*Please note- This site search does not include the Vic. & Tas. BMD's, Lots o' Links & Worth a Look Books
|
The Welsh people, they come from Wales,
Where they have unusual tales;
Unique superstitions
and quirky traditions
Like fairies and dragons with scales
Where they have unusual tales;
Unique superstitions
and quirky traditions
Like fairies and dragons with scales
OLD WELSH CUSTOMS
The majority of the following information is from the book-
'British Goblins & Welsh Folklore..', by Sikes Published 1800
https://archive.org/stream/britishgoblinswe00sikeuo
Unusual Customs & Traditions which are mostly 'Non-existent' now, giving us insight into what it was like to live in the last few centuries, a vast contrast from how we live today.
'British Goblins & Welsh Folklore..', by Sikes Published 1800
https://archive.org/stream/britishgoblinswe00sikeuo
Unusual Customs & Traditions which are mostly 'Non-existent' now, giving us insight into what it was like to live in the last few centuries, a vast contrast from how we live today.
Most of this information, has been extracted straight from the book, written as 'Sikes' wrote it, so the language used is quite different from today's. Keep in mind that Sikes is quoting from 'his' day, when he wrote the book, probably circa late 1870's, before being pub. in 1880.
These are Welsh customs, but Sikes mentions customs from elsewhere as well. Some of these, or similar customs, may have been practised in other parts of the U.K., or the world?
Included here, are general Customs & Superstitions, as well as Customs surrounding various celebrations & festivals, like- Christmas, Easter, the New Year, Halloween & also, Funeral, Weddings & Courtship.
Customs surrounding Easter
Lifting, an old Welsh custom at Easter time
Birth of a child
To be born on Good Friday is very unlucky, or a birth on any Friday of the whole year, is to be deprecated as a most unfortunate circumstance. Friday is the fairies' day, when they have special command over the weather & it is their whim to make the weather on Friday differ from that of the other days of the week.
Easter Sunday
It was a custom in Wales on Easter Sunday, to get the children up early in the morning to see the sun dance. The sun 'was said to perform at rising on Easter Day, in honour of the rising of our Lord. The sun was sometimes aided in this performance by a bowl of clear water, into which the youth must look to see the orb dance, as it would be dangerous to look directly into the sun.
Good Friday
In Pembrokeshire, it was customary up to the close of the last century(19th), to walk barefoot to church on Good Friday, as had been done since times prior to the Reformation. The old people and the young joined in this custom, which they said was done so as not to ' disturb the earth.' All business was suspended, and no horse nor cart was to be seen in the town.
Hot-cross buns
They were eaten in Tenby after the return from church. After having tied up a certain number in a bag, the folk hung them in the kitchen, where they remained till the next Good Friday, for use as medicine. It was believed that persons labouring under any disease had only to eat a portion of a bun to be cured. The buns so preserved were used also as a panacea (remedy) for all the diseases of domestic animals. They were further believed to be serviceable in frightening away goblins of an evil sort.
Lent
Wearing mourning throughout Lent was formerly common in Wales. In Monmouthshire, Mothering Sunday the visiting of parents on Mid-Lent Sunday was observed in the last century, but is nowhere popular in Wales at present.
Lifting
A ceremony called ' lifting ' is peculiar to North Wales on Easter Monday and Tuesday. On the Monday bands of men go about with a chair, and meeting a woman in the street, asking her to sit on it, and be lifted three times in the air amidst their cheers. On Easter Tuesday the women take their turn, and go about in like manner lifting the men.
Palm Sunday
Takes precedence among the Welsh, and is very extensively and enthusiastically observed. The day is called Flowering Sunday, and its peculiar feature is strewing the graves of the dead with flowers.
Playing Ball
Before the Reformation there was a Church of England custom of playing ball in church at Easter, the dean and clergy participating, also accompanied by dancing.
To be born on Good Friday is very unlucky, or a birth on any Friday of the whole year, is to be deprecated as a most unfortunate circumstance. Friday is the fairies' day, when they have special command over the weather & it is their whim to make the weather on Friday differ from that of the other days of the week.
Easter Sunday
It was a custom in Wales on Easter Sunday, to get the children up early in the morning to see the sun dance. The sun 'was said to perform at rising on Easter Day, in honour of the rising of our Lord. The sun was sometimes aided in this performance by a bowl of clear water, into which the youth must look to see the orb dance, as it would be dangerous to look directly into the sun.
Good Friday
In Pembrokeshire, it was customary up to the close of the last century(19th), to walk barefoot to church on Good Friday, as had been done since times prior to the Reformation. The old people and the young joined in this custom, which they said was done so as not to ' disturb the earth.' All business was suspended, and no horse nor cart was to be seen in the town.
Hot-cross buns
They were eaten in Tenby after the return from church. After having tied up a certain number in a bag, the folk hung them in the kitchen, where they remained till the next Good Friday, for use as medicine. It was believed that persons labouring under any disease had only to eat a portion of a bun to be cured. The buns so preserved were used also as a panacea (remedy) for all the diseases of domestic animals. They were further believed to be serviceable in frightening away goblins of an evil sort.
Lent
Wearing mourning throughout Lent was formerly common in Wales. In Monmouthshire, Mothering Sunday the visiting of parents on Mid-Lent Sunday was observed in the last century, but is nowhere popular in Wales at present.
Lifting
A ceremony called ' lifting ' is peculiar to North Wales on Easter Monday and Tuesday. On the Monday bands of men go about with a chair, and meeting a woman in the street, asking her to sit on it, and be lifted three times in the air amidst their cheers. On Easter Tuesday the women take their turn, and go about in like manner lifting the men.
Palm Sunday
Takes precedence among the Welsh, and is very extensively and enthusiastically observed. The day is called Flowering Sunday, and its peculiar feature is strewing the graves of the dead with flowers.
Playing Ball
Before the Reformation there was a Church of England custom of playing ball in church at Easter, the dean and clergy participating, also accompanied by dancing.
Customs surrounding Christmas
Animals
The Welsh believed that It was also animals paid their tribute of respect on Christmas Eve as well.
Boxing-day
Boxing Day is the second day of Christmastide (December 26th), and also St. Stephen's Day. The Christmas-box, or thrift-box, is still to be seen in barber shops in Wales (1880), fastened to the wall, or standing conveniently under the looking-glass among the pots and brushes. At one time the custom became such a nuisance throughout Britain that an outcry was raised about it. It got to that pass that the butcher and baker would send their apprentices around among their customers to levy contributions. The English Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in 1837, sent a circular to the different embassies requesting their excellencies and charges d'affaires to discontinue the customary Christmas-boxes.
* In Britain, it was a custom for tradespeople to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year. This is mentioned in 'Samuel Pepys' diary entry for 19 December 1663. This custom is linked to an older British tradition: since they would have to wait on their masters on Christmas Day, the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts, bonuses, and sometimes leftover food. Post-men, errand-boys, and servants of various kinds expect to receive a Christmas-box (* wiki)
Christmas tree
Is a symbol of heathen rites in times long antedating Christ. The early Christian fathers, in adopting the popular usages of their predecessors, and bending them to the service of Christianity, made wondrous little change in them, beyond the substitution of new motives and names for the old festivals peculiar to several seasons of the year.
Churches
The decoration of churches in Wales, is also very elaborate, at Christmas time.
Coal
On Christmas eve, or on one of the Three Spirit Nights, after the old folks are abed, the curious maiden puts a good stock of coal on the fire, lays a clean cloth on the table, and spreads thereon such store of eatables and drinkables as her larder will afford. Toasted cheese is considered an appropriate luxury for this occasion. Having prepared the feast, the maiden then takes off all her clothing, piece by piece, standing before the fire the while, and her last and closest garment she washes in a pail of clear spring water, on the hearth, and spreads it to dry across a chair-back turned to the fire. She then goes off to bed, and listens for her future husband, whose apparition is confidently expected to come and eat the supper. If her lover comes, she will be his bride that same year.
Colliers
A Christmas-eve custom among Welsh colliers is to carry from house to house a board stuck over with lighted candles, or to wheel a handbarrow containing a bed of clay in which the candles are stuck. This is called 'the Star,' sometimes 'the Star of Bethlehem,' and when stopping before a house the men kneel about it and sing a carol. The purpose is to solicit a 'Rhodd Nadolig', or Christmas gift.
Druidic fires of the winter solstice feast
Were continued in customs like that which survived in Herefordshire until recent years, when on old Christmas-eve thirteen fires were lighted in a cornfield, twelve of them being in a circle round a central one which burned higher than the rest. Circle fires were called the Twelve Apostles, and the central one the Virgin Mary. In a shed near by was a cow with a plum-cake between or upon her horns, into whose face a pail of cider was dashed, with a rhyming address, and the cow tossing her horns from her unexpected baptism naturally threw the plum-cake down. If it fell forward, good harvests were predicted; if backward, the omen was evil.
Evergreen
Wales, associated with the ancient Druids, viewed evergreen twigs, like those from the Christmas tree, as the symbols of perennial life.
Feast of Alban Arthur
The British Druids' feast of Alban Arthur, celebrating the new birth of the sun, occurred at our Christmas time, and is still celebrated at Pontypridd, Glamorganshire, every year. It begins on the 22nd of December, and lasts three days, during which period the sun is supposed to fight with Avagddu, the spirit of darkness, the great luminary having descended into hell for that purpose. On the third day he rose, and the bards struck their harps, rejoicing that the sun had again been found.
Plygain, or watching for the dawn
This consists in proceeding to the church at three o'clock on Christmas morning, and uniting in a service which is held by the light of small green candles made for that purpose.
Postman
The faithful postman in Wales not only expects to be remembered at Christmas, but he expects to be given a
precise sum, and if he does not get it he is capable of asking for it.
