Dr. Joyce, and Dr. Douglas Hyde

Cúchulainn

Oengus

Manannan

Leinster, Ulster & Connaught

Lochlann

Llychlyn

Charlemagne

Professor Zimmer

Asvin and Asgeirr

Conn the Hundred Fighter

Muirne

Tadg

Demni

Camulos

Tuatha Déa

Finnéces

Saar

Diarmaid and Grainne

Uirgrenn

Michael Comyn

Heldensage

Agallamh na Senorach

Caoilte

Dean of Lismore

anima naturaliter Christiana

Chateaubriand, Goethe, Napoleon, Byron, and Coleridge

Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts.

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The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911)

Chapter 7: The Cúchulainn Cycle

by

J. A. MacCulloch

The story of the mighty hero, Cuchulainn, Queen Medb and the Cattle-Raid of Cooley.

Names Used in this Section

Conchobar

Book of the Dun Cow

Book of Leinster

Táin bó Cuailgne

Dechtire

Ailill and Medb

Fergus, Conall Cernach

Cúroi, Deirdre, and the sons of Usnach

día talmaide

Cathbad

Nessa

Lug

Sualtaim

Emania

Emer, daughter of Forgall

Donall in Alba

Dornolla

Scathach

Aife

Conla

Sohrab and Rustum

Theseus and Hippolytus

Westermarck

Macha

Findbennach

Brown Bull of Cuailgne

Ferdia

Morrigan

Calatin

Niamh

Lugaid

King Loegaire

Devorgilla

Enbarr

ingen rig richis garta

M. D'Arbois

Conall Cernach

smérthain, Smertullos

Kervadel

Tarvos Trigaranos

Trèves

Badb

Setantii

Setanta (Setantios)

Menapii and Brigantes

Dond tarb

Garbh mac Stairn

Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911)

Chapter 6: The Gods of the Brythons

by

J. A. MacCulloch

In this chapter, J A McCulloch looks at the nature and origin of the Welsh, Brythonic Gods as seen mainly in the Mabinogion.

Names Used in this Section

Taliesin

Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Britonum

Professor Anwyl

Dyfed and Gwent

Anglesey

Gwynedd

Pryderi, Branwen, and Gwydion

Kulhwych

Dôn

Llyr

Branwen

Matholwych

Evnissyen

Bran

Caswallyn, son of Beli

Rhiannon

Manawyddan

Llwyt

Gwawl

Nissyen

Penardim

Eurosswyd

Llyr Marini

Cordelia

Lludd Llawereint

Creiddylad

Alloid

Nodons

Black Book of Caermarthen

Y Werydd

M. Loth

Manannan

Diarmaid

Bendigeit Vran

Urdawl Ben

Cernunnos

Uthr Ben

Urien, Bran, and Uthr

Yama

Brennus

Belinus

Lludd and Caswallawn

Caradawc

Prydein

Mr. Nutt

Brangwaine

Tristram

Ynys Bronwen

Gwydion, Gilvæthwy, Amæthon, Govannon, and Arianrhod

Dylan and Llew

Tuatha Déa

Govannon (= Goibniu)

Llew (= Lug)

Gwydion

Gilvæthwy

Goewin

Arawn, king of Annwfn

Llew Llaw Gyffes

Blodeuwedd

Gronw

Math Hen

Gweir

Amæthon

amæth

Battle of Godeu

Dr. Skene

Lám fada

Curoi's wife, Blathnat

ruddroawc

Govannon and Gavida (Goibniu)

Dylan Eil Ton

Eil Mor

Havgan

Teyrnon

Gwri

Rigantona

Tigernonos

Pen Annwfn

Dream of Maxen

Lludd, Caswallawn, Nynnyaw, and Llevelys

Cassivellaunus

Gweirydd

Lodens Lamargentios

Caer Ludd (London)

Glastonbury Tor

Hanes Taliesin

Tegid Voel

Creirwy, Morvran, Avagddu

Morvran

Porcus Troit (the Twrch Trwyth)

Igerna

Dream of Rhonabwy

March, son of Meirchion

Merlin, or Myrddin

Viviane

Kei

Gwenhyvar (Guinevere)

Mabon

Nantlle

Brigantia, Brigit; Belisama

Camulos

Belatucadros, Cocidius, Corotiacus, Barrex, and Totatis

Anextiomarus

Arvalus, Mogons

Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911)

Chapter 5: The Tuatha Dé Danann

by

J. A. MacCulloch

In this chapter, J A McCulloch looks at the nature and origin of the Gods of the Tuatha De Danaan, the tribes or folk of the Goddess Danu.

Names Used in this Section

Tuatha Dé Danann

Danu

Fir Dea

Brian, Iuchar, and Iucharbar

fir tri ndea

Dôn

Cúchulainn

Fionn

Fomorians and Milesian

Dagda

Flann Manistrech

Gilla Coemain

Bodb Dearg

Manannan

Eochaid O'Flynn

dei terreni or síde

King Loegaire

Dr. Joyce and O'Curry

Mesca Ulad

Fand and Liban, and Labraid

Connla

Mider

Cenn Cruaich

Penn Cruc, Pennocrucium

Egyptian Neith, Semitic Ishtar

Anu

mater deorum hibernensium

Black Annis' Bower

Demeter and Persephone

Professor Rhys

Anoniredi

Vaucluse

Buanann

Brigit

Minerva Belisama and Brigindo

Dea Brigantia

Brigantes

Kildare

Cleena and Vera

Clota, the Clutoida

Dirra, Dirona

Aine

Knockainy in Limerick

Eogabal

Oilill Olomm and Ferchus

Aillén, Eogabal's son

Morrigan, Neman, and Macha

Badb

Badbcatha

Cathubodua

Haute-Savoie

Boduogenos

Fomorian Tethra

Nét

Neton

Mag-tured

Dr. Stokes

Adamnan

Boudicca

bangaisgedaig, banfeinnidi

Romano-British inscription at Benwell to the Lamiis Tribus

Keres

Matres

Arm, Danu, and Buanan

Battle of Ventry

Conncrithir

Be find

Eriu, Banba, and Fotla

tri dee Donand

M. D'Arbois

MacCuill, MacCecht, and MacGrainne

Dagda, Lug, and Ogma

Cian

The Children of Tuirenn

ogham

Babylonian Marduk

Ogmíos, Herakles

grianainech

Goibniu, Goba

Hephaistos

Soma, Haoma

Creidne

Luchtine

Diancecht

Miach, Airmed

Grannos

Cóir Anmann

Cera

Ruad-rofhessa

Eochaid Ollathair

Oengus

Elemar

Dr. MacBain

Dispater

Cromm Cruaich

Vallancey

Crom-eocha

Crom Dubh

Boand (the Boyne)

Cethlenn

Conaire

Mac Ind Oc

Tammuz and Adonis

Etain

Fuamnach

grianan

Diarmaid

Bri Léith

Isle of Falga, Isle of Man

Bláthnat

Aitherne

Medros

Nuada Argetlám, Sreng

Açvins, Vispala

Llûd Llawereint

Creidylad

Gwythur

Gwyn

Nodons

Nechtan

Nudd Hael

Ler

The Children of Lir

Llyr, Shakespeare, King Lear

Manannan mac Lir

Orbsen, son of Allot

Cóir Anmann

Agallamh na Senorach

Manawyddan

King Fiachna

Mongan

Barintus

Enbarr

Lug

Ethne

MacIneely

Gavida

Tara

samildánach

Irish Louth (Lug-magh) and in British Lugu-vallum

Lugudunum (Lyons), Lugudiacus, and Lugselva

Lugudunum Convenarum

Uxama

O'Davoren

Lugnasad

Lleu

Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911)

Chapter 4: The Irish Mythological Cycle

by

J. A. MacCulloch

A broad overview of all fields of Celtic mythology which aims to identify the core beliefs of the ancient Celtic religion.

Names Used in this Section

Tuatha Dé Danann

Cúchulainn

Fians

Fionn

Bishop Carsewell

Banba

Tuath Inba

Cessair

Ladru

laimh-dhia

Finntain

Tuan mac Caraill

St. Finnen

Keating

Partholan

Fomorians

Cichol Gricenchos

Mag Itha

Nennius

Nemed

Tory Island

Samhain

Milesians

Firbolgs

Fir-Domnann, Galioin

Ailill

Medb

Beltane

Magtured

Nuada

Bres

Elatha

Eri

Theocritus

Mayo, Sligo

Ishtar, Adonis, Persephone, and Osiris

Indech

Ogma

Balor

Lug

Mile, son of Bile

Ith

Amairgen

muir

Professor Rhys

foawr, famhair

Dr. MacBain

Dr. Stokes

Zimmer, D'Arbois

Cromm Cruaich

Nét

Badb

Nemaind

Brigit

Ruadan

Indech, son of Déa Domnu

Cethlenn

Tethra

Kronos

Dôn

Dagda

Fian Caoilte

Daoine-sidhe

Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911)

Chapter 3: The Gods of Gaul and the Continental Celts

by

J. A. MacCulloch

A discussion of the innumerable Gods of Gaul and the influence of the Roman gods on the continental deities.

Names Used in this Section

Apollo

Juppiter

Minerva

Dispater

Jupiter Taranis

Apollo Grannus

Augustus

Lares

Belenos Augustus

Holder's Altceltischer Sprachschatz

Anwyl

Allobrogi

Pliny

Arverni

Puy de Dôme

Artaios

Mercurius Cultor at Wurtemberg

Moccus

Cimiacinus

Ogmíos

Lucian

Dumias

Borvo, Bormo, or Bormanus

Ausonius

Belinuntia

Maponos

Bonus Puer

Mogons or Mogounos

Diodorus

Boreads

Caturix

Belatu-Cadros

Albiorix

Rigisamus

Toutatis, Totatis, and Tutatis

Seckau, York, and Old Carlisle

Professor Rhŷs

Taranis

Neton

Camulos

Cumal

Fionn

Braciaca

Cernunnos

Esus or Silvanus

Taranoos and Taranucnos

Sucellos

Kulhwych

Mycenæans

Neter

Alexandrian Serapis

Nantosvelta

M. D'Arbois

Balor

Autun

Vandoeuvres

Reims

Saintes

Beaune

Dennevy

Malmaison

M. Mowat

Bran

Janus

Smertullos

Silvanus

Salzbach

Aeracura

Ober-Seebach

Tarvos Trigaranos

M. Reinach

Cúchulainn

garanus

trikeras

trikarenos

Esugenos

Poeninus

Vosges mountains, Vosegus

Dii Casses

Cassiterides

Dea Bibracte, Nemausus, and Vasio

Bibracte, Nimes, and Vaison

Belisama

Nemetona

Cathubodua, Badb-catha

Andrasta

Andarta of the Voconces

Boudicca

Bellona of the Scordisci

Camma

Cæsarius of Arles

Stanna

Perigueux

Vesunna and Aventia, Vesona and Avanche

Seine, Sequana

Bormo, Bormana, Damona

Dea Brixia was the consort of Luxovius, Luxeuil

Clota, Clyde

Sabrina, Severn

Icauna was goddess of the Yonne

Sinnan of the Shannon

Deoe Matres

Berecynthia

Hathors in Egypt, the Moirai, Gorgons, and Graiæ of Greece, the Roman Fates, and the Norse Nornæ

Juno with Clivana

Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911)

Chapter 2: The Celtic People

by

J. A. MacCulloch

A broad overview of all fields of Celtic mythology which aims to identify the core beliefs of the ancient Celtic religion.

Names Used in this Section

Celtæ

Auvergnats

Lozère

Jura

Professor Sergi

Professor Keane

Belgæ

Broca

Aquitani

Strabo

Galli

Po

Elbe

Rhine

Italiotes

Kymri

Walloons

Grenelle

Sclaigneaux & Borreby

Dr. Beddoe

Dr. Thurnam

Professor Ripley

Wanderjahre

Aremorici

Arecluta

athair, ayr iasg

pater, piscis

caora - kaperax

uper

fairguni

percunion

Ercunio, the Hercynian forest

Epidii - epos ech equus

Parisii - Qarisii

Pictones, Pictavi of Poictiers - pictos, picti - quicto

Sequana, seine

Professor Rhŷs

Mr. Nicholson

Professor Windisch

Dr. Stokes

Professor Meyer

Dr. MacBain

Cassiterides

Qretanis - Pretanis

Ynys Pridain

Pretanikaí Iísoi

Cruithne = Qritani = Pretani

Pictavi - Picti, quicto, cicht

Eumenius

Caledonii

Peanfahel

St. Columba

Scotti

Rhine, the Elbe, and the Danube

Hyperboreans

Ripœan mountains

Boreas

Hecatæus

Galatæ

Galli

dunon

Magos

devos

Livy

Timagenes

king Ambicatus

Bellovesus

Segovesus

Bituriges

Celticum

Ambicatus

Arverni

Aedui

Suessiones

Boii

Insubri

Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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John Arnott MacCulloch, a Scotsman, was born in 1868 and died in 1950. He was one of Scotland's most famous Celtic Scholars and folklore researchers and he published The Religion of the Ancient Celts in 1911 and his lengthier The Mythology of All Races (in thirteen volumes, published in 1918).

According to Chebucto Community Net, he wrote The Religion of the Ancient Celts during a long residence in the Isle of Skye, a place MacCulloch claimed to be "easier to attempt the ancient religion than in a busier or more prosaic place" because it "is where the old language of the people still survives, and where the genius loci speaks everywhere of things remote and strange."

