Mountain Fairies - British Goblins CT005

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 CT004

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 33:£3
    
  • 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 Folklore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions) CT003

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 Folklore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions) CT002

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?

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 dies 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.

 

 

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CT001 Preface to 'British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions'

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

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 in Apple Podcasts.

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

The next Chapter from Celtic Tomes has been released

Launch Time

So, we've decided to launch a new podcast called Celtic Tomes. You may have seen out 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!

 

The next Chapter from Celtic Tomes has been released