Twelfth Night custom
Mary Lwyd (blessed Mary). The skeleton of a horse's head is pro-cured by the young men or boys of a village, and adorned with flowers & ribbons, borrowed from the girls. These are generally borrowed from the girls. The bottoms of two black bottles are inserted in the sockets of the skeleton head to serve as eyes, and a substitute for ears is also contrived. On Twelfth Night they carry this object about from house to house, with shouts and songs. At last the door is opened, when in bounces the merry crowd, among them the Mary Lwyd, borne by one impersonating a horse, who is led by another impersonating the groom. The horse chases the girls around the room and a good time is had.
Twelve Days of Christmas
Christmas Day itself is not especially merry in Wales, mainly time with family & attending Church. It is the season rather than the day which is merry in Wales. The festival is usually understood, throughout Christendom, to include twelve days; the Welsh people not only make much of the twelve days, but they extend the peculiar festivities of the season far beyond those limits. *The twelve days are December 25th until January 5th (inclusive). Not necessarily exclusively for Wales, but January 6th is celebrated as a Christian festival, and is called 'The Epiphany' commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi
(wisemen) and is considered the Twelfth-day. A belief has arisen in modern times, in some English-speaking countries, that it is unlucky to leave Christmas decorations hanging after Twelfth Night. There has been discussion over whether the twelve days are counted from the nights before, which would mean that the twelfth night would be the night of January 5th, taking the Christmas decoration down on the 6th, before the 6th night.
(*explanation of the twelve days, from wikipedia)
Wind
If the east wind blew on Christmas eve, this wind was considered to be the wind blowing over the feet of corpses, because it blew towards the foot of the graves in the churchyards.
The Welsh believed that It was also animals paid their tribute of respect on Christmas Eve as well.
Boxing-day
Boxing Day is the second day of Christmastide (December 26th), and also St. Stephen's Day. The Christmas-box, or thrift-box, is still to be seen in barber shops in Wales (1880), fastened to the wall, or standing conveniently under the looking-glass among the pots and brushes. At one time the custom became such a nuisance throughout Britain that an outcry was raised about it. It got to that pass that the butcher and baker would send their apprentices around among their customers to levy contributions. The English Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in 1837, sent a circular to the different embassies requesting their excellencies and charges d'affaires to discontinue the customary Christmas-boxes.
* In Britain, it was a custom for tradespeople to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year. This is mentioned in 'Samuel Pepys' diary entry for 19 December 1663. This custom is linked to an older British tradition: since they would have to wait on their masters on Christmas Day, the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts, bonuses, and sometimes leftover food. Post-men, errand-boys, and servants of various kinds expect to receive a Christmas-box (* wiki)
Christmas tree
Is a symbol of heathen rites in times long antedating Christ. The early Christian fathers, in adopting the popular usages of their predecessors, and bending them to the service of Christianity, made wondrous little change in them, beyond the substitution of new motives and names for the old festivals peculiar to several seasons of the year.
Churches
The decoration of churches in Wales, is also very elaborate, at Christmas time.
Coal
On Christmas eve, or on one of the Three Spirit Nights, after the old folks are abed, the curious maiden puts a good stock of coal on the fire, lays a clean cloth on the table, and spreads thereon such store of eatables and drinkables as her larder will afford. Toasted cheese is considered an appropriate luxury for this occasion. Having prepared the feast, the maiden then takes off all her clothing, piece by piece, standing before the fire the while, and her last and closest garment she washes in a pail of clear spring water, on the hearth, and spreads it to dry across a chair-back turned to the fire. She then goes off to bed, and listens for her future husband, whose apparition is confidently expected to come and eat the supper. If her lover comes, she will be his bride that same year.
Colliers
A Christmas-eve custom among Welsh colliers is to carry from house to house a board stuck over with lighted candles, or to wheel a handbarrow containing a bed of clay in which the candles are stuck. This is called 'the Star,' sometimes 'the Star of Bethlehem,' and when stopping before a house the men kneel about it and sing a carol. The purpose is to solicit a 'Rhodd Nadolig', or Christmas gift.
Druidic fires of the winter solstice feast
Were continued in customs like that which survived in Herefordshire until recent years, when on old Christmas-eve thirteen fires were lighted in a cornfield, twelve of them being in a circle round a central one which burned higher than the rest. Circle fires were called the Twelve Apostles, and the central one the Virgin Mary. In a shed near by was a cow with a plum-cake between or upon her horns, into whose face a pail of cider was dashed, with a rhyming address, and the cow tossing her horns from her unexpected baptism naturally threw the plum-cake down. If it fell forward, good harvests were predicted; if backward, the omen was evil.
Evergreen
Wales, associated with the ancient Druids, viewed evergreen twigs, like those from the Christmas tree, as the symbols of perennial life.
Feast of Alban Arthur
The British Druids' feast of Alban Arthur, celebrating the new birth of the sun, occurred at our Christmas time, and is still celebrated at Pontypridd, Glamorganshire, every year. It begins on the 22nd of December, and lasts three days, during which period the sun is supposed to fight with Avagddu, the spirit of darkness, the great luminary having descended into hell for that purpose. On the third day he rose, and the bards struck their harps, rejoicing that the sun had again been found.
Plygain, or watching for the dawn
This consists in proceeding to the church at three o'clock on Christmas morning, and uniting in a service which is held by the light of small green candles made for that purpose.
Postman
The faithful postman in Wales not only expects to be remembered at Christmas, but he expects to be given a
precise sum, and if he does not get it he is capable of asking for it.
Twelfth Night custom
Mary Lwyd (blessed Mary). The skeleton of a horse's head is pro-cured by the young men or boys of a village, and adorned with flowers & ribbons, borrowed from the girls. These are generally borrowed from the girls. The bottoms of two black bottles are inserted in the sockets of the skeleton head to serve as eyes, and a substitute for ears is also contrived. On Twelfth Night they carry this object about from house to house, with shouts and songs. At last the door is opened, when in bounces the merry crowd, among them the Mary Lwyd, borne by one impersonating a horse, who is led by another impersonating the groom. The horse chases the girls around the room and a good time is had.
Twelve Days of Christmas
Christmas Day itself is not especially merry in Wales, mainly time with family & attending Church. It is the season rather than the day which is merry in Wales. The festival is usually understood, throughout Christendom, to include twelve days; the Welsh people not only make much of the twelve days, but they extend the peculiar festivities of the season far beyond those limits. *The twelve days are December 25th until January 5th (inclusive). Not necessarily exclusively for Wales, but January 6th is celebrated as a Christian festival, and is called 'The Epiphany' commemorating the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi
(wisemen) and is considered the Twelfth-day. A belief has arisen in modern times, in some English-speaking countries, that it is unlucky to leave Christmas decorations hanging after Twelfth Night. There has been discussion over whether the twelve days are counted from the nights before, which would mean that the twelfth night would be the night of January 5th, taking the Christmas decoration down on the 6th, before the 6th night.
(*explanation of the twelve days, from wikipedia)
Wind
If the east wind blew on Christmas eve, this wind was considered to be the wind blowing over the feet of corpses, because it blew towards the foot of the graves in the churchyards.
The song 'The Twelve days of Christmas' was said to be written in code. The meaning real behind the words were tied into religious teachings, when the Catholics were being persecuted during religion war during the reign of King Henry VIII until 1829.
Partridge in a pear tree- symbolising God (true love) and Jesus Christ (the partridge)
Two turtle doves- were the Old and New Testaments
Three French hens- represented the three gifts of faith, hope and love/charity
Four calling birds- were the four gospels- Matthew, Mark, Luke & John
Five golden rings- were the 5 Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,Deuteronomy)
Six Geese a laying- stands for the six days of creation (the 7th was a day of rest)
Seven Swans a swimming- were the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord/wonder)
Eight Maids a milking- were the eight beatitudes.(Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted, etc.)
Nine Ladies dancing- were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control)
Ten Lords a leaping- represent the 10 Commandments(Thou Shalt not.. etc.)
Eleven Pipers piping- were the 11 apostles (the twelfth apostle- Judas, betrayed Jesus)
Twelve drummers drumming- represented the points of the Apostles Creed (12 articles of faith)
Partridge in a pear tree- symbolising God (true love) and Jesus Christ (the partridge)
Two turtle doves- were the Old and New Testaments
Three French hens- represented the three gifts of faith, hope and love/charity
Four calling birds- were the four gospels- Matthew, Mark, Luke & John
Five golden rings- were the 5 Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,Deuteronomy)
Six Geese a laying- stands for the six days of creation (the 7th was a day of rest)
Seven Swans a swimming- were the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord/wonder)
Eight Maids a milking- were the eight beatitudes.(Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted, etc.)
Nine Ladies dancing- were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control)
Ten Lords a leaping- represent the 10 Commandments(Thou Shalt not.. etc.)
Eleven Pipers piping- were the 11 apostles (the twelfth apostle- Judas, betrayed Jesus)
Twelve drummers drumming- represented the points of the Apostles Creed (12 articles of faith)
Customs surrounding New Year's Day
New Year's Apple gift
Apple Gift
In Glamorganshire there is a New Year's Day custom called the apple gift, children, on and about New Year's Day, going from door to door of shops and houses, bearing an apple or an orange curiously tricked out. Three sticks in the form of a tripod are thrust into it to serve as a rest; its sides are smeared with flour or meal, and stuck over with oats or wheat, or bits of broken ..matches. Its top is covered with thyme or other sweet evergreen, and a skewer is inserted in one side as a handle to hold it by. The Christian symbolism of this custom is supposed to relate to the offering, by the Wise Men…to the infant Jesus. Thousands of children in Wales seek to win from their elders a New Year's copper by exhibiting the apple gift, or by singing in chorus their good wishes.
Male Visitors
No female visitor should cross the threshold first on New Year's morning; that a male visitor shall be the first to do so is a lucky thing. (Also adding to this, in other places, the male should have dark hair)
New Year's Morning
In Pembrokeshire on New Year's Morning, as soon as it is light, children of the peasantry hasten to provide a small cup of pure spring water, just from the well and go about sprinkling the faces of those they meet, with the aid of a sprig of evergreen. At the same time they sing the following verses:
Here we bring new water from the well so clear,
For to worship God with, this happy new year
…...Open you the east door and let the new year in !