MacCulloch's book became an instant classic as it was one of the first to attempt to rebuild Celtic paganism and postulate its inner spirit. MacCulloch portrays the Celt as a seeker after God, linking himself by strong ties to the unseen and eager to conquer the unknown by religious rite and magic art. The earliest aspect of the Celtic religion, MacCulloch believed, was the cult of nature spirits and of life manifested in nature.

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The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911)

Ch. 1: Introductory

by

J. A. MacCulloch

A broad overview of all fields of Celtic mythology which aims to identify the core beliefs of the ancient Celtic religion.

Names Used in this Section

Mabinogion

equites

Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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The Religion of the Ancient Celts (1911)

The Preface

by

J. A. MacCulloch

A broad overview of all fields of Celtic mythology which aims to identify the core beliefs of the ancient Celtic religion.

A Druid

Names Used in this Section

M. Gaidoz

M. Bertrand

D'Arbois de Jubainville

Dr. Windisch

Dr. Stokes

Sir John Rhŷs

Hibbert Lectures

M. Salomon Reinach

M. Dottin

Professor Anwyl

Miss Turner and Miss Annie Gilchrist

Religion of the Ancient Celts can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about J. A. McCulloch on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for a dramatic re-telling of the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or in Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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The votes are in and have been counted and by an overwhelming majority, our next book will be Religion of the Ancient Celts by J. A. MacCulloch.

This book is one of the best scholarly treatments of the ancient Celtic religion. Written early in the 20th Century, Religion of the Ancient Celts includes extensive treatment of that perennially fascinating subject, the Druids.

There is very little documentary evidence to go on. In particular, we have no actual sacred texts of the ancient Celts, as their texts were transmitted orally only to initiates, and disappeared forever when the last Druid died. Christianity became the dominant religion in the Celtic area before the oral traditions could become written down, unlike the Vedas in India. Ancient Celtic religious beliefs must therefore be inferred from second-hand classical accounts, hints from Celtic mythology, legend and folklore, as well as archaeological and comparative anthropological evidence. MacCulloch marshals this body of evidence, extensively footnoted, so that an authoritative and clear view of ancient Celtic religion emerges.

MacCullough details the Celtic belief in reincarnation and a spectral otherworld; documents the enormous pantheon of now-obscure gods and goddesses, including many local deities; and describes totemistic and animistic beliefs. In addition, MacCulloch does not flinch (nor sensationalize) when describing the darker side of Celtic practices, including the famous 'Burning Man' human sacrifices, cannibalism and exogamous incest.

With so much spurious, flawed and poorly cited information floating around on the Internet about Celtic beliefs, it is important to review what is actually known about this subject.

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Please accept my apologies for writing about myself. I generally try and avoid this as I feel I am nowhere near as important as the stories I tell (and those that we tell as far as the Celtic Myth Podshow is concerned). That having been said, let's plunge on in!

When I moved from Primary School to Secondary school (after the now legendary 11+ examination), one of my favourite lessons was the English class. At 11 years old I was far too young to understand much about Grammar or story/poem analysis, but I loved the act of creation involved in summoning imagery and meaning from words. Plain and simple words that when strung together could create pictures in my mind and feelings in my chest.

One memory that sticks in my mind as significant because it told me, even at that tender age that I had an intense desire to write, was a class exercise that progressed over an entire term. We were each asked to write a single-page, short and concise story and then read it to the entire class. I was in heaven! I wrote an adventure story involving a dangerous trek in the jungle and eventual possible rescue. My story stretched the limits of our allotted time as I had filled well over a dozen pages of the small A5 exercise books that we used to be given at school. After I had finished - I don't remember exactly what the teacher said - my fellow class-mates were asked to give their feedback to the teacher and they all asked for more detail about my story and for the tale to be completed. The teacher, perhaps bowing to popular pressure, asked me to complete the story and for the next couple of weeks I wrote continuing episodes and read each out in turn to the class. The joy I felt in entertaining my peers with my my writing is a joy that has never left me. To give pleasure with mere words is something that can never be underestimated.

As my relationships with my school-mates developed, I played many games and don't remember writing much other that the allocated tasks that we were all set. Our play-ground games however were rapidly becoming increasingly complex. A small group of my intimate inmates decided to each take on the role of a particular leader/hero/ruler on a planet in some imaginary Science Fiction universe that we had decided upon. My own planet of bio-mechanical inhabitants acquired technical drawings of the transport system within its major cities, biological descriptions of the alien inhabitants (vaguely resembling cones on wheels as I recall!) and each city having its own history mapped out. Hours and hours of work. It never got used in our games of course, but for me the creation of back-story was as essential as the game itself.

Writing after Leaving School? As my school-years were coming to an end, my close-knit circle of buddies discovered the very first 3 volume box-set of an imported game from America, ridiculously named "Dungeons & Dragons". The game was what later came to be known as a 'role-playing game' with one person acting as a story-teller come referee come guide and the other players taking on a role of a character within a Fantasy-based universe.

The big difference between this and other traditional methods of story-telling was that the actions that the players decided to take determined the future course of events within the story. The Fantasy universe moulded itself around us as we played. We were living in the story! I had come home! What an amazing discovery.

It wasn't long before I, myself, took on the part of the Dungeon Master (as the referee was called) and was creating my own interactive stories with a group of players. My own game had maps (based on hex-paper) that were filled in as the players explored the world I had created plastered all over one wall of my very small flat and the remaining space in my flat taken up with as many chairs as I could fill into the space. At one stage, our story had over ten people meeting weekly to continue their adventures and the whole story arc carried on for over a year.

That was something that required almost constant attention and a vast amount of time and energy to complete. Something that I would never advise anyone of even half-sane mind to contemplate doing!

Turning to Myths & Legends Coming into my early 20's, my daily reading consumption increased and although I didn't put pen to parer at this time not only did my love of fiction grow and evolve but my love of mythological and religious stories also grew. My interests spread into a more academic and factual direction in order to find out where these stories came from and to seek answers as to why some versions of the same story were different and why there were similarities between stories from widely different cultures around the world. This was a long time before I discovered Joseph Campbell! My love of story, mythology and comparative religion eventually lead me to study ritual and magic - which, in my opinion, is yet another variety of living story. But that is really a different tale that I shall save for another day.

One of my greatest loves from my first days at Secondary schools was Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and the whole Middle-Earth mythos. To be fair, it is a love that I carry with me to this day. Back in 1977, I found the Silmarillion to be hard reading at my first attempt, but I fast grew to love it. In particular, the Song of Creation found in the first part, Ainulindalë, tells of the creation of Eä, the "world that is" struck a deeply resonant chord within my soul.

What happened next is something that I look back on with great awe and wonder. Without realising it, my next actions were to act as a prelude to the type of story-telling that I was to take up again 30 years later! I recorded myself reading the Ainulindalë accompanied by music by Tangerine Dream (I think the album was Phaedra) and loved every minute.

It was only when I listened to the cassette recording that I was over-whelmed and the hairs on my arms stood up and my heart raced with some form of excitement that I had never felt before. Something magical had happened. When I was reading about the Horns of Ulmo, resounding in the Deep Waters, there were horn blasts in the music. So much synchronicity happened in this reading whose true significance I missed at the time. This was something unique and wonderful. But hey-ho! - I was 18 years old, and forgot all about it in the rush of rapidly expanding teenage hormones in the following months.

Time for a Quick Break Let's take a small break in the narrative here, while I grab a glass of water, you get to wonder what on earth you are doing wasting your time reading the drivel that I have written and I skip forward in time. As we go, we can jump over several failed attempts at both fiction and non-fiction writing, and arrive at the point in my life where my long-suffering wife (the gorgeous Ruthie) and I decide to start a podcast about Celtic Mythology. The Celtic Myth Podshow was born at Imbolc, 2008 - it seemed to us a suitable birthing time. Reading the complex Irish myths out aloud seemed to us an excellent way of learning them, understanding them and perhaps help other people out with the same tasks. It was only natural that eventually we would want to cover all the stories of the Celts that we could find.

For two years, I scripted the ideas we came up with and along with friends and family we recorded and released shows every fortnight. There was no way in this or any other universe that we could maintain this pace and were it not for my becoming seriously ill and requiring major surgery due to Cancer at the end of 2009, I think I/we would have burned out and never carried on making any shows or telling any more stories.

Health is something that when you are healthy you can often take for granted. I certainly did. Without it, each physical movement initially and later any focus or concentration became something that rapidly drained my energy. I learned about Spoon Theory very quickly indeed. Google it - it's worth it.

Life events (family, career, housing, finances etc.) began to overtake us in 2015-2016, and the rate at which we could produce shows dwindled as more and more of our focus and attention had to be placed on far more immediate concerns. I think we only managed to get out one show in 2016 and another in 2017. Early in 2017, I discovered that I had Leukemia and we were again forced to focus on health and the need to rapidly find a new home.

Patience, Pacing and Priorities It is strange that no matter how important your writing is to you, or how much you value your creative work and no matter how much pleasure you get from seeing or hearing the joy that other people have from hearing or reading your work, there is no way that the inspiration will flow when your life's basics are under threat. I thought that writing and creating would be a great distraction form the more serious problems in our lives. I was, however, totally wrong. It just wouldn't happen. It took time - a long time - for me to even begin to accept this. Starting a new podcast, Celtic Tomes, was my refusal to accept that I could do nothing creative during this time. Eventually this podcast too had to come to a halt as life's needs escalated. This was a frustrating time that I am glad we seem to have passed through. It is over and I hope I have learned some very important lessons about patience, pacing and the priorities in our lives.

At the height of the Summer heatwave in this year (2018), we moved and began to unpack and settle. I could feel the relaxation beginning to seep into my bones. Despite the mountains of boxes around me, the presence of inspiration began to make itself felt.

For me, inspiration works in a very strange and yet defined way. It seems I have to make space in my life and my head, start the process off by moving a little way towards an idea and then whatever it is that comes from outside of myself, from the wider universe, from the Realms of the Fae or the Gods or whatever (be it Awen or Imbas or just plain Inspiration), I begin to feel its breath rushing into me towards a new creation. They say the word 'inspiration' comes from from the Proto-Indo-European root *en "in" + spirare "to breathe". Breathing in the Spirit of creation from the cosmos perhaps? It is interesting that the word 'spirit' also has the same roots....

Flexing My Muscles (as if!) I felt I needed to flex my writing muscles again. "If you don't use it, you lose it" is a common expression, but I am not sure it means you forget how to write, but I think it may mean you lose contact with that flow of "spirit" or whatever that brings a creation into life and full being. I had been listening to podcasts about the Craft of Writing for some time and as October was approaching, I began to hear more and more about NaNoWriMo. NaNoWriMo stands for the "National Novel Writing Month" and it always takes place during the 30 days of November. In this time you do your best to write 50,000 words to create a novel (novella perhaps?). Success or failure is not strictly the main goal. The main goal of #NaNoWriMo is to get you writing.

So I made a decision to write a novel. Research and preparation of that novel has been one of the most enjoyable and rewarding pastimes that I have encountered in the last few years and I am incredibly excited to start writing on November 1st. My novel is going to be a ghost story set in the middle of a disaster zone at a place I know well in Hastings - the town where I was born.

It's only 10 days away now and I find myself 'itchy' to start writing. As I can't start on my novel until November, I found my mind drifting to other projects. Perhaps I could start thinking about the next book for the Celtic Tomes? So, I totaled the votes cast for the next book and started some preparation. Fantastic!

And yet, still the Universe had not finished with me.

Unfinished Business Last week, I woke up wondering where my work period that day could be directed, opened my laptop and found myself opening up the Script for the Branwen story! The Second Branch of the Mabinogion is the next story to be told in our main podcast, the Celtic Myth Podshow, and the script is about half-way completed and stands at about 22,000 words. I found myself re-reading and editing what I had already written, suddenly aware that I was mentally preparing myself to finish the script. I sent my prayers of thanks up to the Gods or whoever was helping me with the inspiration and went to bed a very happy Gary.

A few days later, the realities of the situation began to sink into my dense, Neanderthal brow and I realised that if I were to avoid the same burn-out problems that I had hit before then I would have to heed the lessons of Pacing that I had tried to learn previously. I would have to take things very slowly indeed. I would have to work in tune with Life and not separate from it.

November is, for me, fully booked with NaNoWriMo and Life events, but after that, in the New Year, I can turn my attention back to the Branwen story and do some editing of my novel, some recording for Celtic Tomes and any other project that leaps into my mind. The important thing I have to remember, and I really must drive this home into my thickest of heads, is that I can only focus fully on one major project at a time. To do otherwise would be to tread, stagger and eventually fall on the stony path to a barren plain where nothing gets written.

Thank you for listening to the story so far.

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Intermission and Book Choice Show - CT034

Next Book for Celtic Tomes

We announce that Celtic Tomes is taking a small break while we move house and offer you five amazing books to choose from. Have a listen and decide which book we will read for you when we return after the house move! You can make your choice by sending us an email (see the link above on our shownotes page at cetictomes.libsynm.com), making a comment here on our Shownotes, making your choice on the Polls we manage to set up on Facebook, Twitter etc. You can vote as many times as you like, and all the votes will be counted up and we'll let you know the scores in the first show of the next Book reading.