Rising Early
In Pembrokeshire, to rise early on New Year's morning is considered good luck. On that morning also it is deemed wise to bring a fresh loaf into the house, that the succession of loaves throughout the year will be influenced by that incident.
In Glamorganshire there is a New Year's Day custom called the apple gift, children, on and about New Year's Day, going from door to door of shops and houses, bearing an apple or an orange curiously tricked out. Three sticks in the form of a tripod are thrust into it to serve as a rest; its sides are smeared with flour or meal, and stuck over with oats or wheat, or bits of broken ..matches. Its top is covered with thyme or other sweet evergreen, and a skewer is inserted in one side as a handle to hold it by. The Christian symbolism of this custom is supposed to relate to the offering, by the Wise Men…to the infant Jesus. Thousands of children in Wales seek to win from their elders a New Year's copper by exhibiting the apple gift, or by singing in chorus their good wishes.
Male Visitors
No female visitor should cross the threshold first on New Year's morning; that a male visitor shall be the first to do so is a lucky thing. (Also adding to this, in other places, the male should have dark hair)
New Year's Morning
In Pembrokeshire on New Year's Morning, as soon as it is light, children of the peasantry hasten to provide a small cup of pure spring water, just from the well and go about sprinkling the faces of those they meet, with the aid of a sprig of evergreen. At the same time they sing the following verses:
Here we bring new water from the well so clear,
For to worship God with, this happy new year
…...Open you the east door and let the new year in !
Rising Early
In Pembrokeshire, to rise early on New Year's morning is considered good luck. On that morning also it is deemed wise to bring a fresh loaf into the house, that the succession of loaves throughout the year will be influenced by that incident.
Traditional Celebrations & Superstitions
May Pole Dancing
SUPERSTITION
The superstitions of all countries, however diversified they may appear, can be traced to one common origin......the mythology of the ancients....Many of these popular superstitions were not rooted out by the introduction of Christianity; they were too deeply imbedded in the human mind to be displaced without a struggle
The rustling of the leaves of the forest gave birth to the wood nymph;
The wreath of mist on the mountain, rising aloft in a spiral form, was the spirit of the air;
The white vapour rising from the stream was the breath of the river god. ..
The rowan-tree, small crosses formed of its branches are still placed over the doors and windows on the 2nd of May, the eve of the invention of the Holy Cross, as a protection against evil spirits, warlocks, and witches. This is often done by those who have no faith in the existence of such beings, from respect for an old and time-hallowed custom.
Bonfires with which the whole country is illuminated on Hallow-even:
Many still pull their ‘castics,’ and have their fortunes told from broken eggs.
At the wakes it is still customary to place a plateful of salt and a burning can be on the body of the deceased: the salt is supposed to symbolize the immortality of the soul, while the candle, which is allowed to burn out, represents the shortness of human life.
The well of St. Fethac, in the Bay of Nigg, near Aberdeen, is still visited by the sick, who have implicit faith in its healing properties; and so early ‘as 1630 we find the following entry (which we give in modern English) in the minutes of the kirk-session of Aberdeen. On the 28th of November: ‘ This said day, Margaret Davidson, spouse to Andrew Adam, was adjudged in a fine of five pounds (Scots?) to be paid to the collector for directing her nurse, with her child, to St. Fiacke’s well, and washing the child therein, for recovery of her health, and the said Margaret and ‘her nurse were ordained to acknowledge their offence before the session, and do penance for leaving an offering in the well.’ Nor was the kirk-session satisfied with this deliverance against poor Margaret; as a. warning to others, it was at the same time ordained ‘ by the whole session, in one voice, that whatsoever inhabitant within this burgh be found going to St. Fiacke’s well in a. superstitious manner, for seeking health to themselves or children, shall be censured in penalty and repentance in such degree as fornicators are after trial and conviction.’ The latter part of the sentence amounted to this, that all future visitors to the well would have to take their seats in the kirk on the ‘ cuttie stool,’ or stool of repentance, in presence of the whole congregation-—a. species of punishment which we are happy to say has now been done away with.
The wells of St. Devenick and St. John, on the banks of the Ythan, in Aberdeenshire, are still supposed by some to retain their healing qualities. Their healing power, like that of the pool of Bethesda, is supposed to be more effectual on the 1st of May, and after performing their ablutions, dropped votive offerings of small pieces of silver into the water. These offerings were intended, of course, to propitiate the saints who presided over these wells and gave eflicacy to their waters. Whether they actually accepted them or not we cannot undertake to say; all that we can vouch for is that they soon disappeared
The belief in witchcraft has prevailed more or less in all countries; in none more so than in Scotland. So early as the 13th century Sir Michael Scott....is to be beyond the power of man, ascribed in the south of Scotland to ‘auld Michael,’ or the devil
The hobgoblin known as the water-kelpie never assumed the human form: it often presented itself to the belated traveller close to some stream which he had to cross, in the shape of a small pony, which easily allowed itself to be caught. The traveller, glad to be able to cross the stream without wetting his feet, unsuspiciously mounted the supposed pony, which, with a shout of eldritch laughter,‘rushed into the deepest pool of the river, before the rider was aware of his danger, or had time to dismount. Next morning the body would be found at the bottom of the pool or some distance down the stream, and as there are no coroners in Scotland, the kelpie escaped without even the imputation of wilful murder......And yet the popular instinct of justice has not allowed this wicked sprite to pass altogether unpunished. At a romantic spot on the banks of the Deveron, which flows between the counties of Bantf and Aberdeen, stands the Mill of Maggie. There is some good fishing-ground in the neighbourhood,..... There is also a deep pool at the bend of the river, which in former days the kelpie had selected as his special haunt. The miller often saw him in the bright moonlight nights running imaginary races with other kelpies along the banks of the river, licking his heels in the air, and neighing with pure delight; but he was too cannie ever to venture upon his back: he knew too much of kelpie-nature ever to think of that; but as his goblin neighbour was possessed of enormous strength, the idea occurred to him that it might be well to turn it to some useful purpose in the building his new mill. Some stones were required of a larger size than could be conveyed there by ordinary means; no rock could be too difficult for the kelpie to remove; but how was the kelpie to be won over?......he delighted in drowning men; he had no taste for building mills.....Be that as it may, the miller resolved to try what effect the horseman’s word would have upon him......He concealed a magic halter beneath his coat and took his stand on the other side of the river.....The miller stooped down and whispered the horseman’s word in his ear, slipping at the same time the halter over his head. The creature gave a sort of cry of pain; he knew that he had found his master....The work went swimmingly on.....He had warned his wife never to remove the halter from its neck, or to touch it at all.....The mill was now finished, and the miller had gone out for a day's pleasuring; a better opportunity for essaying her power was not likely to occur again. She (the wife) slipped out to the stable, and there was the pony, looking as demure and ful as any well-conducted pony could do. That a kelpie! ha! ha! she was not such a feel as the miller thought. She would just slip off the halter and lead him to the water by the mane. So the halter was slipped off accordingly; but no sooner was this done than a wonderful change came over the pony; it gave a wild scream of delight, bounded over her head, whisked through the wall, and was 011' to the river, singing as it went
Sair back and sair banes,
Drivin' mule o’ Maggie's stanes.
The kelpie, taught by experience, deserted the old pool and was never seen in the neighbourhood again......
Among the fishermen it is esteemed as unlucky to rescue a drowning man, as it is thought lucky to cut down one who has hanged himself. We suspect, however, that this superstition was merely a cloak for leaving the drowning man to his fate, that there might be no dispute about his property, which they invariably appropriated. Dead men tell no tales; and of course it was unlucky to save a man who might be guilty of the ingratitude of reclaiming his own.
https://books.google.com.au/books?id=3mAyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA655&dq=Water-kelpie&hl=en&sa
The superstitions of all countries, however diversified they may appear, can be traced to one common origin......the mythology of the ancients....Many of these popular superstitions were not rooted out by the introduction of Christianity; they were too deeply imbedded in the human mind to be displaced without a struggle
The rustling of the leaves of the forest gave birth to the wood nymph;
The wreath of mist on the mountain, rising aloft in a spiral form, was the spirit of the air;
The white vapour rising from the stream was the breath of the river god. ..
The rowan-tree, small crosses formed of its branches are still placed over the doors and windows on the 2nd of May, the eve of the invention of the Holy Cross, as a protection against evil spirits, warlocks, and witches. This is often done by those who have no faith in the existence of such beings, from respect for an old and time-hallowed custom.
Bonfires with which the whole country is illuminated on Hallow-even:
Many still pull their ‘castics,’ and have their fortunes told from broken eggs.
At the wakes it is still customary to place a plateful of salt and a burning can be on the body of the deceased: the salt is supposed to symbolize the immortality of the soul, while the candle, which is allowed to burn out, represents the shortness of human life.
The well of St. Fethac, in the Bay of Nigg, near Aberdeen, is still visited by the sick, who have implicit faith in its healing properties; and so early ‘as 1630 we find the following entry (which we give in modern English) in the minutes of the kirk-session of Aberdeen. On the 28th of November: ‘ This said day, Margaret Davidson, spouse to Andrew Adam, was adjudged in a fine of five pounds (Scots?) to be paid to the collector for directing her nurse, with her child, to St. Fiacke’s well, and washing the child therein, for recovery of her health, and the said Margaret and ‘her nurse were ordained to acknowledge their offence before the session, and do penance for leaving an offering in the well.’ Nor was the kirk-session satisfied with this deliverance against poor Margaret; as a. warning to others, it was at the same time ordained ‘ by the whole session, in one voice, that whatsoever inhabitant within this burgh be found going to St. Fiacke’s well in a. superstitious manner, for seeking health to themselves or children, shall be censured in penalty and repentance in such degree as fornicators are after trial and conviction.’ The latter part of the sentence amounted to this, that all future visitors to the well would have to take their seats in the kirk on the ‘ cuttie stool,’ or stool of repentance, in presence of the whole congregation-—a. species of punishment which we are happy to say has now been done away with.
The wells of St. Devenick and St. John, on the banks of the Ythan, in Aberdeenshire, are still supposed by some to retain their healing qualities. Their healing power, like that of the pool of Bethesda, is supposed to be more effectual on the 1st of May, and after performing their ablutions, dropped votive offerings of small pieces of silver into the water. These offerings were intended, of course, to propitiate the saints who presided over these wells and gave eflicacy to their waters. Whether they actually accepted them or not we cannot undertake to say; all that we can vouch for is that they soon disappeared
The belief in witchcraft has prevailed more or less in all countries; in none more so than in Scotland. So early as the 13th century Sir Michael Scott....is to be beyond the power of man, ascribed in the south of Scotland to ‘auld Michael,’ or the devil
The hobgoblin known as the water-kelpie never assumed the human form: it often presented itself to the belated traveller close to some stream which he had to cross, in the shape of a small pony, which easily allowed itself to be caught. The traveller, glad to be able to cross the stream without wetting his feet, unsuspiciously mounted the supposed pony, which, with a shout of eldritch laughter,‘rushed into the deepest pool of the river, before the rider was aware of his danger, or had time to dismount. Next morning the body would be found at the bottom of the pool or some distance down the stream, and as there are no coroners in Scotland, the kelpie escaped without even the imputation of wilful murder......And yet the popular instinct of justice has not allowed this wicked sprite to pass altogether unpunished. At a romantic spot on the banks of the Deveron, which flows between the counties of Bantf and Aberdeen, stands the Mill of Maggie. There is some good fishing-ground in the neighbourhood,..... There is also a deep pool at the bend of the river, which in former days the kelpie had selected as his special haunt. The miller often saw him in the bright moonlight nights running imaginary races with other kelpies along the banks of the river, licking his heels in the air, and neighing with pure delight; but he was too cannie ever to venture upon his back: he knew too much of kelpie-nature ever to think of that; but as his goblin neighbour was possessed of enormous strength, the idea occurred to him that it might be well to turn it to some useful purpose in the building his new mill. Some stones were required of a larger size than could be conveyed there by ordinary means; no rock could be too difficult for the kelpie to remove; but how was the kelpie to be won over?......he delighted in drowning men; he had no taste for building mills.....Be that as it may, the miller resolved to try what effect the horseman’s word would have upon him......He concealed a magic halter beneath his coat and took his stand on the other side of the river.....The miller stooped down and whispered the horseman’s word in his ear, slipping at the same time the halter over his head. The creature gave a sort of cry of pain; he knew that he had found his master....The work went swimmingly on.....He had warned his wife never to remove the halter from its neck, or to touch it at all.....The mill was now finished, and the miller had gone out for a day's pleasuring; a better opportunity for essaying her power was not likely to occur again. She (the wife) slipped out to the stable, and there was the pony, looking as demure and ful as any well-conducted pony could do. That a kelpie! ha! ha! she was not such a feel as the miller thought. She would just slip off the halter and lead him to the water by the mane. So the halter was slipped off accordingly; but no sooner was this done than a wonderful change came over the pony; it gave a wild scream of delight, bounded over her head, whisked through the wall, and was 011' to the river, singing as it went
Sair back and sair banes,
Drivin' mule o’ Maggie's stanes.
The kelpie, taught by experience, deserted the old pool and was never seen in the neighbourhood again......
Among the fishermen it is esteemed as unlucky to rescue a drowning man, as it is thought lucky to cut down one who has hanged himself. We suspect, however, that this superstition was merely a cloak for leaving the drowning man to his fate, that there might be no dispute about his property, which they invariably appropriated. Dead men tell no tales; and of course it was unlucky to save a man who might be guilty of the ingratitude of reclaiming his own.
https://books.google.com.au/books?id=3mAyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA655&dq=Water-kelpie&hl=en&sa
The Water-Kelpie The origin of a fine old Scottish family is connected by tradition with the amorous propensities of this watersprite. A gallant knight, whose lands lay along the border......assembled a few of the bravest and least disreputable of his retainers, kissed his young wife, took a last look at his old castle, and started for the Holy Land, where he remained for several years.....His enthusiasm, moreover, evaporated in a war, in which....he received more blows than bannocks....so he turned his face to the west, and after many adventures, reached his ancient keep in the north. There he found all that he expected, and something more; for his wife presented him with a boy of an age which proved that he owned some other father.......It was this :—-One day, as she was walking along the banks of the Tweed, the stream suddenly overflowed, and this boy was the consequence. The husband, fortunately, was not of a sceptical character. It was right, however, that the boy should bear his father’s name......So the boy was baptized by the name of Tweedic, the Scottish diminutive of Tweed, and became the founder of a numerous and powerful family. This tradition tends to prove that if in past times superstition punished some women for crimes of which they were innocent, it saved others from the penalties which they had incurred through their guilt.
Fraser's Magazine, Volume 67 page 645 1863
Fraser's Magazine, Volume 67 page 645 1863
All Hallows
Another merry custom of All Hallows was bobbing for apples, including a stick & a candle. A large tub (crwc) is brought into the kitchen of a farm- house and filled with water; a dozen apples are thrown into it, and the rustic youths bob for them with their mouths. To catch up two apples at a single mouthful is a triumphant achievement. Again the revellers will form a semicircle before the fire, while there depends above their mouths from a hook in the ceiling, a string with a stick attached. At one end of the stick is an apple, at the other end a candle. To snatch the apple with the lips, and yet avoid the candle, is the aim of the competitors. The stick is so hung that it turns easily on its axis, and the bobbers often find themselves catching the candle in their hair while aiming at the apple. This appears to be a relic of the ancient Welsh game of quintain, or gwyntyn.
(also see Halloween)
All Hallows eve
Is by the Welsh called 'Nos Calan Gauaf', meaning 'the first night of winter;' sometimes, 'Nos Cyn Gauaf', the night before winter. It is one of the 'Teir Nos Ysprydnos', or ' three nights for spirits', upon which ghosts walk, fairies are abroad, mysterious influences are in the air, strange sights are seen, and in short goblins of every sort are to be with special freedom encountered. They may be conjured to appear, by certain enchantments, and to give their visitors glimpses of the future, especially as regards the subject of marrying. On this night it is customary for the young people, gathered in many a merry circle, to seek by tricks and charms of various sort to become acquainted with their future lovers and sweethearts. Not that it is always necessary to employ such aids, for on the Teir Nos Ysprydnos the phantoms of future companions have been known to appear unsummoned.
Cock and hen of St. Tegla's Well
This well is about half-way between Wrexham and Ruthin, in the parish of Llandegla, and has been considered efficacious in curing epilepsy. One of the common names of that complaint in Welsh is Tegla's disease. Relief is obtained by bathing in the well, and performing a superstitious ceremony in this manner- The patient retires to the well after sunset, and washes himself in it; then, having made an offering by throwing into the water fourpence, he walks round it three times, and thrice recites the Lord's Prayer. If of the male sex, he offers a cock; if a woman, a hen. The bird is carried in a basket, first round the well, then round the church, and the rite of repeating the Lord's Prayer again performed. After all this, he enters the church, creeps under the altar; and making the Bible his pillow and the communion cloth his coverlet, remains there until the break of day. In the morning, having made a further offering of sixpence, he leaves the cock (or hen) and departs. Should the bird die, it is supposed that the disease has been transferred to it, and the man or womam consequently cured. The custom is associated with the ancient Druids as well as with the Jews, and its resemblance to the
'scapegoat' is suggestive.
Days of the Week
Monday and Tuesday were unlucky days in the Middle Ages, maybe a battle was lost on those days?
Friday was also an unlucky day to be born on, as Friday was Fairy's day & they could change the weather or whatever they liked on that day.
Exorcism by knife
appears to be a Welsh notion. Not in cutting people open, but in drawing a sword or knife in defence, as Fairies & Goblins are afraid of knives. The cases of successful exorcism by knife are many, and nothing in the realm of faerie is better authenticated. These notions may trace back to the connection with Arthur's sword Excalibur?
Feast of St. Cynog (son of Brychan)
Continued for a week, in the first week of October. On the Tuesday there was a singular marketing in the churchyard; from all about, the farmers brought their tithe of cheese, and taking it to the churchyard, laid it on the tombstones, where it was sold for the parson's behoof (benefit).
First of April
Is in Welsh called Calan Ebrill, and an April Fool a Ffwl Ebrill ; the similarity of English and Welsh words may be said to typify the similarity of observance. The universality of this observance among Aryan peoples would certainly indicate an origin in a time preceding the dispersion of the human family over the world. The Druids, tradition says, celebrated the revival of Nature's powers in a festival which culminated on the first of April in the most hilarious foolery. The Roman Saturnalia or feast of fools perpetuated the rite, though the purpose of the Christian revelry may quite possibly have been to ridicule the Druidic ceremonies.
Give to or receive from a knife as a gift
or a pair of scissors cuts friendship. (Added to this, if you must give knives as a gift, you should put a Silver coin in with them, which breaks the bad luck)
Hallow-e'en
On the Welsh Border there prevails a Hallow-e'en custom among the children of going about to the houses singing the rhymes which follow-
Wissel wassel, bread and possel,
…An apple or a pear, a plum or a cherry,
Or any good thing to make us merry.
…One for Peter, and two for Paul,
And three for the good man that made us all.
Up with the kettle and down with the pan,
Give us an answer and we'll be gan.
….…….
(A loud rap at the door.)
Spoken. Please to give us a penny.
Knights of the Leek
In Glamorganshire may be found the order of Knights of the Leek, who hold high festival on the 1st of every March, gathering in the Welsh bards and men of letters.
May Day Festivals
Are in like manner associated with the powers of Nature, whose vigour and productiveness were symbolized by the Maypole round which village lads and lasses danced. The rites of love were variously celebrated at this time and some of these customs locally have long survived the Maypole itself. The ordinance for the destruction of Maypoles in England and Wales, printed in 1644, declared them ' a heathenish vanity', generally abused to superstition and wickedness wherefore it was ordained that they should be destroyed, and that no Maypole should thereafter be set up, erected, or suffered to be within this kingdom of England or dominion of Wales.