The Five books to choose from are:

1. Myths & Legends of the Celtic Race, T. W. Rolleston (1911)

2. Religion of the Ancient Celts, J. A. McCulloch (1911)

3. Myth & Folklore of Ireland, Jeremiah Curtin (1889)

4. Fairy & Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry, W. B. Yeats (1888)

5. Welsh Fairy Tales, William E. Griffiths (1921)

Which of these would you like us to read next?

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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Baleful Storm Spirits

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 4 Chapter 5

by

Wirt Sikes

Baleful Storm Spirits, is all about the spirits of thunder and lightning, hidden treasure and the dragons of Wales. Sikes tells us the story of the Red Lady of Paviland caves and the Treasure Chest under Moel Arthur, the Cavern of the Ravens and the origin of the Red Dragon of Wales.

Running Order:

• Baleful Storm Spirits 1:48
• The Shower at the Magic Fountain 2:31
• Obstacles in the Way of Treasure-Seekers 4:03
• The Red Lady of Paviland 4:46
• The Fall of Coychurch Tower 5:23
• Thunder and Lightning evoked by Digging 6:21
• The Treasure Chest under Moel Arthur in the Vale of Clwyd 7:32
• Modern Credulity 8:36
• The Cavern of the Ravens 10:36
• The Eagle-guarded Coffer of Castell Coch 12:03
• Sleeping Warriors as Treasure-Guarders 15:38
• The Dragon which St. Samson drove out of Wales 16:52
• Dragons in the Mabinogion 17:48
• Whence came the Red Dragon of Wales? 18:14
• The Original Dragon of Mythology 19:41
• Prototypes of Welsh Caverns and Treasure-Hills 20:27
• The Goblins of Electricity 21:42

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronounciations right for you.

Paviland
Coychurch Tower
Moel Arthur
Vale of Clwyd
Castell Coch
St. Samson
Sir Kai
Arthur
Sir Owain
Dr. Buckland
Constantine
St. Crallo
Caerau, Cardiganshire
Crochan aur
Herald Cymraeg
Pant-y-Saer crmlech, Anglesea
John Jones, Llandudno
Isaac JonesGiraldus
Kemeys
Pembrokeshire
St. Bernacus
Glamorganshire
Ogof Cigfrain
Peidiwch!
Lord Bute
Nantyglyn
Yehain Banog
Hu gadarn
Draig
Owen Lawgoch
Mynydd Mawr, Carmarthenshire
Craig-y-Ddinas
Caerleon, Monmouthshire
Hesperides
Payshtha-more
O'Rourke
Cadwaladr
Thomas Stephens
Merddin
Nennius
Geoffrey
Mr. Conway
Vortigern

The Red Dragon of Wales

Taliesin
Gwion Bach
Satanas
Klakkr
clû
Odin
Prince Ahmed
Poseidon

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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Early Inscribed Stones

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 4 Chapter 4

by

Wirt Sikes

Early Inscribed Stones tells us all about famous stones that dance, superstitions about rocking stones, and Cromlechs. Sikes tells us the story of the Sagranus Stone and the White Lady, and how humans can be turned into stone. He finishes by telling us about the fairy legends, and the fairy castle at St. Nicholas.

Running Order:

• Early Inscribed Stones 1:50
• The Stone Pillar of Banwan Bryddin, near Neath 3:54
• Catastrophe accompanying its Removal 5:04
• The Sagranus Stone and the White Lady 5:52
• The Dancing Stones of Stackpool 6:39
• Human Beings changed to Stones 7:17
• St. Ceyna and the Serpents 9:39
• The Devil's Stone at Llanarth 11:21
• Rocking Stones and their accompanying Superstitions 12:59
• The Suspended Altar of Loin-Garth 13:31
• Cromlechs and their Fairy Legends 14:53
• The Fairies' Castle at St. Nicholas, Glamargonshire 15:40
• The Stone of the Wolf Bitch 17:00
• The Welsh Melusine 17:32
• Parc y Bigwrn Cromlech 18:50
• Connection of these Stones with Ancient Druidism 20:01

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronounciations right for you.

Banwan Bryddin
Sagranus Stone
St. Ceyna
Llanarth
Loin-Garth
St. Nicholas, Glamargonshire
Melusine (french)
Parc y Bigwrn
Maen Llythyrog
Margam Abbey, Glamorganshire
'Marci Caritini Filii Bericii'
Lady Mackworth
Rev. Mr. Williams
Tir-y-Cwm
Gnoll Gardens
'Dur'n catwo ni!'
Cymro or Saeson
Sagranus Stone at St. Dogmell's, Pembrokeshire
Stackpool Warren
Horestone Park
Sais's Fpord
Moelfre Hill, Carnarvonshire
Llandyfrydog, Anglesea
Carreg y Lleidr
Rolldritch (Rhwyldrech?)
Prince Brychan, Breconshire
River Severn
Camden
Bristol
Keynsham
Cornu Ammonis
Llanarth, Aberaeron, Cardignashire
Diawl
Mecca
Pontypridd
Nennius
Loin-garth, Gower
St. Illtyd
Frennifawr

Fairy Frolic at the Cromlech

Castle Correg
Korreds & korregs
Haute Auvergne
Pirols
fée
Melusina
Gast Rhymhi
'Ange par la figure, et serpent par la reste'
Pressina
Kilhwch and Olwen
Parc-y-Bigwrn, Llanboidy, Carmarethenshire
John Jones

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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Legendary Welsh Stones

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 4 Chapter 3

by

Wirt Sikes

Ancient Welsh stones that could move about by themselves and how the Saxon King Edgar the Peaceable passed a law forbidding Stone Worship. How stones could be linked to water, such as the healing powers of Canna's Chair which only worked after drinking from St. Canna's Well. Sikes also tells us about Talking Stones, Expanding Stones and the Stone of Invisibility which is one of the Thirteen Treasures of Britain.

Running Order:

• Personal Attributes of Legendary Welsh Stones 1:46
• Stone Worship 2:43
• Canna's Stone Chair 3:40
• Miraculous Removals of Stones 4:45
• The Walking Stone of Eitheinn 5:32
• The Thigh Stone 6:26
• The Talking Stone in Pembrokeshire 7:47
• The Expanding Stone 9:12
• Magic Stones in the 'Mabinogion' 10:07
• The Stone of Invisibility 10:15
• The Stone of Remembrance 11:29
• Stone Thief-catchers 12:45
• Stones of Healing 14:09
• Stones at Cross-roads 15:40
• Memorials of King Arthur 17:19
• Round Tables, Carns, Pots, etc. 17:38
• Arthur's Quoits 19:14
• The Gigantic Ross-tossers of Old 19:49
• Mol Walbec and the Pebble in her Show 20:25
• The Giant of Trichrug 22:10
• Giants and the Mythology of the Heavens 23:21
• The Legend of Rhitta Gawr 24:00

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronounciations right for you.

Canna
Eitheinn
Mol Walbec
Trichrug
Rhitta Gawr
Edgar the Peacable
Canute
Carmarthenshire
Canna's Stone

Saint Canna's Chair

Llangan
Ffynon Canna
Parc y Fontwent
'Llangan, dyma'r fan'
(Llangan, here is the spot'
Nennius
Anglesea
Cerevus
Menai
Builth
King Arthur
Cabal
Troynt
Carn Cabal
Giraldus
Maen Morddwyd
Hugh, Earl of Chester
King Henry I
Llechlafar
River Alyn
St. David's Church, Pembrokeshire
St. Gowan's Chapel
Caerleon, Monmouthshire
Ring of Luned
Owen, son of Urien
Ring of Gyges
Rhonabwy
Iddawc
Peredur
Etlym
St. David's, Llanfaes
Mowddwy
St. Tydecho
Maelgwyn Gwynedd
Maenhir
Dysgwylfa
Crumlyn, Monmouthshire
Llanberis
Canrig Bwt
Adrian
Denbighshire
Llanfihangel
Dolwillim
River Tawe
Merlin
River Sawdde
Llangadock
Mynydd Du
Pen Arthur
Cader Idris
Dolgelly
Machynlleth
Castle of Hay
Llowes Churchyard
Hu Gadarn
Cadwaladr
Rhitta Gawr
Brutus
Idris Gawr
Cymry
Côr Gawr
Killara
Cardiganshire
Gwydion
Gwyn, son of Nudd

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

View Details

Mystic Wells

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 4 Chapter 2

by

Wirt Sikes

All about the beheading of St. Winnifred and the mystic well that sprang up where her head fell. How the waters of mystic wells can be either beneficent or malicious - they can cure diseases, mental or physical, as well as curing love-sickness. Sikes also tells us sooe of the stories associated with Barry Island.

Running Order:

• Their Good and Bad Dispositions 1:46
• St. Winifred's Well 4:48
• The Legend of St. Winnifred 6:35
• Miracles 9:28
• St. Tecla's Well 11:50
• St. Dwynwen's 12:44
• Curing Love Sickness 13:00
• St. Cynfran's 14:30
• St. Cynhafal's 15:23
• Throwing Pins in Wells 15:32
• Warts 15:36
• Barry Island and its Legends 17:08
• Ffynon Gwynwy 20:22
• Propitiary Gifts to Wells 21:02
• The Dreadful Cursing Well of St. Elian's 23:09
• Wells Flowing with Milk 25:34
• St. Illtyd's 25:50
• Tafi's Well 28:40
• Sanford's Well 29:31
• Origins of Superstitions of this Class 30:48

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronounciations right for you.

St. Winifred
St. Tecla
St. Cynfran
St. Cynhafal
Barry Island
Ffynon Gwynwy
St. Elian's
St. Illtyd's
Tafi
Sanford
Lourdes, France
Cambria
Ffynon Mair (Well of Mary)
Holywell
Duke of Westminster
Drayton
St. Winifred, or Gwenfrewi
Elerius
Robert of Salop
Cotton MSS.
Caradoc
St. Beino
Lethean
Denbighshire
Gwern Degla
Llandegla
Llandwyn, Anglesea
Dan Cupid
Ffynon Dwynwen (Fountain of Venus)
Iolo MSS.
Seithenhin the Drunkard
Aphrodite
'Rhad Duw a Chynfran lwydd ar y da!'
(the grace of God and blessed Cynfran on the cattle)
Brychan
Abergeleu
St. George's Well
Pennant
Mars
Llangynhafal parish, Denbighshire
Gloucestershire
Barry Island, near Cardiff
St. Barruc, or Barri
Lord Windsor
St. Cadoc
Gwalches
Merlin
Camarthen
Etna
Stromboli
Typhonn
Vulcan
Camden
Malkin
Ffynon Gwynwy, near Llangelyniin church, Carnarvonshire
Archaeologia Cambrensis
Pliny
Clitumnus
Cyff-elian
Llanelian, Denbighshire
Penrhos
Gower, near Swansea
John the Baptist
Canute
River Taff
Newton Nottage, Glamorganshire

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

View Details

The Powers of Bells

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 3 Chapter 6

by

Wirt Sikes

In this chapter, we learn that the sound of Brass bells can break enchantments, how they could exorcise spirits and even foretell storms. Sikes also tells us the story of how a stolen Church Bell was carried home to Wales by a very determined horse.

• Base of the Primeval Mythology 0:54
• Bells and their Ghosts 1:36
• The Bell that committed Murder and was damned for it 3:55
• The Occult Powers of Bells 7:32
• Their Work as Detectives, Doctors, etc. 9:43
• Legend of the Bell of Rhayader 11:24
• St. Illtyd's Wonderful Bell 14:20
• The Golden Bell of Llandaff 14:32

Names Used in this Section

All proper names and words in Welsh or other languages are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronunciations right for you.

Rhayader
St. Illtyd
Llandaff
Mississipi
Aberdovey
Crumlyn
Langorse Pool, Breconshire
Trefethin
St. Cadoc
Llewellyn ap Iorweth, Lord of Caerleo
Caerleon, Monmouthshire
Bangu
Llanfair Duffryn Clwyd
Pembrokeshire
St. Paul's
Cromwellian
St. David's
Ramsey Sound
Glamorgan
River Taf
Llantwit Major
King Arthur
St. Oudoceus

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

View Details

Death and Burial

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 3 Chapter 7

by

Wirt Sikes

Find out all the customs about food and drinking, especially Beer, by a coffin, how important Salt is, the Sin-Eater (and whether the stories are true or not), the Scapegoat and Welsh funeral possessions. We learn about praying at crossroads where criminals may have been buried. Sikes also tells us about the Grassless Grave and the Parson's Offerings.

• Death and Burial 1:50
• The Gwylnos 2:49
• Beer-Drinking at Welsh Festivals 3:24
• Food and Drink over the Coffin 3:56
• Sponge Cakes at Modern Funerals 6:00
• The Sin-Eater 6:45
• Welsh Denial that this Custom ever existed 7:48
• The Testimony concerning it 8:08
• Plate of Salt on Corpse's Breast 12:07
• Superstitions regarding Salt 15:05
• The Scapegoat 17:32
• The St. Tegla Cock and Hen 18:13
• Welsh Funeral Processions 19:51
• Praying at Crossroads 20:29
• Superstition regarding Criminals' Graves 20:44
• Hanging and Welsh Prejudice 21:03
• The Grassless Graves 22:40
• Parson's Penny, or Offrwm 24:40
• Old Shows to the Clerk 25:59
• Arian y Rhaw, or Spade Money 26:32
• Burials without Coffin 29:06
• The Sul Coffa 30:07
• Planting and Strewing Graves with flowers 32:28

Names Used in this Section

All proper names and words in Welsh or other languages are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronunciations right for you.