Midsummer Eve, or St. John's Eve (June 23rd)
Is celebrated in Wales. Midsummer Eve, in 1878, fell on a Sunday. Upon that day the 'Druids and bard' at Pontypridd held the usual feast of the summer solstice in the face of the sun. There is a breezy common on the top of a high hill overlooking the town, where stand a logan stone and a circle of upright stones constituting the 'temple of the Druids' Here it is the custom of the present day adherents of that ancient religion, to celebrate their rites 'within the folds of the serpent,' a circle marked with the signs of the zodiac. The venerable
arch druid, 'Myfyr Morganwg', stands on the logan stone, with a mistletoe sprig in his button-hole, and prays to the god Kali, 'creator of sun, moon, stars, and universe. Then the white-bearded old man delivers a discourse, and new members are initiated into the 'mysteries'. Large crowds gather to witness the impressive spectacle, a shadow of the ancient rites when from Belenian heights flamed high the sacrificial fires. It was a former belief that these fires protected the lands within their light from the machinations (plot or scheme) of sorcery, so that good crops would follow, and that their ashes were valuable as a medicinal charm.
* Rocking stones (also known as logan stones or logans) are large stones that are so finely balanced that the application of just a small force causes them to rock. (*rocking stone definition from wiki)
Salt falling toward a person
Was of old considered a most unlucky omen, the evil of which could only be averted by throwing a little of the fallen salt over the shoulder.
Salt was the ancient symbol of friendship
Salt was deemed incorruptible. In the Isle of Man no important business was ventured on without salt in the pocket; marrying, moving, even the receiving of alms, must be sanctified by an exchange of salt between the parties.
Da Vinci's picture of the Lord's Supper, Judas Iscariot is represented as overturning the salt an omen of the coming betrayal of Christ by that personage. In Russia, should a friend pass you the salt without smiling, a quarrel will follow. There also, not only in Wales, was an old superstition, that if you spilled the salt, it would mean bad luck or an argument, so to avoid this, the person would throw salt over their left shoulder while counting to ten.
The Scotch put salt in a cow's first milk after calving. Even the Chinese throw salt into water from which a person has been rescued from drowning.
Snake-stones
The Snake-stone is another striking Welsh tradition, associated with Midsummer eve (late June). At this time of the year there are certain convocations of snakes, which, hissing sociably together among one another, hiss forth a mystic bubble, which hardens into the semblance of a glass ring. The finder of this ring is a lucky man, for all his undertakings will prosper while he retains it. These rings are called snake stones (Gleiniau Nadroedd)
St. Valentine's Day
There is no Welsh custom which demands notice here; but it is perhaps worthy of mention that nowhere in the world is the day more abundantly productive of its love-letters. The post-offices in the Principality are simply deluged with these missives on the eve and morning of St. Valentine's. In Cardiff the postmaster thinks himself lucky if he gets off with only fifteen thousand letters in excess of the ordinary mail. Nineteen extra sorters and carriers were employed for this work on February 14th, 1878, and the regular force also was heavily worked beyond its usual hours. The custom is more Norman than Cambrian, The word Valentine comes from the Norman word for a lover, and the saint is a mere accident in this connection.
St. Dewi's Day (St. David) March 1st
St. Dewi is to the Welsh what St. George is to the English, St. Andrew to the Scotch, and St. Patrick to the Irish. His day is celebrated on the 1st of March throughout Wales. In Wales there are processions, grand dinners; places of business are closed; the poor are banqueted; speeches are made and songs are sung. The most characteristic feature of the day is the wearing of the leek. This feature is least conspicuous, it may
be noted, in those parts of Wales where the English residents are fewest, and least of all in the ultra-Welsh shires of Cardigan and Carmarthen, where St. David is peculiarly honoured. The significance of this fact no doubt lies in the absence of any necessity for asserting a Cambrianism which there are none to dispute. In the border towns, every Welshman who desires to assert his national right wears the leek in his hat or elsewhere on his person ; but in the shadow of St. David's College at Lampeter, not a leek is seen on St. Dewi's Day.
St. David's Day (St. Dewi)
Why is the leek worn on St. David's Day? Mainly, because the wearer is a Welshman who honours tradition. But the precise origin of the custom is involved in an obscurity from which emerge several curious and interesting traditions. This is two of them-
1. Given in a pamphlet of 1642- St.David when he always went into the field in Martiall exercise he carried a Leek with him, and once being almost faint to death, he immediately remembred himself of the Leek, and by that means not only preserved his life but also became victorious: hence is the Mythologie of the Leek derived.
2. The battle of Poictiers has been named; also that of Cressy, where the Welsh archers did good service with the English against a common enemy; but an older tradition is to the effect that the Saxon was the foe. The invaders had assumed the dress of the Britons, that they might steal upon them unsuspected; but St. David ordered the Welshmen to stick leeks in their caps as a badge of distinction. This he did merely because there was a large field of leeks growing near the British camp. The precaution gave the day to the favoured of St. Dewi.
In some districts of South Wales all the neighbours of a small farmer without means appoint a day when they all attend to plough his land, and the like; and at such a time it is a custom for each individual to bring his portion of leeks, to be used in making pottage for the whole company; and they bring nothing else but the leeks in particular for the occasion.
St. Patrick's Day
The Welsh believe that St. Patrick was a Welshman. Born at Llandeilo Talybont, in Glamorganshire, and educated at the famous college of Llantwit Major, he held St. David's place till the coming of Dewi was announced to him ; then he went into Ireland, to do missionary work.
Another merry custom of All Hallows was bobbing for apples, including a stick & a candle. A large tub (crwc) is brought into the kitchen of a farm- house and filled with water; a dozen apples are thrown into it, and the rustic youths bob for them with their mouths. To catch up two apples at a single mouthful is a triumphant achievement. Again the revellers will form a semicircle before the fire, while there depends above their mouths from a hook in the ceiling, a string with a stick attached. At one end of the stick is an apple, at the other end a candle. To snatch the apple with the lips, and yet avoid the candle, is the aim of the competitors. The stick is so hung that it turns easily on its axis, and the bobbers often find themselves catching the candle in their hair while aiming at the apple. This appears to be a relic of the ancient Welsh game of quintain, or gwyntyn.
(also see Halloween)
All Hallows eve
Is by the Welsh called 'Nos Calan Gauaf', meaning 'the first night of winter;' sometimes, 'Nos Cyn Gauaf', the night before winter. It is one of the 'Teir Nos Ysprydnos', or ' three nights for spirits', upon which ghosts walk, fairies are abroad, mysterious influences are in the air, strange sights are seen, and in short goblins of every sort are to be with special freedom encountered. They may be conjured to appear, by certain enchantments, and to give their visitors glimpses of the future, especially as regards the subject of marrying. On this night it is customary for the young people, gathered in many a merry circle, to seek by tricks and charms of various sort to become acquainted with their future lovers and sweethearts. Not that it is always necessary to employ such aids, for on the Teir Nos Ysprydnos the phantoms of future companions have been known to appear unsummoned.
Cock and hen of St. Tegla's Well
This well is about half-way between Wrexham and Ruthin, in the parish of Llandegla, and has been considered efficacious in curing epilepsy. One of the common names of that complaint in Welsh is Tegla's disease. Relief is obtained by bathing in the well, and performing a superstitious ceremony in this manner- The patient retires to the well after sunset, and washes himself in it; then, having made an offering by throwing into the water fourpence, he walks round it three times, and thrice recites the Lord's Prayer. If of the male sex, he offers a cock; if a woman, a hen. The bird is carried in a basket, first round the well, then round the church, and the rite of repeating the Lord's Prayer again performed. After all this, he enters the church, creeps under the altar; and making the Bible his pillow and the communion cloth his coverlet, remains there until the break of day. In the morning, having made a further offering of sixpence, he leaves the cock (or hen) and departs. Should the bird die, it is supposed that the disease has been transferred to it, and the man or womam consequently cured. The custom is associated with the ancient Druids as well as with the Jews, and its resemblance to the
'scapegoat' is suggestive.
Days of the Week
Monday and Tuesday were unlucky days in the Middle Ages, maybe a battle was lost on those days?
Friday was also an unlucky day to be born on, as Friday was Fairy's day & they could change the weather or whatever they liked on that day.
Exorcism by knife
appears to be a Welsh notion. Not in cutting people open, but in drawing a sword or knife in defence, as Fairies & Goblins are afraid of knives. The cases of successful exorcism by knife are many, and nothing in the realm of faerie is better authenticated. These notions may trace back to the connection with Arthur's sword Excalibur?
Feast of St. Cynog (son of Brychan)
Continued for a week, in the first week of October. On the Tuesday there was a singular marketing in the churchyard; from all about, the farmers brought their tithe of cheese, and taking it to the churchyard, laid it on the tombstones, where it was sold for the parson's behoof (benefit).
First of April
Is in Welsh called Calan Ebrill, and an April Fool a Ffwl Ebrill ; the similarity of English and Welsh words may be said to typify the similarity of observance. The universality of this observance among Aryan peoples would certainly indicate an origin in a time preceding the dispersion of the human family over the world. The Druids, tradition says, celebrated the revival of Nature's powers in a festival which culminated on the first of April in the most hilarious foolery. The Roman Saturnalia or feast of fools perpetuated the rite, though the purpose of the Christian revelry may quite possibly have been to ridicule the Druidic ceremonies.
Give to or receive from a knife as a gift
or a pair of scissors cuts friendship. (Added to this, if you must give knives as a gift, you should put a Silver coin in with them, which breaks the bad luck)
Hallow-e'en
On the Welsh Border there prevails a Hallow-e'en custom among the children of going about to the houses singing the rhymes which follow-
Wissel wassel, bread and possel,
…An apple or a pear, a plum or a cherry,
Or any good thing to make us merry.
…One for Peter, and two for Paul,
And three for the good man that made us all.
Up with the kettle and down with the pan,
Give us an answer and we'll be gan.
….…….
(A loud rap at the door.)
Spoken. Please to give us a penny.
Knights of the Leek
In Glamorganshire may be found the order of Knights of the Leek, who hold high festival on the 1st of every March, gathering in the Welsh bards and men of letters.
May Day Festivals
Are in like manner associated with the powers of Nature, whose vigour and productiveness were symbolized by the Maypole round which village lads and lasses danced. The rites of love were variously celebrated at this time and some of these customs locally have long survived the Maypole itself. The ordinance for the destruction of Maypoles in England and Wales, printed in 1644, declared them ' a heathenish vanity', generally abused to superstition and wickedness wherefore it was ordained that they should be destroyed, and that no Maypole should thereafter be set up, erected, or suffered to be within this kingdom of England or dominion of Wales.
Midsummer Eve, or St. John's Eve (June 23rd)
Is celebrated in Wales. Midsummer Eve, in 1878, fell on a Sunday. Upon that day the 'Druids and bard' at Pontypridd held the usual feast of the summer solstice in the face of the sun. There is a breezy common on the top of a high hill overlooking the town, where stand a logan stone and a circle of upright stones constituting the 'temple of the Druids' Here it is the custom of the present day adherents of that ancient religion, to celebrate their rites 'within the folds of the serpent,' a circle marked with the signs of the zodiac. The venerable
arch druid, 'Myfyr Morganwg', stands on the logan stone, with a mistletoe sprig in his button-hole, and prays to the god Kali, 'creator of sun, moon, stars, and universe. Then the white-bearded old man delivers a discourse, and new members are initiated into the 'mysteries'. Large crowds gather to witness the impressive spectacle, a shadow of the ancient rites when from Belenian heights flamed high the sacrificial fires. It was a former belief that these fires protected the lands within their light from the machinations (plot or scheme) of sorcery, so that good crops would follow, and that their ashes were valuable as a medicinal charm.
* Rocking stones (also known as logan stones or logans) are large stones that are so finely balanced that the application of just a small force causes them to rock. (*rocking stone definition from wiki)
Salt falling toward a person
Was of old considered a most unlucky omen, the evil of which could only be averted by throwing a little of the fallen salt over the shoulder.
Salt was the ancient symbol of friendship
Salt was deemed incorruptible. In the Isle of Man no important business was ventured on without salt in the pocket; marrying, moving, even the receiving of alms, must be sanctified by an exchange of salt between the parties.
Da Vinci's picture of the Lord's Supper, Judas Iscariot is represented as overturning the salt an omen of the coming betrayal of Christ by that personage. In Russia, should a friend pass you the salt without smiling, a quarrel will follow. There also, not only in Wales, was an old superstition, that if you spilled the salt, it would mean bad luck or an argument, so to avoid this, the person would throw salt over their left shoulder while counting to ten.
The Scotch put salt in a cow's first milk after calving. Even the Chinese throw salt into water from which a person has been rescued from drowning.
Snake-stones
The Snake-stone is another striking Welsh tradition, associated with Midsummer eve (late June). At this time of the year there are certain convocations of snakes, which, hissing sociably together among one another, hiss forth a mystic bubble, which hardens into the semblance of a glass ring. The finder of this ring is a lucky man, for all his undertakings will prosper while he retains it. These rings are called snake stones (Gleiniau Nadroedd)
St. Valentine's Day
There is no Welsh custom which demands notice here; but it is perhaps worthy of mention that nowhere in the world is the day more abundantly productive of its love-letters. The post-offices in the Principality are simply deluged with these missives on the eve and morning of St. Valentine's. In Cardiff the postmaster thinks himself lucky if he gets off with only fifteen thousand letters in excess of the ordinary mail. Nineteen extra sorters and carriers were employed for this work on February 14th, 1878, and the regular force also was heavily worked beyond its usual hours. The custom is more Norman than Cambrian, The word Valentine comes from the Norman word for a lover, and the saint is a mere accident in this connection.
St. Dewi's Day (St. David) March 1st
St. Dewi is to the Welsh what St. George is to the English, St. Andrew to the Scotch, and St. Patrick to the Irish. His day is celebrated on the 1st of March throughout Wales. In Wales there are processions, grand dinners; places of business are closed; the poor are banqueted; speeches are made and songs are sung. The most characteristic feature of the day is the wearing of the leek. This feature is least conspicuous, it may
be noted, in those parts of Wales where the English residents are fewest, and least of all in the ultra-Welsh shires of Cardigan and Carmarthen, where St. David is peculiarly honoured. The significance of this fact no doubt lies in the absence of any necessity for asserting a Cambrianism which there are none to dispute. In the border towns, every Welshman who desires to assert his national right wears the leek in his hat or elsewhere on his person ; but in the shadow of St. David's College at Lampeter, not a leek is seen on St. Dewi's Day.
St. David's Day (St. Dewi)
Why is the leek worn on St. David's Day? Mainly, because the wearer is a Welshman who honours tradition. But the precise origin of the custom is involved in an obscurity from which emerge several curious and interesting traditions. This is two of them-
1. Given in a pamphlet of 1642- St.David when he always went into the field in Martiall exercise he carried a Leek with him, and once being almost faint to death, he immediately remembred himself of the Leek, and by that means not only preserved his life but also became victorious: hence is the Mythologie of the Leek derived.
2. The battle of Poictiers has been named; also that of Cressy, where the Welsh archers did good service with the English against a common enemy; but an older tradition is to the effect that the Saxon was the foe. The invaders had assumed the dress of the Britons, that they might steal upon them unsuspected; but St. David ordered the Welshmen to stick leeks in their caps as a badge of distinction. This he did merely because there was a large field of leeks growing near the British camp. The precaution gave the day to the favoured of St. Dewi.
In some districts of South Wales all the neighbours of a small farmer without means appoint a day when they all attend to plough his land, and the like; and at such a time it is a custom for each individual to bring his portion of leeks, to be used in making pottage for the whole company; and they bring nothing else but the leeks in particular for the occasion.
St. Patrick's Day
The Welsh believe that St. Patrick was a Welshman. Born at Llandeilo Talybont, in Glamorganshire, and educated at the famous college of Llantwit Major, he held St. David's place till the coming of Dewi was announced to him ; then he went into Ireland, to do missionary work.
Welsh Courting & Marriage Traditions
Age
The Ancient laws of Howell the Good (died 948) expressly provided that a woman should be considered marriageable from fourteen upwards, and should be entitled to maintenance from that age until the end of her fortieth year ; that is to say, from fourteen to forty she ought to be considered in her youth.
All Hallows Eve (Halloween)
On this night it is customary for the young people, gathered in many a merry circle, to seek by tricks and charms of various sort to become acquainted with their future lovers and sweethearts. Not that it is always necessary to employ such aids, for on the 'Teir Nos Ysprydnos', (three nights of the spirits) the phantoms of future companions have been known to appear unsummoned.
Birch & Hazel
A number of farmer girls of the humbler sort will gather at a stated time and place to give a day's work to one needing assistance, and after a day spent in such toil, as may be required, the festival winds up with jollity in the evening. The day is signalized on the part of those youths of the neighbourhood who are interested in the girls, by tokens of that interest in the shape of gifts. The lass who receives a gift accompanied by a twig of birch is thereby assured of her lover's constancy. To her whom the young man would inform of his change of heart, a sprig of hazel is given.
Bidding
(see below)
Bundling
The Welsh custom of Bundling, or courting abed. The Welsh words sopen and sypio mean a bundle and to bundle, and they mean a squeezed-up mass, and to squeeze together. Virtually, intimacy without going 'all the way'.
Celibacy
In Wales, expressing the popular disapprobation for celibacy, by planting on the graves of old bachelors that ill-scented plant, the rue, and sometimes thistles, nettles, henbane, and other unlovely weeds. The practice was even extended, most illiberally and unjustly, to the graves of old maids, who certainly needed no such insult added to their injury.
Coal
On Christmas eve, or on one of the Three Spirit Nights, after the old folks are abed, the curious maiden puts a good stock of coal on the fire, lays a clean cloth on the table, and spreads thereon such store of eatables and drinkables as her larder will afford. Toasted cheese is considered an appropriate luxury for this occasion. Having prepared the feast, the maiden then takes off all her clothing, piece by piece, standing before the fire the while, and her last and closest garment she washes in a pail of clear spring water, on the hearth, and spreads it to dry across a chair-back turned to the fire. She then goes off to bed, and listens for her future husband, whose apparition is confidently expected to come and eat the supper. If her lover comes, she will be his bride that same year.
Coolstrin Court
It resembles the old custom once known in certain parts of England, called the skimitry or skimmington, in which a man whose wife had struck him was forced to ride behind a woman, with his face to the horse's tail, while a band of pans and cow-horns made music for them.
A husband who is suspected of having a termagant (harsh-tempered or overbearing woman) wife, is made the subject of espionage. If it be found that he drinks his mug of ale standing, with his eye twinkling toward the door, the circumstance is considered most suspicious. Efforts are accordingly made to induce the henpecked man to stay and be merry, and if he can be made drunk a great point is gained, as then a squad of volunteers take him inside his own door and critically observe his reception (by his wife) A moral point involved appears to be that a henpecked husband is a disgrace to manhood in general; and the purpose of the coolstrin is to reform it altogether. However, although it may even be proved that a woman is in the habit of cuffing her
husband, the case does not come under the jurisdiction of the coolstrin court until she has drawn blood on him, then the court is convened.