• Gwylnos
• St Tegla
• Offrwm
• Arian y Rhaw
• Sul Coffa
• Pennant
• Thomas Myddleton
• Coranich
• 'cum mago dolore et clamore cognatorum et propinquorum omnium'
• 'Claddu y marw ac at y cwrw' (To bury the dead, and to the beer')
• Cymru Fu
• Cwrw brwd

Pic: Giving Food over the Coffin

• Llancaiach
• Servis & Humphrey
• Rev. E. L. Barnwell
• Malkin
• John Aubrey
• Lansdwone Mss.
• Hereford
• Rosse
• 'ipso facto'
• Dynder (nolens volens)
• Brecon
• Llangors
• Mr. Gwin
• Bishop White Kennet
• Amersden, Oxford
• Ludlow
• Mr. Matthew Moggridge, Swansea
• Llandebie
• Chepstow
• Mr. Allen, Pembrokeshire
• Mr. E. A. Freeman
• Mr. Eugene Schulyer
• iskatchi
• Cardiganshire
• Cardiff
• Aaron
• Wrexham & Ruthin, Llandegla
• Clwyf y Tegla
• Pater Noster
• Metellus, conqueror of Macedon
• Montgomeryshire
• John Newton
• Welshpool
• Defynog, Breconshire
• Llanrhaiadr-yn-Mochnant
• 'cyfneseifiaid' (next-of-kin)
• 'yr hen glochydd'
• 'cadach deupen
• Richard Griffith, Trefeglwys
• Thomas Dinelly
• Ivan the Harper
• Williams of Merllyn
• Richard the Harper
• Llanfwrog
• Dafydd y Garreg Wen (David of the White Stone)
• Toriad y Dydd (the Dawn)
• Glamorganshire
• Cymbeline
• Milford Haven
• Fidele

Pic: Dafydd y Garreg Wen

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

View Details

Wedding Customs

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 3 Chapter 6

by

Wirt Sikes

Ancient Wedding Customs of the Welsh, including the custom of bidding for wedding gifts and the importance of the person doing the Bidding! We learn how to steal a Bride away and how to reform a wife who hen-pecks her husband.

• Wedding Customs 0:54
• The Bidding 1:36
• The Gwahoddwr 3:55
• Forms of Cymmhorth 7:32
• Horse-Weddings 9:43
• Stealing of a Bride 11:24
• Obstructions to the Bridal Party 14:20
• The Gwyntyn 14:32
• Chaining 15:10
• Evergreen Arches 16:56
• Strewing Flowers 17:45
• Throwing Rice and Shoes 18:00
• Rosemary in the Garden 20:22
• Names after Marriage 23:36
• The Coolstrin 24:10
• The Ceffyl Pren 27:49

Names Used in this Section

All proper names and words in Welsh or other languages are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronunciations right for you.

Cymmhorth
Gwahoddwr
Gwyntyn
Coolstrin
Ceffyl Pren
Pembroke, Cardigan and Carmarthen
Cardiff
Ty'r Bwci
Llanfair ar y Bryn
Owen Gwynt
Elen Morgan
Llewelyn & Margaret Gwynt
Evan Gwyn, Maes y Blodau
Gwladys & Hannah
Mary Bowen, Llwyn y Fedwen, llannon
Rhys Morgan, Castell y Moch
Howel, Gruffydd, & Gwenllian Morgan
Pant y Clacwydd
Llansadwrn
Cwrw da
Nos Blaen
Priodas Cymmhorth
Cyfarfod Cymmhorth
Merry Andrew

Pic: The Old-Time Gwahoddwr

Carmarthenshire
Glamorganshire
Malkin
'toujours trop tard'
'Les Brigands'

Gwrando, leidr hoyw'r ddafad,
Ai ti sydd yma heddyw'n geidwad?
Ai dyna y rheswmcloi y drysau
Rhag dwyn y wreigan liw dydd goleu

Sketty
Sabines
Apuleius
Sabine Virgins
Rector of Merthyr
Tenby
Herefordshire
Lampeter
Mr. & Mrs. Jones of Glandennis
Roberts of the Dingle
Williams of Pwlldu
Jones of Nevada
John Thomas
Betty Willkiams
Dick Shon
skimitry or skimmington
Clos (breeches)
Breconshire

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

View Details

Courtship and Marriage

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 3 Chapter 5

by

Wirt Sikes

Welsh customs of courtship and marriage. Sikes tells us about the Welsh Goddess of Love, later known as St. Dwynwen and how commonplace was the Welsh custom of 'Bundling' or 'courting abed'! We learn about romantic divination and how a Maid may find herself in trouble with the fairies if she is not a 'true maid'. He finishes the chapter by discussing divination by the Knife and the Sheath!

• Courtship and Marriage 0:55
• Planting Weeds and Rue on the Graves of Old Bachelors 2:23
• Special Significance of Flowers in connection with virginity 3:24
• The Welsh Venus 4:30
• Bundling, or Courting Abed 6:25
• Kissing Schools 10:28
• Rhamanta 11:10
• Lovers' Superstitions 11:20
• The Maid's Trick 11:35
• Dreaming on a Mutton Bone 13:10
• Wheat and Shovel 13:35
• Garters in a Lovers' Knot 14:14
• Egg-Shell Cake 14:40
• Sowing Leeks 15:30
• Twca and Sheath 16:33

Names Used in this Section

All proper names and words in Welsh or other languages are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronunciations right for you.

Rhamanta
Twca and Sheath
Howell the Good
Dwynwen, daughter of Brychan

St. Dwynwen - Artwork © Jonathon Earl Bowser – www.JonathonArt.com

Anglesea
Thomas Stephens
Sopen, sypio
Pontypool
Caru yn y gwelu (courting abed)

Bundling, or Courting Abed

Myrdim, Carmarthenshire
Pemrokeshire
Glamorganshire

Y sawl sydd i gydfydio,
Doed i gydgribinio!

'Dyma'r twca, p'le mae'r wain?' (Here's the twca, where's the sheath?)

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

View Details

Welsh Christmas

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 3 Chapter 4

by

Wirt Sikes

All about bell-ringing competitions between villages at Christmas time, the 'Pipes of the Watch' who wake the echoes in the early morning. We also hear about the games, music and Eisteddfodau of Christmas. Sikes tells us about the origins of Boxing Day and the Druid feast of Alban Arthur, celebrated at the Winter Solstice.

• Nadolig, the Welsh Christmas 1:35
• Bell-ringing 3:13
• Carols 4:20
• Dancing to the Music of the Waits 6:37
• An Evening in Carmarthenshire 8:44
• Shenkin Harry, the Preacher, and the Jig Tune 12:26
• Welsh Morality 13:03
• Eisteddfodau 14:26
• Decorating Houses and Churches 16:04
• The Plygain 17:40
• The Colliers Star 18:47
• he Christmas Thriftbox 19:24
• Pagan Origin of Christmas 21:52

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronunciations right for you.

Nadolig
Shenkin Harry
Eisteddfodau
Plygain
Arthur & Merlin
Waits (band of wandering musicians)

Bell-Ringing

Cowbridge
Aberdare
Penarth
St. Fagan's
Llantrisant
Llanblethian
ayont the twal
Bacchus
Glamorganshire
Rev. Evan Harris
Stendahl
Hellas
Pindar
Sophocles
Phidias
Praxiteles
Herodotus
Llandaff Cathedral
Gwynt traed y meirw (wind blowing over the feet of corpses)
Bethlehem
Belgium
Rhodd Nadolig - Christmas gift

The 'Thrift' Box

Viscount Palmerston
London
'jour de l'an'
Alban Arthur
Avagddu
Hea
Gorsedd
Cerridwen
Awen
Herefordshire

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

View Details

Midsummer Eve to Hallowe'en

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 3 Chapter 3

by

Wirt Sikes

All about Midsummer Eve and the Beltane Fires that precede it leading up to Hallowe'en. Sikes tells us about the Three Nights for Spirits that occur at Halloween - a time at which ghosts and fairies walk abroad. He also talks about bobbing for apples and the Fourth of July celebrations in the States, Guy Fawkes' Night and how important it is that it never be forgotten.

• Midsummer Eve 0:56
• The Druidic Ceremonies at Pontypridd 1:56
• The Snake Stone 3:40
• Beltane Fires 4:32
• Fourth of July Fires in America 4:42
• St. Ulric's Day 6:10
• Carrying Cynog 6:44
• Marketing on Tombstones 8:06
• The First Night of Winter 8:28
• The Three Nights for Spirits 8:40
• The Tale of Thomas Williams the Preacher 9:30
• All Hallows Eve Festivities 10:22
• Running through Fire 11:17
• Quaint Border Rhymes 12:03
• The Puzzling Jug 12:58
• Bobbing for Apples 14:08
• The Fiery Features of Guy Fawkes' Day 15:12
• St. Clement's Day 16:35
• Stripping the Carpenter 16:59

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronunciations right for you.

Pontypridd
Beltane
St. Ulric
Cynog
Thomas Williams
Guy Fawkes
St. Clement
St. John's Eve
Myfyr Morganwg
Kali
Belenian
Geleiniau Nadroedd
Sun-god Beal
Barnabe Googe
Naogeorgius

'Wheresoever Huldryche hath his place, the people there brings in
Both carpes and pykes, and mullets fat, his fauour here to win.'

Brychan Brycheiniog
Defynog
Nos Calan Gauaf
Nos Cyn Gauaf
Teir Nos Ysprydnos
Mary
'Wissel wassel, bread and possel,
Cwrw da, plas yma'
Twco am falau
crwc
gwyntyn
Bishop Sanderson
Moloch
Pembrokeshire

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

View Details

Sundry Lenten Customs

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 3 Chapter 2

by

Wirt Sikes

All about traditions and customs occurring around Lent in old Wales. Sikes tells us all about Hot Cross Buns and how they are tied up in a bag, the ceremony of 'Lifting' women high into the air that takes place at Easter, and the possible origins of April Fool's Day. He talks about the Maypole and the giving of Birch rods as a token of love, as well as the battle between the Winter and Summer Kings that takes place each Mayday.

• Sundry Lenten Customs 0:57
• Mothering Sunday 1:58
• Palm Sunday 2:09
• Flowering Sunday 2:15
• Walking Barefoot to Church 2:52
• Spiritual Potency of Buns 3:18
• Good Friday Superstitions 4:20
• Making Christ's Bed 4:26
• Bad Odour of Friday 5:00
• Unlucky Days 5:20
• Holy Thursday 6:00
• The Eagle of Snowdon 6:18
• New Clothing at Easter 6:57
• Lifting 7:33
• The Crown of Porcelain 8:10
• Stocsio 9:05
• Ball-Playing in Churchyards 11:00
• The Tump of Lies 12:35
• Dancing in Churchyards 13:13
• Seeing the Sun Dance 14:10
• Calan Ebrill, or All Fools' Day 14:56
• May Day 15:42
• The Welsh Maypole 16:33
• The Daughter of Lludd llaw Ereint 17:31
• Carrying the Kings of Summer and Winter 18:45

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronunciations right for you.

Snowdon
Stocsio
Calan Ebrill
Lludd llaw Ereint
Monmouthshire
Cardiff
Pembrokeshire
Tenby
Brahmins of India
Giraldus
Thor
Hampshire
Bragawd

pic. Lifting

Rhag i'r feinwen losgi ei thalcen ('Lest the maiden burn her forehead')
Aberconwy
Pen Twthil
Dr. Fosbrooke
St. Dogmell's Parish
'Cnwc y Celwydd' videlicet
Aberedwy
Malkin
St. Almedha, Breconshire
Ffwl Ebrill
Saturnalia
Bedwen
Bedw
Collen
Mabinogi
Kilhwch & Olwen
Gwyn ap Nudd
Gwythyr
Greidawl
Arthur
Defynog
Yo ho!

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

View Details

Quaint Old Customs

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 3 Chapter 1

by

Wirt Sikes

Quaint Old Customs tells us to rise early on New Year's morning to bring good luck, the Mari Lwyd procession from house to house and the story of the Cutty Wren. Sikes also tells us about St. David, St. Patrick and the wearing of the leek.

• Serious Significance of seemingly Trivial Customs 2:32
• Their Origins 2:45
• Common Superstitions 3:37
• The Age We Live in 4:10
• Days and Seasons 6:11
• New Year's Day 6:32
• The Apple Gift 6:40
• Lucky Acts on New Year's morning 8:23
• The First Foot 9:20
• Showmen's Superstitions 9:34
• Levy Dew Song 10:51
• Happy New Year Carol 11:49
• Twelfth Night 12:34
• The Mary Lwyd 12:40
• The Penglog 14:25
• The Cutty Wren 15:11
• Tooling and Sowling 15:52
• St. Valentine's Day 16:45
• St. Dewi's Day 17:45
• The Wearing of the Leek 19:10
• The Traditional St. David 23:41
• St. Patrick's Day 27:54
• St. Patrick a Welshman 28:00
• Shrove Tuesday 29:44

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronunciations right for you.