It is composed, no doubt, of any rakehelly (wild) youngsters, married or single, who are ripe for sport. One of them is chosen for judge; a special point is that he must be a married man who is not afraid of his wife; and he is invested with robe and gown, that is to say, the collar-bone of a horse is set on his head, around the crown of a slouch hat, and a bed-quilt is made fast to his shoulders. He marches through the streets, with a youth behind him bearing his bed-quilt train, and mounts a chosen wall for a judge's bench. Officers with long white wands range themselves solemnly on either side of him; men are chosen as advocates; and a posse of rustics with pitchforks keeps order. The court is opened by a crier who calls on all good men who as yet wear
their own clos, to attend the court. The case is argued by the advocates; witnesses are examined to prove, first, that the man is henpecked, second, that his wife has struck him and drawn blood with the blow.
The condemnation of the woman found guilt, is that a derisive procession is formed, and two fellows rigged up to impersonate the husband and wife. The male bore a broom, and the female brandished a ladle, and the two were paraded through the town. A band of musicians marched before them, beating frying-pans with marrow bones, banging gridirons and kettles with pokers, tongs and shovels, and two playing on a fife and drum. These were followed by two standard bearers, one bearing a petticoat on top of a pole, the other a
pair of breeches in the same manner. Other orts and ends of rabble made up the procession, which with
antic and grimace marched about the village and neighbourhood. They ended by the planting in front of the culprit's house of the pole and petticoat, and the pelting of it with addled eggs, stones, and mud, till it fell to the ground. The noble bifurcated emblem of manhood, the clos, was then elevated proudly aloft, and the woman's punishment was deemed complete.
Fireworks & Merriment
Among the wealthier classes, when the couple return from their bridal tour, the fun often begins all over again, even sometimes with fireworks.
Flower Children
Children would strew flowers in the path of the new-made bride, as good wishes.
Garden at Midnight
Another custom was to go into the garden at midnight, in the season when ' black seed ' was sown, and sow leeks, with two garden rakes. One rake was left on the ground while the young woman worked away with the other, humming to herself the while-
"He that would a life partner be,
Let him also rake with me".
Garters
A man gets possession of a girl's garters, and weaves them into a true lover's knot, saying over, some words of hope and love in Welsh. This he puts under his shirt, next to his heart, till he goes to bed, when he places it under the bolster. If the test be successful the vision of his future wife appears to him in the night.
Knife
A young man would enter the churchyard at midnight, carrying a twca, which is a sort of knife made out of an old razor, with a handle of sheep or goat-horn, and he would encircle the church edifice seven times, holding the twca at arm's length, and chanting for a wife
Love spoons
Ornately carved spoons were traditionally made from a single piece of wood by young men as a love token for their sweethearts. to show his affection and intentions for his loved one. The earliest surviving example, displayed in the Welsh Folk museum in Cardiff, is dated around 1667, although the tradition probably dates back long before that. The love spoon originated from the “cawl” (soup or broth) spoon & is where the term 'spooning' came from. Sailors would often carve love spoons during their long journeys, which is why anchors would often be incorporated. Welsh lovespoons are the most famous, but they are also here are also in Scandinavia and some parts of Eastern Europe.
https://www.adamking.co.uk/
Maidens before Marriage
By every sort of moral suasion it is deemed right in Wales to encourage matrimony, and no where are old bachelors viewed with less forbearance. If a maiden forgot her duty to herself, her parents, and her training, when the evil result became known she was to be thrown over a precipice (steep cliff or rock face); the young man who had abused the parents' confidence was also to be destroyed. Murder itself was punished less severely.
Maid's Trick
None must attempt it but true maids, or they will get themselves into trouble with the fairies. The Maid's Trick was performed on Christmas Eve or on one of three designated Fairy Nights. The fire was made up and a feast of food was left on the table while the girl washed her undergarments in fresh spring water. The underwear would then be left to dry on the back of a chair in front of the fire and, with the door unlocked, the girl would retire to bed. Her future husband would then supposedly come and eat the feast.
Marriage Bed
There is an old custom, at the funeral of a young unmarried person, of strewing the way to the grave with evergreens and sweet-scented flowers, and the common saying in connection therewith is that the dead one is going to his or her marriage bed.
Overbearing Wife
See Coolstrin Court
Promicuousness
Customs of promiscuous sleeping arose in the earliest times, out of the necessities of existence in those primitive days, when a whole household lay down together on a common bed of rushes strewn on the floor of the room. In cold weather they lay close together for greater warmth, with their usual clothing on.
Pullet's Egg
The maiden would get hold of a pullet's first egg, cut it through the middle, fill one half-shell with wheaten flour and the other with salt, and make a cake out of the egg, the flour, and the salt. One half of this she would eat; the other half was put in the foot of her left stocking under her pillow that night; and after offering up a suitable prayer, she would go to sleep, her lover would then be hoped to come to her.
Retaining the Maiden Name
After marriage, Welsh women still in some cases retain their maiden names, a custom formerly universal among them. The wife of John Thomas, though the mother of a houseful of children, may be habitually known among her neighbours as Betty Williams. But in other cases, she not only assumes her husband's name, but the name of his calling as well; if he is Dick Shon the tailor, she becomes Mrs. Dick Shon the tailor.
Rice
Throwing showers of rice after the wedded pair, is a way of expressing good wishes. The custom of rice-throwing is Chinese, the rice being viewed as a sign of abundance. In Sicily, as in some parts of England, wheat is thrown on the bride's head; in Russia, a handful of hops; in the north of England a plateful of shortcake; in Yorkshire, bits of the bride-cake. All these customs, while popularly done for luck, are apparently symbolical of the obedience and the
fruitfulness of the newly-wedded wife.
Ruling the Roast
When rosemary flourishes in the garden of a married pair, the lady 'rules the roast,' as the phrase is, though if there is anything a woman should rule, one would think the ' roast ' is that thing.
Shoes
Throwing old shoes at the couple, is another way of expressing good wishes, over time, the shoes have become satin slippers. As far back as the 16th century, throwing an old shoe after any one going on an important errand was deemed lucky in Wales. It is thought that in the case of a bride, the custom is derived from the old Jewish law of exchange, when a shoe was given in token that the parents for ever surrendered all dominion over their daughter.
Skimitry
See Coolstrin
Sleeping on a piece of wedding cake
If you place a piece of wedding cake under your pillow, you will dream of who you would marry. The bride would give her guests tiny pieces of cake and for good luck, would pass the piece through her wedding ring.
Venus
The Welsh Venus is a holy saint, and not at all a wicked Pagan character like her classic prototype. ' Holy Dwynwen, goddess of love, daughter of Brychan, had a church dedicated to her in Anglesea in 590; and for ages, her shrine was resorted to by desponding swains (young lovers) and lovesick maidens. Her name Dwyn, to carry off, and wen (white), white signifies the bearer off of the palm of fairness; and, ruling the court of love while living, when dead, a thousand bleeding hearts her power invoked.
The Ancient laws of Howell the Good (died 948) expressly provided that a woman should be considered marriageable from fourteen upwards, and should be entitled to maintenance from that age until the end of her fortieth year ; that is to say, from fourteen to forty she ought to be considered in her youth.
All Hallows Eve (Halloween)
On this night it is customary for the young people, gathered in many a merry circle, to seek by tricks and charms of various sort to become acquainted with their future lovers and sweethearts. Not that it is always necessary to employ such aids, for on the 'Teir Nos Ysprydnos', (three nights of the spirits) the phantoms of future companions have been known to appear unsummoned.
Birch & Hazel
A number of farmer girls of the humbler sort will gather at a stated time and place to give a day's work to one needing assistance, and after a day spent in such toil, as may be required, the festival winds up with jollity in the evening. The day is signalized on the part of those youths of the neighbourhood who are interested in the girls, by tokens of that interest in the shape of gifts. The lass who receives a gift accompanied by a twig of birch is thereby assured of her lover's constancy. To her whom the young man would inform of his change of heart, a sprig of hazel is given.
Bidding
(see below)
Bundling
The Welsh custom of Bundling, or courting abed. The Welsh words sopen and sypio mean a bundle and to bundle, and they mean a squeezed-up mass, and to squeeze together. Virtually, intimacy without going 'all the way'.
Celibacy
In Wales, expressing the popular disapprobation for celibacy, by planting on the graves of old bachelors that ill-scented plant, the rue, and sometimes thistles, nettles, henbane, and other unlovely weeds. The practice was even extended, most illiberally and unjustly, to the graves of old maids, who certainly needed no such insult added to their injury.
Coal
On Christmas eve, or on one of the Three Spirit Nights, after the old folks are abed, the curious maiden puts a good stock of coal on the fire, lays a clean cloth on the table, and spreads thereon such store of eatables and drinkables as her larder will afford. Toasted cheese is considered an appropriate luxury for this occasion. Having prepared the feast, the maiden then takes off all her clothing, piece by piece, standing before the fire the while, and her last and closest garment she washes in a pail of clear spring water, on the hearth, and spreads it to dry across a chair-back turned to the fire. She then goes off to bed, and listens for her future husband, whose apparition is confidently expected to come and eat the supper. If her lover comes, she will be his bride that same year.
Coolstrin Court
It resembles the old custom once known in certain parts of England, called the skimitry or skimmington, in which a man whose wife had struck him was forced to ride behind a woman, with his face to the horse's tail, while a band of pans and cow-horns made music for them.
A husband who is suspected of having a termagant (harsh-tempered or overbearing woman) wife, is made the subject of espionage. If it be found that he drinks his mug of ale standing, with his eye twinkling toward the door, the circumstance is considered most suspicious. Efforts are accordingly made to induce the henpecked man to stay and be merry, and if he can be made drunk a great point is gained, as then a squad of volunteers take him inside his own door and critically observe his reception (by his wife) A moral point involved appears to be that a henpecked husband is a disgrace to manhood in general; and the purpose of the coolstrin is to reform it altogether. However, although it may even be proved that a woman is in the habit of cuffing her
husband, the case does not come under the jurisdiction of the coolstrin court until she has drawn blood on him, then the court is convened.