Bodleian Library
Levy Dew
Mari Lwyd
Penglog
Sowling
St. Valentine
St. Dewi
St. David
St. Patrick
Luther
Glamorganshire

pic. New Year's Apple

Cardiff

pic. Three Rays

Avagddu
Pembrokeshire
Jonah
Llef i Dduw

Blwyddyn newydd dda i chwi,
Gwyliau llawen i chwi,
Meistr a meistres bob un trwy'r ty,
Gwyliau llawen i chwi,
Codwch yn foreu, a rheswch y tan,
A cherddwch i'r ffynon i ymofyn dwr glan.

awen
Aberconwy (Conway)
Carnarvonshire
Gwent
Morganwg
Rhymney Dingle

pic: Cutty Wren song

soûl
St. George
St. Andrew
Cardigan
Carmarthen
Lampeter
Manby
Cymhortha
Poictiers
Cressy

Pistol & Fluellen

Glyn Hodnant
Teify
Llandewi Brefi
Abel, Noah, Thomas, Peter, Paul & David
William the Conqueror
Llandeilo Talybont
Llantwit Major
Rosina
Iolo MSS
Crammwythau (pancakes)

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

View Details

The Corpse Candle

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 2 Chapter 9

by

Wirt Sikes

Corpse Candles are ghostly candle lights that allow us to see through the veil, or seen as an omen of forthcoming doom. How the candle lights are not tricked and how they can be seen coming from the mouth of a corpse. Sikes tells us the story of Morris Griffith and the 'Light before the Burying' as well as how Corpse Candle lights can be seen on the surface of water and streams. He finishes off by discussing the origins of the phantoms of the spirit world which ends the last chapter of Book 2 of British Goblins.

• The Corpse Candle 0:55
• Its Peculiarities 2:12
• The Woman of Caerau 4:05
• Grasping a Corpse Candle 6:26
• The Crwys Candle 7:24
• Lights issuing from the Mouth 8:39
• Jesting with the Canwyll Corph 9:48
• The Candle at Pontfaen 12:18
• The Three Candles at Golden Grove 15:21
• Origin of Death-Portents in Wales 16:02
• Degree of Belief prevalent at the Present Day 17:28
• Origin of Spirits in General 19:34
• The Supernatural 19:56
• The Question of a Future Life 21:30

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronunciations right for you.

Caerau
Crwys Candle
Canwyll Corph
Pontfaen
Aneurin
Llandovery
Cymry
Flambeau
Lledrith
Cardiff
Marquis of Bute
John Richards
'O wi! O Dduw!'
Jenny fach, Hach
Thomas Mathews
Liber Landavenis
St. Samson
St. Bubricius
William John
Lanboydi
Carmarthenshire
Morris Griffith
Pembrokeshire
Tre-Davydd
Llanferch-Llawddog
Mr. Higgon
Joshua Coslet
Heol Bwlch y Gwynt (Windgap Lane)
Llandilo Fawr parish
Prophet Jones
Golden Grove
Earl of Cawdor
St. David
King Arthur
Pelagian
Gwrach y Rhibyn
Cyhyraeth
Cambridgeshire
Evansville, Indiana
Feast
Tolaeth
Disraeli
Lothair
Plato
Aristotle

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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Tolaeth Death Sounds

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 2 Chapter 8

by

Wirt Sikes

The Tolaeth Death Sounds includes the strange sounds that foretell death, the story of John Clode and his wife who heard the coffin arrive in their home two days before their son died! Sounds of rapping, knocking, people moving are all commonplace. Sikes tells us the story of the railway accident at Pontypridd, and a couple living nearby heard ghostly footsteps upstairs in their house. Edward Lloyd heard a ghostly voice while lying ill in bed. We hear about the Goblin Funeral which can precede a real funeral by several days. The Cwn Annwn, or Dogs of Hell, howl through the air and the story of Pwyll. King Arthur and the Wild Hunt.

Running Order:

• The Tolaeth Death Portent 0:54
• Its various forms 1:40
• The Tolaeth before Death 1:53
• Ewythr Jenkin's Tolaeth 6:00
• A Modern Instance 7:54
• The Railway Victim's Warning 9:10
• The Goblin Voice 10:10
• The Voice from the Cloud 11:12
• Legend of the Lord and the Beggar 12:25
• The Goblin Funeral 14:02
• The Horse's Skull 15:13
• The Goblin Veil 16:24
• The Wraith of Llanllwch 17:19
• Dogs of Hell 18:32
• The Tale of Pwyll 19:46
• Spiritual Hunting Dogs 22:55
• Origin of the Cwn Annwn 22:28

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronunciations right for you.

Tolaeth
Ewythr Jenkin
Llanllwch
Pwyll
Cwn Annwn
Blaenporth, Cardiganshire
Teulu
Gwenllian
Jenny
Llynwent, Radnorshire
Pontypridd
Mary
Edward Lloyd, Llangurig
'Y mae nenbren y ty yn craccio' (the upper beam of the house cracketh)
'Fe dor yn y man' (it will presently break)
'Dyna fe yn tori' (there it breaks)
John, son of Watkin Elias Jones, Mynyddyslwyn
Iolo MSS
Rees Thomas, Carmarthenshire
Rhiw Edwst, near Capel Ywen
'Rhys bach, pa fodd yr y'ch chwi?' (My dear Rhys, how are you?)
Rev. Howel Prosser, Aberystruth
Edmund Jones, the Prophet Jones
Isaac William Thomas, Hafodafel
llanhiddel
Llanllwch Church
Cwn y Wybr
Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed
Pembroke
Narberth
Glyn Cych
Arawn
Thomas Phillips, Telech
Thomas Andrew
River Ebwy
Le Grand Veneur
Fontainebleau, France
Hackelberg, Germany
Britain, King Arthur
Mr. Baring-Gould
Odin
William Henderson
Hermes
Devonshire
River Styx
Indra

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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Welsh Death Omens

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 2 Chapter 7

by

Wirt Sikes

Welsh Death Omens includes the Welsh Banshee or Gwrach y Rhibyn, crying spirits, the groaning spirits as well as corpse candles and the chirping of a bird at the door of a person about to die. Taliesin predicted the frightful monster known as the Fad Felen which comes from the marsh with hair, teeth and eyes like gold and brings death in its wake. Sikes also talks about the frightful female spectres, banshees and black maidens familiar across the Celtic World as harbingers of death.

Running Order:

• Cambrian Death Portents 1:33
• The Corpse-Bird 2:48
• The Tan-Wedd 4:00
• Listening at the Church Door 6:12
• The Lledrith 7:27
• The Gwrach y Rhibyn 9:22
• The Llandaff Gwrach 12:08
• Ugliness of this Female Apparition 15:03
• The Black Maiden 15:13
• The Cyhyraeth, or Crying Spirit 16:45
• Its Moans on Land and Sea 17:55
• The St. Mellons Cuhyraeth 21:22
• The Groaning Spirit of Bedwellty 23:05

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronunciations right for you.

Tan-Wedd
Lledrith
Gwrach y Rhibyn
Llandaff Gwrach
Cyhyraeth
St. Mellons Cuhyraeth
Bedwellty
The Banshee
Mr. Baring-Gould
Tolaeth
Cwn Annwn
Cwn y Wybr
Canwyll Corph
Teulu
Aderyn y Corph
Warwickshire
Mr. Davis to Mr. Baxter
Walter Watkins
Neuadd, parish of Brecknockshire
Taf Fechan Chapel
Llewelyn Sion of Llangewydd
Fad Felen
Rhos Church
Maelgwyn Gwynedd
Taliesin
Mallt y Nos
Rev. D. R. Thomas
Archaeologia Cambrensis
Croker
Ceffyl heb un pen
Marw coel
Y mae mor salw a Gwrach y Rhibyn
Fy ngwr (my husband)
Fm ngwraig (my wife)
Fy mlentyn bach (my little child)
Och Dduw!
Cardiff
Cow and Snuffers Inn
Benshi
Sir Walter Scott
Hermes
Black Maiden
Caerleon
Peredur
Avagddu
Glamorganshire
Prophet Jones
David Prosser, of Llanbyther Parish
'Woolach!'
Joshua Coslet
Towy
Carmarthenshire
Inis Cenin
Non, mother of St. David
Llan-non, Church of Non
Monmouthshire
Mary Morgan
Crumlyn Bridge
'O Dduw, beth a wnaf fi?' (O God, what shall I do?)
Meredith Thomas
Thomas Edward Morgan
Anthony Aaron
William Harry Rees

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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The Medieval Devil in Wales

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 2 Chapter 6

by

Wirt Sikes

The Medieval Devil in his customary form in Wales. How Sion Cent tricked the Devil and kept his soul and how he was tricked by an old Welshwoman at the Devil's Bridge. We learn about the Devil's Bridge as well as about how to avoid Pacts with the Devil. Sikes tells us of the few visits by angels to Wales as well as the Bardic Tradition of the Creation.

Running Order:

• The Evil Spirit in his customary Form 1:36
• The stupid Medieval Devil in Wales 1:53
• Sion Cent 3:43
• The Devil outwitted 4:26
• Pacts with the Fiend and their Avoidance 4:49
• Sion Dafydd's Foul Pipe 5:28
• The Devil's Bridge and its Legends 8:34
• Similar Legends in other Lands 10:10
• The Devil's Pulpit near Tintern 11:50
• Angelic Spirits 13:03
• Welsh Superstitions as to pronouncing the Name of the Evil Spirit 16:03
• The Bardic Tradition of the Creation 17:12
• The Struggle between Light and Darkness and its Symbolization 18:49

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronunciations right for you.

Sion Cent
Sion Dafydd
Cardiganshire
Polyphemus
Hercules
Cacus
Odysseus
Peredur
Mabinogion
Gambrinus
der Teufel
Jack the Giant Killer
Norse Jotuns
Arabian Genii
Monmouthshire
Maenol
Pope Benedict IX
Rev. John Kent
Cymric
Grosmont Fair
Monnow, near Grosmont
Diawl
Carmarthenshire
Hills of Arfon
Sion Dafydd
Llanfair-Fechan
Rhiwgyfylchi
Ach! tw! tw!
Main at Frankfort
Switzerland
St. Gothard
Andermatt
Hafod
Tintern Abbey
Cistercian monks
degage (e acute)
Llandogo
Prophet Jones
David Thomas
Pantau
Laugharne
Pa hyd? Pa hyd? Dychwelwch feibein Adda!
Pa hyd? Pa hyd yr erlidiwch y Cristnogion duwiol?
Ress David
Whitlands
Pont y Gwr Drwg
/|\ (Welsh Bardic Name of God)

The Three Rays

Hindus
Brahma, VBishnu
Siva
Einigan Gawr
Genii/Jinns
Ahriman
Vritra
Indra
Ormuzd

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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Familiar Spirits

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 2 Chapter 5

by

Wirt Sikes

Familiar Spirits are known to often throw stones, especially when at Preachers trying to exorcise them! We also hear about the familiar spirits of Magicians and others who deal in the Black Arts. Sikes tells us the legend of the Lady of the Wood, and how she bewitched those around her with illusions. The Devil himself can be seen as a form of familiar, and can transform himself into a huge black mastiff, a black calf or even a round bowl! Finally, we learn how to both summon and exorcise familiars, and how the terrible tailor of Glanbran was asked to summon the Devil.

Running Order:

• Familiar Spirits 0:55
• The Famous Sprite of Trwym Farm 2:10
• Was it a Fairy? 6:40
• The Familiar Spirits of Magicians 7:35
• Sir David Llwyd's Demon 7:43
• Familiar Spirits in Female Form 10:26
• The Legend of the Lady of the Wood 13:40
• The Devil as a Familiar Spirit 21:15
• His Disguises in this Character 22:41
• Summoning and Exorcising Familiars 26:12
• Jenkin the Pemrokeshire Schoolmaster 26:50
• The Terrible Tailor of Glanbran 29:00

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronunciations right for you.

Trwym Farm
Sir David Llwyd
Pemrokeshire
Glanbran
diawl
Job John Harry
Mynyydyslwyn
Pwca'r Trwyn
Ellylldan
Thomas Evans
Pwll y Gasseg
Morris Roberts
William Reilly
Blanch y Byd
Dos yn iach ('fare thee well')
Crumlyn
Abercarne
Californian
Bwbach
Cardiganshire
Oxford
Rev. Mr. Thomas Lewis, Landdw & Tolachdy
Radnorshire
'Tafl gerrig o'r afon' (throw stones out of the river)
River Wye
Giraldus
Caerleon, Monmouthshire
Melerius
Lower Gwent
Iolo MSS
Einion
Gwalchmai
Treveilir
Angharad
Kent
Monmouthshire
Maenol
Gorwenydd
Gwyn
Nudd
Ednyved Vychan
Gruddydd ab yr Ynad Coch
cythraul
dera
diafol
Hermes
Vavasor Powell
Pemrokeshire
Narberth
Henry Llewellyn
Ystrad Defoc
Glamorganshire
Marquis of Bute
William Jones
Risca village
Merthyr Tydfil
John Jenkin
Glanbran, Carmarthenshire
Mr. Gwynne

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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Grotesque Ghosts

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 2 Chapter 4

by

Wirt Sikes

We hear about the grotesque ghosts of Welsh folklore, the story of the minister and the phantom horseman, Anne Jenkins and the giant ghost with the long black tongue. Sikes also tells us about dark or black men in the Mabinogion, spinning or whirling ghosts as well as those that play tricks on people. He leaves us with the story of the Tridoll Valley ghost and its many antics with stones, pilchards and the maid's bed-clothes!

Running Order:

• Grotesque Ghosts 0:53
• The Phantom Horseman 1:44
• Gigantic Spirits 6:08
• The Black Ghost of Ffynon yr Yspryd 8:11
• Black Men in the Mabinogion 9:54
• Whirling Ghosts 11:42
• Antic Spirits 13:31
• The Tridoll Valley Ghost 16:10
• Resemblance to Modern Spiritualistic Performances 23:17
• Household Fairies 25:45

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronunciations right for you.

Rev. John Jones, Holywell, Flintshire
Heinrich Zschokke
Bala, Merionethshire
Machynlleth, Montgomeryshire
Llanuwchllyn
Edward Frank
Thomas Miles Harry, Aberystruth
Abergavenny
Thomas Lewis, of Llan-haran, Glamorganshire
Anne
Herbert Jenkins, Trefethin
Rhiw-newith
Ffynon yr Yspryd
Mabinogion
Peredur
Carn
Sindbad the Sailor
Cynan
Polyphemus
Odysseus
Prophet Jones
Lewis Thomas
Bedwellty
John Jenkins, Abertillery
Jeremiah James
Abertillery Household
Thomas Andrew
Llanhiddel
Llanllechid, Carnarvonshire
Bangor
Edward Roberts, Llangunllo, Radnorshire
Knighton
William Thomas
The Tridoll Valley Ghost
Williams Evans
Rev. R. Tibbet
Montgomeryshire
Cawnen
Allen
Akron, Ohio
Michael Metzler
Mrs. Knoss
Rochester
Bwbach
Hoibgoblin
Nis
Brownie
Kobolds
Kobold Hinselmann
Grimm
Feldman
Woo, 'Che-wan-luk'

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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Spectral Animals

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 2 Chapter 3

by

Wirt Sikes

We hear abut ghostly hounds, as well as the Gwyllgi or the Dog of Darkness with the gleaming eyes, about how horses can see terrifying spectres. Sikes tells us the story of Old Anthony and the Dog of Darkness and that of Rebecca Adam who saw and heard its terrible screams..

Running Order:

• Spectral Animals 00:55
• The Chained Spirit 3:02
• The Gwyllgi, or Dog of Darkness 4:28
• The Legend of Lisworney-Crossways 5:15
• The Gwyllgi of the Devil's Nags 7:32
• The Dog of Pant y Madog 8:48
• Terrors of the Brute Creation at Phantoms 10:08
• Apparitions of Natural Objects 13:27
• Phantom Ships and Phantom Islands 14:31

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronounciations right for you.

Rev. Mr. Hughes
Anglesea
Amlwch Village
St. Elian Church
Gwyllgi
Yspaddaden Pencawr
Mousiad
Lisworney-Crossways
Mr. Jenkin
Old Anthony
David Walter, of Pembrokeshire
Cot Moor
The Devil's Nags
Rebecca Adams
Laugharne Castle, Carmarthenshire
Pant y Madog
Indiana
Andrew Jackson Davis
Auguste Comte
Mauthe Doog
Isle of Man
Shock of the Norfolk Coast
Cwn Annwn

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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Household Ghosts and Hidden Treasure

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 2 Chapter 2

by

Wirt Sikes

In this superb chapter, we learn about how Welsh ghosts are involved with revealing hidden treasure! Sikes tells us about the ghost of St. Donat, Anne Dewi's ghost, and the ghost on horseback. We also hear about how often Ghosts with their fairy allies transport people through the air - much as occurs within modern American Spiritualism. In addition we learn much of the superstitions surrounding Hares as well as how to exorcise a haunting spirit.

Running Order:

• Household Ghosts and Hidden Treasures 1:31**
• The Miser of St. Donat's 3:24
• Anne Dewy's Ghost 5:26
• The Ghost on Horseback 8:07
• Hidden Objects of Small Value 10:13
• Transportation through the Air 12:44
• From Breconshire to Philadelphia, Pa., in Thirty-Six Hours 14:19
• Sir David Llwyd, the Magician 18:13
• The Levitation of Walter Jones 20:09
• Superstitions regarding Hares 22:27
• The Legend of Monacella's Lambs 23:14
• Aerial Transportation in Modern Spiritualism 25:38
• Exorcising Household Ghosts 28:23
• The Story of Haunted Margaret 29:50

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronunciations right for you.

Ogmore, Glamorganshire
Llantwit Major
cwm
Llywel parish
Thomas Richard, Towy
Anne Dewy
Tafarn y Garreg
Rev. Thomas Lewis
Attoch chwi, syr
Clifford Castle, Radnorshire
Fair Rosamund
King Henry II
Ty'n-y-Twr, in Carnarvonshire
Crumlyn, Monmouthshire
River Taff
Boobach
Apollo to Phaeton
'In medio tutissimus ibis'
Ystradgynlais, in Breconshire
Thomas Llewellyn
Philadelphia in Pennsylvania
Elizabeth Gething
Ystrad-gynlaisians
Sir David Llwyd
Lanidloes town, Montgomeryshire
Prophet Jones
Henry Edmund, of Hafodafel
Charles Hugh, of Aberystruth
Lanhiddel
Landovery, in Carmarthenshire
Charles Hugh
Langattock Crickhowel
Richard the Tailor
Walter Jones
Newport
Risca
Michabo
Hottentots
Monacella's Lambs
Pennant
Melangell
Brochwel Yscythrog, Powys
Mr. Home
Mr. Guppy
Highbury Park tolamb's Conduit Street, London
'de(acute)shabille'
Chicago to Milwaukee
Illinois
Simon Magus
Lord Bacon
Sir Matthew Hale
Addison and Wesley
Sgilti Yscawndroed
Haunted Margaret, or Marget yr Yspryd
Panteg
Mrs. Hercules Jenkins, at Trosdra

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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The Spirit World

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 2 Chapter 1

by

Wirt Sikes

In this episode, we look at the similarities between Welsh Ghosts and American Spiritualism, as well as how the ghosts can be classified. Sikes tells us the story of Lady Stradling's ghost, the legend of Catrin Gwynn, the story of the Haunted Bridge and Cadogan's ghost. He finishes the episode by discussing the laws of the Welsh Spirit-World and how the duties that cause ghosts to walk once more upon the earth.

Running Order:

• Section 1 1:15

  • Modern Superstition regarding Ghosts 1:50**
  • American 'Spiritualism' 4:21

  • Section 2 7:17

  • Welsh Beliefs 7:21

  • Section 3 10:22

  • Classification of Welsh Ghosts 10:26

  • Section 4 11:30
  • Departed Mortals 11:33
  • Haunted Houses 12:42
  • Lady Stradling's Ghost 14:28

  • Section 5 15:42

  • The Haunted Bridge 15:46

  • The Legend of Catrin Gwyn 16:38
  • Section 6 18:07
  • Didactic Purpose in Cambrian Apparitions 18:12
  • An Insulted Corpse 18:22
  • Section 7 19:59
  • Duty-performing Ghosts 20:04
  • Section 8 23:45
  • Laws of the Spirit-World 23:50
  • Cadogan's Ghosts 25:28

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronounciations right for you.

Pope
Miranda
Lady Stradling
Catrin Gwyn
Coblynau
(Thomas) Cadogan
Newburyport, Mass.
New Bedford
Cambridge
Hardvard College
Prophet Jones
Monmouthshire
Sadducees
Wesley & Luther
Arsinoe (umlaut) of Herodotus
Ebbw Vale, Glamorganshire
Duffryn House, Cardiff
Sir Thomas Button
St. Donat's Castle
Pont Cwnca Bach, Yscanhir, Carmethenshire
Rheidol
Yn enw y daioni, peidiwch (in the name of heaven, sir, don't go!)
White Catti of the Grove Cave
Machynleth
Gelli Gogo
Tregaron, Cardiganshire
Mrs. Morgan of Newport
Hob y deri dando
Ystur-mant
Noe, Pembrokeshire
Walter John Harry
Ebwy Fawr
Morgan Lewis
Llanvihangel Llantarnam

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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Origins of Welsh Fairies

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 1 Chapter 11

by

Wirt Sikes

Mr. Sikes discusses the different theories about the origins of the Welsh Fairies. He also tells us the tale of the Baron's Gate, all about the Red Caps and the Green Lady of Caerphilly, those mysterious hiding Druids and the Creed of Science.

Running Order:

• Section 1 0:53

  • The Realistic Theory 1:23
  • Legend of the Baron's Gate 2:49
  • The Red Fairies 3:00

  • Section 2 4:02

  • The Trwyn Fairy a Proscribed Nobelman 4:04

  • Section 3 5:28

  • The Theory of Hiding Druids 5:44

  • Section 4 9:35
  • Colour in Welsh Fairy Attire 9:36
  • The Green Lady of Caerphilly 10:36
  • White is the favourite Welsh Hue 11:10

  • Section 5 13:15

  • Legend of the Prolific Woman 13:20

  • Section 6 14:05
  • The Poetico-Religious Theory 14:07
  • The Creed of Science 17:13

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronounciations right for you.

• Caerphilly
• Tylwyth Teg
• Coed y Dugoed Mawr
• Merionethshire
• Baron Owen
• Llidiart y Barwn
• Pwca'r Trwyn
• Mynyddyslwyn
• yr Arglwydd Hywel
• Bwbach
• Rev. Peter Roberts
• Collectanea Cambrica
• Dr. Guthrie
• Falstaff
• Herne
• Cardiganshire
• Moyddin
• Glamorganshire
• Frennifawr
• Pembrokeshire
• Gwenny, Gwenllian
• Mabinogion
• Jonson, Masque of 'Oberon'
• Coblynau
• Anglesea
• Prophet Jones
• Monmouthshire
• Owen Glandwr
• Marquis of Bute
• Cardiff

Tylwyth Teg shake hands with the Olympian Gods

British Goblins can be found on Internet Archive.

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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Fairy Money and Fairy Gifts

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 1 Chapter 10

by

Wirt Sikes

Sikes tells us the story of Gitto Bach, or little Griffith, the penalty of blabbing, legends of the Shepherds of Cwm Lan, the money value of Kindness, all about Ianto Llewellyn and the Tylwyth Teg, the legend of Hafod Lwyddog and the lessons inculcated by these superstitions.

Running Order:

• Section 1 0:50

  • Fairy Money and Fairy Gifts in General 1:20
  • The Story of Gitto Bach, or Little Griffith 2:29

  • Section 2 3:46

  • The Penalty of Blabbing 3:51

  • Section 3 6:00

  • Legends of the Shepherds of Cwm Llan 6:04

  • The Money Value of Kindness 7:27
  • Section 4 8:34
  • Ianto Llewellyn and the Tylwyth Teg 8:44

  • Section 5 11:41

  • The Legend of Hafod Lwyddog 11:44

  • Section 6 12:58
  • Lessons inculcated by these Superstitions 13:01

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronounciations right for you.

• Gitto Bach, or Little Griffith
• Cwm Llan
• Ianto Llewellyn
• Tylwyth Teg
• Hafod Lwyddog
• Breconshire
• Glamorganshire
• Anglesea
• Cymmunod Bridge
• Anne William Francis
• Bassalleg
• Nant y Bettws
• Bwlch Cwm LIan
• Pembrokeshire
• Llanfihangel
• O'r anwyl
• Lwc dda i ti!
• Betsi
• Wel, naw wfft
• Drato
• Cwm Dyli
• Green Lake (Llyn Glas)
• Lwydd
• Bendith y Mammau
• Toriad y Dydd

Toriad y Dydd

British Goblins can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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Piety as a Protection from the Seductions of the Tylwyth Teg

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 1 Chapter 9 by Wirt Sikes

Piety as a Protection from the Seductions of the Tylwyth Teg All about piety as a Protection from the Seductions of the Tylwyth Teg, various exorcisms, the Name of God, Fencing off the Fairies, the story of Old Betty Griffith and her Eithin Barricade, the legend of the Bwbach of the Hendrefawr Farm and the Pwca'r Trwyn's Flitting in a Jug of Barm.

Running Order:

• Section 1 0:52

  • Various Exorcisms 1:22
  • Cock-crowing 3:36
  • The Name of God 5:43**
  • Section 2 6:48
  • Fencing off the Fairies 7:00
  • Old Betty Griffith and her Eithin Barricade 7:12

  • Section 3 10:10

  • Means of getting Rid of the Tylwyth Teg 10:15

  • The Bwbach of the Hendrefawr Farm 10:24
  • Section 4 12:06
  • The Pwca'r Trwyn's Flitting in a Jug of Barm 12:07

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronounciations right for you.

• Tylwyth Teg
• Betty Griffith and her Eithin Barricade
• Bwbach
• Hendrefawr Farm
• Pwca'r Trwyn
• Prophet Jones
• Rees John Rosser
• Hendy, Llanhiddel
• Blaen y Cwm
• coblyn, wraith, elf, bwci
• Rev. Robert Ellis, in 'Manion Hynafiaethol' (Treherbert, 1873.)
• Prudentius
• Mr. FitzHugh Ludlow
• Anglesea
• Hon. W.O. Stanley
• Mrs. Stanley
• Saxifraga tricolor
• Merionethshire
• Dolgelly
• Arenig
• Cymro
• Sais
• Rhyd-y-Fen
• Eingl-dud
• Pwca
• Trwyn Farm
• Mynyddyslwyn
• Pontygasseg
• Hafod-yr-Ynys
• Pontypool

British Goblins can be found on the Internet Archive.

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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Fairy Rings

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 1 Chapter 8

by

Wirt Sikes

Fairy Rings and other fascinating things about Welsh Fairies, including the language of the Tylwyth teg, the Horse in Welsh Folklore, Fairy Cattle, the flying faires of Bedwellty, the fairy sheep at Cae'r Cefn and more about the Prophet Jones and his Works.

Running Order:

• Section 1 0:50

  • Fairy Rings 1:16**

  • Section 2 2:29

  • The Prophet Jones and his Works 2:30

  • Section 3 5:10

  • Fairies and Oak Trees 5:30

  • Section 4 7:20
  • The mysterious language of the Tylwyth Teg 7:22
  • Section 5 8:35
  • The Horse in Welsh Folklore 8:40
  • Equestrian Fairies 9:08
  • Section 6 10:04
  • Fairy cattle, Sheep, Swine, etc. 10:08
  • The flying faires of Bedwellty 11:28
  • Section 7 12:48
  • The fairy sheepfold at Cae'r Cefn 12:51
  • Section 8 15:46
  • Another story by the Prophet Jones 15:48

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronounciations right for you.

• Prophet Jones
• Tylwyth Teg
• Bedwellty
• Cae'r Cefn
• Peterstone-super-Ely
• Edmund Jones 'of the Tranch'
• Monmouthshire
• Ebenezer Chapel, Pontypool
• Aberystruth, Trevecca
• Monmouth
• Newport
• (Thomas) Keightly
• Edward Jones
• Croker
• Sadducees
• William Jenkins
• Trefethin church, in Monmouthshire
• Brenhin-bren
• Thomas William Edmund, of Hafodafel
• Ni chytunant hwy mwy na Bendith eu Mammau (They will no more agree than the fairies)
• Elidurus
• Giraldus
• Llanarmon
• dor dorum
• halgein dorum
• dwr
• halen
• thorum
• dyro i mi
• dyro i mi ddwr
• dyro i mi halen
• Mary Lwyds
• Vale of Neath
• Glamorgan
• Merthyr
• Aberdare
• Teirnyon
• Ychain Banog
• St. Melangell
• Gwraig Annwn
• Cefn Rhychdir
• Rev. Roger Rogers
• Lewis Thomas Jenkin
• Elizabeth David
• Edmund Roger
• Y Weirglodd Fawr Dafolog
• Hafodafel
• Pen-y-Llwyn
• Master Neddy Jones

British Goblins can be found on �Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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Fairy Music

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 1 Chapter 7 by Wirt Sikes

Sikes talks about the magical Birds of Rhiannon, tells us the legend of Shon ap Shenkin, the story of the Magic Harp, all about Welsh fairies and harps and the story of Iolo ap Hugh.

Running Order:

• Section 1 1:20

  • Birds of Enchantments 1:40
  • The Legend of Shon ap Shenkin 3:22
  • Section 2 5:55
  • Harp Music in Welsh Fairy Tales 5:59
  • Legend of the Magic Harp 7:37

  • Section 3 12:58

  • Songs and Tunes of the Tylwyth Teg 12:54

  • Section 4 15:20
  • The Legend of Iola ap Hugh 15:26
  • Mystic origin of an old Welsh Air 20:48

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronounciations right for you.

Shon ap Shenkin returns home

• Tylwyth Teg
• Iola ap Hugh
• Rhiannon
• Lady Charlotte Guest's 'Mabinogion,'
• Pant Shon Shenkin
• Carmarthenshire
• Taffy ap Sion
• Catti Maddock of Brechfa
• cymmoedd
• Craig-y-Ddinas
• Cwm Pergwm
• Vale of Neath
• Cader Idris
• Morgan ap Rhys
• cwnv da
• haw - Donkey
• Gwaed dyn a'i gilydd!

• Caliban

• Morgan Gwilym

• Cylepsta Waterfall
• Edmund Daniel
• Arail
• Cefn Bach
• Hafodafel
• Cân y Tylwyth Teg'
  • Dowch, dowch, gyfeillon mân,
  • O blith marwolion byd,
  • Dowch, dowch, a dowch yn Iân.
  • Partowch partowch eich pibau cân,
  • Gan ddawnsio dowch i gyd,
  • Mae yn hyfryd heno i hwn.
• Ffarwel Ned Pugh
• Morda
• Ceiriog
• Sycharth, the fortress of Glyndwrdwy
• Chirk Castle
• Elias ap Evan
• Ogof
• Land-Maelstrom of Diaboly

Ffarwel Ned Pugh

British Goblins can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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Living with the Tylwyth Teg

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 1 Chapter 6

by

Wirt Sikes

All about the wondrous music and dancing of the Welsh fairies, and the dangers of joining in with their dance. Sikes tells us the legend of Rhys and Llewellyn, the Bush from Heaven and the story of Twm and Iago in the Forrest of the Magic Yew.

Running Order:

• Section 1 00:50

  • The Tale of Elidurus 2:05**

  • Section 2 5:32

  • Shui Rhys and the Fairies 5:42

  • Section 3 8:15

  • St. Dogmell's Parish, Pembrokeshire 8:20

  • Section 4 10:06
  • Dancing with the Ellyllon 10:10
  • The Legend of Rhys and Llewellyn 10:50

  • Section 5 13:13

  • Death from joining in the Fairy Reel 13:18

  • Legend of the Bush of Heaven 14:45
  • Section 6 16:07
  • The Forest of the Magic Yew 16:13
  • The Tale of Twm and Iago 16:41
  • Section 7 19:12
  • Taffy ap Sion, a Legend of Pencader 19:16
  • The Traditions of Pant Shon Shenkin 24:40
  • Section 8 25:38
  • Tudur of Llangollen; the Legend of Nant yr Ellyllon 25:41
  • Section 9 30:45
  • • Polly Williams and the Trefethin Elves 30:50
  • Section 10 32:25
  • The Fairies of Frennifawr 32:31
  • Section 11 36:47
  • Curiousity Tales 37:14
  • The Fiend Master 37:57
  • Section 12 41:35
  • Iago ap Dewi 41:40
  • Section 13 42:35
  • The Original of Rip van Winkle 42:46

Shui Rhys and the Tylwyth Teg

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronounciations right for you.

Elidurus
Shui Rhys
St. Dogmell's Parish, Pembrokeshire
Ellyllon
Rhys and llewellyn
Twm and Iago
Taffy ap Sion
Pencader
Pant Shon Shenkin
Tudur of Llangollen
Nant yr Ellyllon
Polly Williams
Trefethin
Frennifawr
Iago ap Dewi
Rip van Winkle
Giraldus Cambrensis
Pembroke Castle
Vale of Neath
Udor udorum
Halgein udorum
Sir R. C. Hoare's Translation of Giraldus
Cardiganshire
Tylwyth Teg
Cardigan
Teir-nos Ysprydion
fou
Moelgrove
Sir John Franklin
Edmund William Rees, of Aberystruth
Rhys and Llewellyn
Carmarthenshire
corelw
Duw catto ni!
Hai, holo!
O dyn!
Carnarvon
Clynog
Carnarvonshire
Llwyn y Nef
Cymru Fu
Caio
Craig-y-Ddinas
Mathavarn
Llanwrin
Cantref of Cyfeillioc
Ffridd yr Ywen
Twm and lago
gwr cyfarwydd - conjuror
Duw! Duw!
Pencader, Carmarthenshire
Wbwb

Plucked from the Fairy Circle

Careg Hir
Sion Evan y Crydd o Glanrhyd
Catti Shon
Pencader
Sion Glanrhyd
Evan Shenkin, Penferdir
Dir anwyl fi!
Pencarreg
Dinas Bran Castle
Nant yr Ellyllon
Tudur ap Einion Gloff
Nos da'ch'
Ac i chwithau
Fron
Rev. T. R. Lloyd (Estyn), in 'The Principality.'
Trefethin
Ship Inn, at Pontypool, Monmouthshire
ffollachau
Pembrokeshire
Frennifach
tatws-a-llaeth
Tipton
W. Howells,
Archdeacon Beynon
Bluebeard, Psyche, Eros
Taliesin, Gwion Bach
Cerridwen
Bunyan
Llanllawddog, Carmarthenshire
Llangwyly
Grimm
Catskills
Hartz Mountains
Washington Irving
Joseph Jefferson
Epimenides
Dennys

The Fatal Draught

British Goblins can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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Changelings

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 1 Chapter 5

by

Wirt Sikes

Changelings among Welsh fairies. Stories of the Plentyn-newid, or Changelings, among Welsh Fairies. Methods of exorcising the Changeling child, the Frugal Meal, the story of Dewi Dal and the Fairies, and how mothers can sometimes stop the Fairies kidnapping their child!

Running Order:

• Section 1 0:49

  • The Plentyn-newid 1:22**
  • The Cruel Creed of Ignorance regarding Changelings 3:00
  • Modes of Ridding the House of the Fairy Child 3:35

  • Section 2 5:04

  • The Legend of the Frugal Meal 5:06

  • Section 3 7:31

  • Legend of the Place of Strife 7:34

  • Section 4 11:02
  • Dewi Dal and the Fairies 11:04

  • Section 5 13:08

  • Prevention of Fairy Kidnapping 13:10

  • Fairies caught in the Act by Mothers 13:15
  • Piety as an Exorcism 14:00

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronounciations right for you.

Plentyn-newid
Dewi Dal
Tylwyth Teg
Edmund John William
Monmouthshire
Carnarvonshire
Martin Luther
Colloquia Mensalia
Prince of Anhalt
homicidium
River Moldaw
M. Villemarqué
Glamorganshire

Gwcljz vi ken guelet iar wenn,
Gwcljz mez ken gwelet gwezen.
Gweljz mez ha gweliz gwial,
Gweliz derven e Koat Brezal,
Biskoaz na weliz kemend all.

Gweliz mez ken gwelet derven,
Gweliz vi ken gwelet iar wenn,
Erioez ne wiliz evelhenn
[Keightley, 'Fairy Mythology']

Radnorshire
Montgomeryshire
Trefeglwys
Llanidloes
Llyn Ebyr

Gwelais fesen cyn gweled derwen;
Gweiais wy cyn gweled iâr
Erioed ni welais ferwi bwyd i fedel
Mewn plisgyn wy iár!

Taiar
Cae Mawr
Eurwallt
Rev. T. R. Lloyd (Estyn), in 'The Principality'
Dazzy Walter
Abel Walter
Ebwy Fawr
Jennet Francis
Friesland
Thuringia
Henderson, 'Notes on the Folk-Lore of the Northern Counties'
Doolittle's 'Social Life of the Chinese'

Jennet Francis struggles with the fairies for her baby

A Shout of Thanks to Dom Duff

We'd like to send out a huge shout of thanks to Dom Duff, the famous Breton Power-Folk musician for his help with the Breton Language (Breizh) pronunciation in this chapter. You can find out all about Dom and hear his super music on his website!

British Goblins can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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Mountain Fairies

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 1 Chapter 4

by

Wirt Sikes

Sikes brings us details of the Gwyllion, frightful female fairies, tells us the tale of John ap John meeting the Old Woman of the Mountain and explores the notion of Exorcism by Knife. He then talks about the magical properties of goats and tells us the fascinating story of Cadwaladr and his Fairy Goat!

Running Order:

• Section 1 0:50

  • The Gwyllion 1:11**
  • The Old Woman of the Mountain 2:04

  • Section 2 5:29

  • The Black Mountain Gwyll 5:32

  • Section 3 7:13

  • Exorcism by Knife 7:18

  • Section 4 10:27
  • Occult Intellectual Powers of Welsh Goats 10:30
  • The Legend of Cadwaladr's Goat 11:00

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronounciations right for you.

Gwyllion
Gwyll
Cadwaladr
Hecate
Ellyllon
Puck
Prophet Jones
Lanhyddel Mountain in Monmouthshire
Wwb!
Ww-bwb!
Aberystruth
Juan White
Shui
Lasgarn hill near Pontypool
Breconshire
Robert Williams
Langattock, Crickhowel (Llangatwg in Welsh)
John ap John, of Cwm Celyn
Caerleon Fair
Milfre Mountain
Bryn Mawr
Bwlch y Llwyn
Gilfach fields
Indianapolis
Evan Thomas
Bedwellty Mountain
Ebwy Fawr
Excalibur
Tylwyth Teg
diawi
Yn awr maiden
Camarthen

Coblynau

British Goblins can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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Lake Fairies

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 1 Chapter 3 by Wirt Sikes

All about Lake Fairies. the Gwragedd Annwn or Women of the lakes, a legend of Crumlyn Lake, the elfin cow of Llyn Barfog, the Legend of the Meddygon Myddfai and much more.

'British Goblins' is packed with information on fairy mythology. All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, will be found recorded in the show-notes below and we've done our best to get the pronounciations right for you.

Running Order:

• Section 1 0:42

  • The Gwragedd Annwn, or Dames of Elfin Land 1:53**
  • Section 2 5:38
  • St Patrick and the Welshmen; a Legend of Crumlyn Lake 7:41

  • Section 3 8:28

  • The Elfin Cow of Lyn Barfog 9:24

  • Y Fuwch Laethwen Lefrith 12:22
  • The Legend of the Meddygon Myddfai 12:22
  • Section 4 13:42
  • The Wife of Supernatural Race 13:33**
  • The Three Blows; a Carmathenshire Legend 13:44

  • Section 5 17:19

  • Cheese and the Didactic Purpose in Welsh Folk-Lore 17:20

  • Section 6 21:43
  • The Fairy Maiden's Papa 21:44
  • Section 7 22:44
  • The Enchanted Isle in the Mountain Lake 22:46
  • Section 8 24:14
  • Legend of the Men of Ardudwy 24:18
  • Section 9 28:54
  • • Origin of the Water Fairies 29:20
  • Their prevalence in many Lands 30:29

The Gwraig of the Golden Boat

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronounciations right for you.

• Gwragedd Annwn
• Llyn Barfog
• Y Fuwch Laethwen Lefrith
• Meddygon Myddfai
• Ardudwy
• Gwyn ap Nudd
• Plant Annwn
• Archaeologia Cambrensis
• Drayton's account of the Battle of Agincourt
• 'Cymru Fu'
• Cardiganshire
• Crumlyn Lake
• Briton Ferry
• St. Patrick
• St. David of Wales
• 'Sut yr y'ch chwi?' (How d'ye do?)
• Cambria
• Erin
• Aberdovey
• Carmarthenshire
• Gwartheg y Llyn
• Dyssyrnant
• Fuwch Gyfeiliorn
  • Dere di felen Emion,
  • Cyrn Cyfeiliorn-braith y Llyn,
  • A'r foci Dodin,
  • Codwch, dewch adre.
• Iolu MSS
• Taliesin Williams
• Merthyr
• Llandovery, published for the Welsh MSS. Society, 1848
• Vale of Towy
  • Cras dy fara,
  • Anhawdd ein dala;
• Dos, dos, dos!
• Gwraig annwn
• Cwm Meddygon
• Cadogan, Gruffydd and Emion
• Rhiwallon
• Rhys Gryg, Lord of Dynevor
• Gray's Inn Lane
• Cambro Briton
• diawl
• Mabinogion
• Falstaff
• Drws Coed
• Turf Lake (Llyn y Dywarchen)
• Cymry
• Undine, Melusina, Nausicaa
• Vale of Clwyd
• Maidens Lake, or Llyn y Morwynion
• Cynwal
• Dracae
• Nymph of the Lurley
• Morgan
  • môr
  • gân
• Faro Islands
• In China, the superstition appears in a Lew-chewan legend mentioned by Dr. Dennys

British Goblins can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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Classification of Welsh Fairies

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 1 Chapter 2

by

Wirt Sikes

Examining the different types of Welsh Fairies, from the Pwca (and Shakespeare's Puck) to the Ellylldan, Coblynau, Knockers and household fairies. Sikes also looks at Dwarfs, bogies and hobgoblins as well as telling us a humourous story of the Preacher and the Bwbach.

Rowli Pugh and the Ellyl

Running Order:

• Section 1 0:42

  • General Designation 1:53**
  • Habits of the Tylwyth Teg 3:43

  • Section 2 5:38

  • Ellyllon, or Elves 5:42

  • Shakespeare's Use of Welsh Folk-Lore 7:41

  • Section 3 8:28

  • Rowli Pugh and the Ellyll 9:24

  • Household Story Roots 12:22
  • Section 4 13:42
  • The Ellylldan 13:44

  • Section 5 17:19

  • The Pooka 17:20

  • Puck Valley, Breconshire 18:11
  • Where Shakespeare got his Puck 21:07
  • Section 6 21:43
  • Pwca'r Trwyn 21:44
  • Usual Form of the Pooka Story 21:57
  • Section 7 22:44
  • Coblynau or Mine Fairies 22:46
  • The Knockers 23:01
  • Section 8 24:14
  • Miner's Superstitions 24:18
  • Basilisks and Fire Fiends 27:50
  • Section 9 28:54
  • • A Fairy Coalmine 29:20
  • The Dwarfs of Cae Caled 30:29
  • Section 10 32:18
  • Counterparts of the Coblynau 32:18
  • Section 11 34:36
  • The Bwbach, or Household Fairy 34:40
  • Legend of the Bwbach and the Preacher 35:33
  • Section 12 37:20
  • Bogies and Hobgoblins 37:23
  • Carrying Mortals through the Air 37:47
  • Counterparts and Originals 38:04

Charcoal drawn figure of the Pwca

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronounciations right for you.

Keightley
The Elves
The Dwarfs or Trolls
The Nisses
The Necks, Mermen & Mermaids
The Ellyllon (Elves)
The Coblynau (Mine fairies)
The Bwbachod (House fairies)
The Gwragedd Annwn (Lake Fairies)
The Gwyllion (Mountain Fairies)
Y Tylwyth Teg (yn y Coed), Tylwth Teg y Mwn
Bendith y Mamau
Eumenides
Sir Walter Scott
Dayak
Laplander
Ammam
El - 'spirit'
Elf - 'element'
Elihim (Hebrew)
Davydd ab Gwilym
Yr doedd ym mhob gobant
Ellyllon mingeimion gant
Ymenyn tylwyth teg
bwyd ellyllon
menyg ellyllon
Gwyn ap Nudd
Shakespeare
Mercutio
Mab
Cymric
mabgar
mabgath
mabiaith
mabinogi
Mabiogion
Peterston-super-Ely
Cardiff
Glamorganshire
Rowli Pugh
Ellyll
Catti Jones
Bwbach
Mr. Baring-Gould
Grimm's Witchelma(umlaut)nner
Hausma(um.)nner
Milton's L'Allegro
Ellylldan
Will-o'-wisp
Scandinavian Lyktgubhe
Breton Sand Yan y Tad (Saint John the Father)
Dan (fire)
ignis fatuus
Jack-muh-lantern
Iolo the Bard
Pwca, or Pooka, Puck

The Pwca

Cambrian fairies
Richard Price, son of Sir John Price
Brecon
Cym Pwca, Puck Valley
Clydach in Breconshire
Frere and Powell
Trwyn Farm, near Abergwyddon (Abercarne)
Pwca'r Trwyn
Campbell
Mrs. Fletcher
Mrs. Siddons
The Oswestry Advertiser
Cefn
Penrhyn
Priestley
Knockers
Newport, Monmouthshire
William Evans of Hafodafel
Beacon Mountain
Egbert Williams
Denbighshire
Cae Caled
Parish of Bodfari
Lanelwyd House
Barbara Jones
Wichtlein (little Wights)
Haus-schmiedlein (little House-smiths)
Heldenbuch
Catskill Mountains
Hendrik Hudson
Cardiganshire
Cwrw da
Bogie
Hobgoblin
Gobelin
'Le gobelin vous mangera, le gobelin vous emportera.'
hob, hopp, coblyn, goblin
Slavonic 'bog'
Baga of the Cuneiform Inscriptions
Professor Fiske
Aryan Bhaga, Sanskrit of the Vedas
Phrygian Zeus "Bagaios"
Xerxxes
Southey

Coblynau

British Goblins can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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Fairy Tales and Ancient Mythology

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 1 Chapter 1

by

Wirt Sikes

A comprehensive exposition of ghosts, fairies, dragons, superstitions and supernatural folklore drawn from the Welsh traditions, 'British Goblins' is packed with information on fairy mythology. All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, will be found recorded in the show-notes below and we've done our best to get the pronounciations right for you.

Running Order:

• Book 1: The Realm of Faerie 0:46

• Section 1 1:24

  • Fairy Tales and the Ancient Mythology 1:46
  • The Compensations of Science 3:00

  • Section 2 3:58

  • Existing Belief in Fairies in Wales 4:02

  • The Faith of Culture 5:33
  • The Credulity of Ignorance 7:13

  • Section 3 8:48

  • The Old Time Welsh Fairyland 8:52

  • Section 4 11:26
  • The Fairy King 11:30
  • The Legend of St. Collen and Gwyn ap Nudd 12:32

  • Section 5 15:32

  • The Green Meadows of the Sea 15:35

  • Fairies at Market 17:34
  • The Land of Mystery 18:30

Fairies marketing at Laugharne

Names Used in this Section

Rev John Logan
St. Collen
Gwyn ap Nudd
"foi scientifique"
Archaeologia Cambrensis
Mr. John Walter Lukis, President of the Cardiff Naturalists' Society
Glamorganshire
Merthyr
Chaucer's Wyf of Bathes Tale:

In olde dayes of the Kyng Arthour, ...
Al was this lond fulfilled of fayrie; ...
I speke of many hundrid yer ago;
But now can no man see non elves mo.

Dryden
Gwerddonau Llion
Gwydion
Dyfed (Demetia)
Mabinogion
Lady Charlotte Guest
Pembroke
Carmarthen
Cardigan
Vale of Neath
Craig y Ddinas
Morgana
Mor Gwyn
Morgan
king of Annwn
Avalon of the Arthurian legends
Parry's 'Welsh Melodies'
British king Gavran
Three Losses by Disappearance
Merlin
Madog
Pembrokeshire
Carmarthenshire
Milford Haven
Laugharne
Flemings in 1113

British Goblins can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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Who was Wirt Sikes?

Wirt Sikes is best known today for his British Goblins book. His full name was William Wirt Sikes, born on November 23rd 1836 and who died on August 18th 1883. He was an American journalist and writer, perhaps best known today for his writings on Welsh folklore and customs.

British Goblins on Abe Books

William Wirt Sikes was born in Watertown, New York, the son of William Johnson Sikes, a prominent local physician. He was the seventh of eleven children, of whom only six survived to adulthood. Sikes himself was seriously ill as a child and almost lost his hearing, so he was largely educated at home. At fourteen he went to work for a printer and learned how to set type. He supported himself thereafter by typesetting, contributing to local newspapers, and giving temperance lectures.

At the age of nineteen, on August 28, 1855, he married Jeannette Annie Wilcox (1837-1889); they had two children, George Preston Sikes (1856-1957) and Clara Jeanette Sikes (1858-1956).

Sikes goes to Europe

After their marriage the couple went to Europe, where they continued to practice journalism. Sikes produced a biographical and critical piece on the Wiertz Museum for Harper's Magazine in 1873 which was later reprinted by the museum.

In June 1876 Sikes was appointed U.S. Consul at Cardiff, Wales. Over the next few years Sikes produced a number of pieces on Welsh folklore, mythology, and customs, collected as British Goblins; Welsh Folk-Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends, and Traditions (1880) and Rambles and Studies in Old South Wales (1881). He also wrote Studies of Assassination (1881). He died in Cardiff in 1883 and was buried in Brookwood Cemetery, Brookwood, Surrey.

Works by Wirt Sikes

• British Goblins; Welsh Folk-Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends, and Traditions can be found on Project Gutenberg or Archive.org.
• One poor girl: the story of thousands on Archive.org.
• Studies of Assassination on Archive.org.
• Under a cloud (Short Story) in Stories and sketches by our best authors (1867) on Archive.org.

Source of this Information was Wikipedia

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British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

The Faerie Realms

The Preface

by

Wirt Sikes

A comprehensive exposition of ghosts, fairies, dragons, superstitions and supernatural folklore drawn from the Welsh traditions, 'British Goblins' is packed with information on fairy mythology.

The Old Woman of the Mountain

Names Used in this Section

Caerleon

Camarthen

Mr. Sikes doesn't really use any other strange names in this Preface, but he does quote from Chaucer - which may need noting here.

He quotes from the Wife of Bath's Tale, and he says:

In olde dayes of the Kyng Arthour, ...
Al was this lond fulfilled of fayrie; ...

British Goblins can be found on Sacred Texts.

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte. You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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So, we've decided to launch a new podcast called Celtic Tomes. You may have seen our Libsyn page, our Facebook page or even our Blogger page, and wondered what it was all about?

If like us, you have seen all those wonderful books that were once published about Celtic Mythology, Folklore, or the Fairies and wished that you had the time to read them, then you will understand why we wanted to make a podcast to help us read these books.

Audiobooks with Benefits

A podcast is a wee bit more than just an Audiobook though. You can talk to the Readers in the Comments below each Chapter, tell us about your own research on Facebook, comment on Blogger or even send us a Tweet using our @CelticMythShow account.

You should also find that the books we bring you in the Celtic Tomes podcast compliment the Stories that you will find in our sister podcast, the Celtic Myth Podshow.

British Goblins

We are going to be starting with a classic book about Welsh Fairy lore by Wirt Sikes. In 1881, he published British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions.

British Goblins is a comprehensive exposition of ghosts, fairies, dragons, superstitions and supernatural folklore drawn from the Welsh traditions, 'British Goblins' is packed with information on fairy mythology.

From the Preface:

"In a certain sense Wales may be spoken of as the cradle of fairy legend. It is not now disputed that from the Welsh were borrowed many of the first subjects of composition in the literature of all the cultivated peoples of Europe.

"In the ground it covers, while this volume deals especially with Wales, and still more especially with South Wales, where there appear to have been human dwellers long before North Wales was peopled, it also includes the border counties, notably Monmouthshire. Illustrated. Contents: The Realm of Fairy; The Spirit World; Quaint Old Customs; Bells, Wells, Stones and Wagons."

We hope you enjoy the upcoming Chapters!