It is composed, no doubt, of any rakehelly (wild) youngsters, married or single, who are ripe for sport. One of them is chosen for judge; a special point is that he must be a married man who is not afraid of his wife; and he is invested with robe and gown, that is to say, the collar-bone of a horse is set on his head, around the crown of a slouch hat, and a bed-quilt is made fast to his shoulders. He marches through the streets, with a youth behind him bearing his bed-quilt train, and mounts a chosen wall for a judge's bench. Officers with long white wands range themselves solemnly on either side of him; men are chosen as advocates; and a posse of rustics with pitchforks keeps order. The court is opened by a crier who calls on all good men who as yet wear
their own clos, to attend the court. The case is argued by the advocates; witnesses are examined to prove, first, that the man is henpecked, second, that his wife has struck him and drawn blood with the blow.
The condemnation of the woman found guilt, is that a derisive procession is formed, and two fellows rigged up to impersonate the husband and wife. The male bore a broom, and the female brandished a ladle, and the two were paraded through the town. A band of musicians marched before them, beating frying-pans with marrow bones, banging gridirons and kettles with pokers, tongs and shovels, and two playing on a fife and drum. These were followed by two standard bearers, one bearing a petticoat on top of a pole, the other a
pair of breeches in the same manner. Other orts and ends of rabble made up the procession, which with
antic and grimace marched about the village and neighbourhood. They ended by the planting in front of the culprit's house of the pole and petticoat, and the pelting of it with addled eggs, stones, and mud, till it fell to the ground. The noble bifurcated emblem of manhood, the clos, was then elevated proudly aloft, and the woman's punishment was deemed complete.
Fireworks & Merriment
Among the wealthier classes, when the couple return from their bridal tour, the fun often begins all over again, even sometimes with fireworks.
Flower Children
Children would strew flowers in the path of the new-made bride, as good wishes.
Garden at Midnight
Another custom was to go into the garden at midnight, in the season when ' black seed ' was sown, and sow leeks, with two garden rakes. One rake was left on the ground while the young woman worked away with the other, humming to herself the while-
"He that would a life partner be,
Let him also rake with me".
Garters
A man gets possession of a girl's garters, and weaves them into a true lover's knot, saying over, some words of hope and love in Welsh. This he puts under his shirt, next to his heart, till he goes to bed, when he places it under the bolster. If the test be successful the vision of his future wife appears to him in the night.
Knife
A young man would enter the churchyard at midnight, carrying a twca, which is a sort of knife made out of an old razor, with a handle of sheep or goat-horn, and he would encircle the church edifice seven times, holding the twca at arm's length, and chanting for a wife
Love spoons
Ornately carved spoons were traditionally made from a single piece of wood by young men as a love token for their sweethearts. to show his affection and intentions for his loved one. The earliest surviving example, displayed in the Welsh Folk museum in Cardiff, is dated around 1667, although the tradition probably dates back long before that. The love spoon originated from the “cawl” (soup or broth) spoon & is where the term 'spooning' came from. Sailors would often carve love spoons during their long journeys, which is why anchors would often be incorporated. Welsh lovespoons are the most famous, but they are also here are also in Scandinavia and some parts of Eastern Europe.
https://www.adamking.co.uk/
Maidens before Marriage
By every sort of moral suasion it is deemed right in Wales to encourage matrimony, and no where are old bachelors viewed with less forbearance. If a maiden forgot her duty to herself, her parents, and her training, when the evil result became known she was to be thrown over a precipice (steep cliff or rock face); the young man who had abused the parents' confidence was also to be destroyed. Murder itself was punished less severely.
Maid's Trick
None must attempt it but true maids, or they will get themselves into trouble with the fairies. The Maid's Trick was performed on Christmas Eve or on one of three designated Fairy Nights. The fire was made up and a feast of food was left on the table while the girl washed her undergarments in fresh spring water. The underwear would then be left to dry on the back of a chair in front of the fire and, with the door unlocked, the girl would retire to bed. Her future husband would then supposedly come and eat the feast.
Marriage Bed
There is an old custom, at the funeral of a young unmarried person, of strewing the way to the grave with evergreens and sweet-scented flowers, and the common saying in connection therewith is that the dead one is going to his or her marriage bed.
Overbearing Wife
See Coolstrin Court
Promicuousness
Customs of promiscuous sleeping arose in the earliest times, out of the necessities of existence in those primitive days, when a whole household lay down together on a common bed of rushes strewn on the floor of the room. In cold weather they lay close together for greater warmth, with their usual clothing on.
Pullet's Egg
The maiden would get hold of a pullet's first egg, cut it through the middle, fill one half-shell with wheaten flour and the other with salt, and make a cake out of the egg, the flour, and the salt. One half of this she would eat; the other half was put in the foot of her left stocking under her pillow that night; and after offering up a suitable prayer, she would go to sleep, her lover would then be hoped to come to her.
Retaining the Maiden Name
After marriage, Welsh women still in some cases retain their maiden names, a custom formerly universal among them. The wife of John Thomas, though the mother of a houseful of children, may be habitually known among her neighbours as Betty Williams. But in other cases, she not only assumes her husband's name, but the name of his calling as well; if he is Dick Shon the tailor, she becomes Mrs. Dick Shon the tailor.
Rice
Throwing showers of rice after the wedded pair, is a way of expressing good wishes. The custom of rice-throwing is Chinese, the rice being viewed as a sign of abundance. In Sicily, as in some parts of England, wheat is thrown on the bride's head; in Russia, a handful of hops; in the north of England a plateful of shortcake; in Yorkshire, bits of the bride-cake. All these customs, while popularly done for luck, are apparently symbolical of the obedience and the
fruitfulness of the newly-wedded wife.
Ruling the Roast
When rosemary flourishes in the garden of a married pair, the lady 'rules the roast,' as the phrase is, though if there is anything a woman should rule, one would think the ' roast ' is that thing.
Shoes
Throwing old shoes at the couple, is another way of expressing good wishes, over time, the shoes have become satin slippers. As far back as the 16th century, throwing an old shoe after any one going on an important errand was deemed lucky in Wales. It is thought that in the case of a bride, the custom is derived from the old Jewish law of exchange, when a shoe was given in token that the parents for ever surrendered all dominion over their daughter.
Skimitry
See Coolstrin
Sleeping on a piece of wedding cake
If you place a piece of wedding cake under your pillow, you will dream of who you would marry. The bride would give her guests tiny pieces of cake and for good luck, would pass the piece through her wedding ring.
Venus
The Welsh Venus is a holy saint, and not at all a wicked Pagan character like her classic prototype. ' Holy Dwynwen, goddess of love, daughter of Brychan, had a church dedicated to her in Anglesea in 590; and for ages, her shrine was resorted to by desponding swains (young lovers) and lovesick maidens. Her name Dwyn, to carry off, and wen (white), white signifies the bearer off of the palm of fairness; and, ruling the court of love while living, when dead, a thousand bleeding hearts her power invoked.
The Rituals associated with finding a husband or wife, is called 'Rhamanta' in Welsh, which means, 'Romance or Romanticising'
Recipes dating back to the 14th century, cawl is widely considered to be the national dish of Wales & is a soup or broth. The word 'cawl' is first recorded in the 14th century, and is thought to come from the Latin word caulis, meaning the stalk of a plant.
Recipe http://allrecipes.com.au/recipe/4941/welsh-beef |
The oldest lovespoon housed at St Fagans National History Museum is dated 1667. This is the spoon that is at the top of the museum's article, but it does not actually state that this photo is of the oldest spoon. There are other examples on the web page.
https://museum.wales/articles/2012-09-16/Welsh |
The Bidding
Is an invitation sent by a couple who are about to be married, soliciting the presence and
donations of the neighbours on their behalf. The presents may be either sums of money or necessaries. Gifts of bread, butter, cheese, tea, sugar, and the like, are common, and sometimes articles of farming stock and household furniture. All gifts of money are recognized by a sort of promissory note, i.e., by setting down the name and residence of the donor, with the amount given ; and when a like occasion arises on the part of the giver, the debt is religiously paid. The obligation is an absolute one, and its legality has actually been recognized by the Court of Great Sessions at Cardiff. The gift is even claimable under other circumstances than the donor's getting married. Another sort of contribution is the eatables and drinkables which are set before the guests ; these are only repayable when required on a like occasion.
Is an invitation sent by a couple who are about to be married, soliciting the presence and
donations of the neighbours on their behalf. The presents may be either sums of money or necessaries. Gifts of bread, butter, cheese, tea, sugar, and the like, are common, and sometimes articles of farming stock and household furniture. All gifts of money are recognized by a sort of promissory note, i.e., by setting down the name and residence of the donor, with the amount given ; and when a like occasion arises on the part of the giver, the debt is religiously paid. The obligation is an absolute one, and its legality has actually been recognized by the Court of Great Sessions at Cardiff. The gift is even claimable under other circumstances than the donor's getting married. Another sort of contribution is the eatables and drinkables which are set before the guests ; these are only repayable when required on a like occasion.
The Method of Bidding the guests was until lately (1880) through a personage called the gwahoddwr (inviter or bidder) who tramped about the country some days beforehand, proclaiming the particulars to everybody he met. He usually recited a doggerel set of rhymes before and after the special invitation a composition of his own, or understood to be such, for rhyme-making was a part of the talent of a popular bidder. Frequently no little humour was displayed in the bidding song. But since the printing press became the cheap and ready servant of the humblest classes, the occupation of the bidder has gradually fallen to decay ; a printed circular serves in his place.
The following example of a bidding circular, is from a printer's shop in Carmarthen, obtained by the Author of the book. It is unsure, if the names are real?
CARMARTHENSHIRE, JULY 4TH, 1862.
As we intend to enter the Matrimonial State, on Wednesday, the 30th of July instant, we purpose to make a BIDDING on the occasion, the same day, at the Young Man's Father's House, called TY'R Bwci, X in the Parish of Llanfair ar y Bryn, when and where the favour of your good and agreeable company is respectfully solicited, and whatever donation you may be pleased to confer on us then will be thank-fully received, warmly acknowledged, and cheerfully repaid whenever called for on a similar occasion.
By your most obedient Servants,
OWEN GWYN,
ELEN MORGAN.
The Young Man, his Father and Mother (Llewelyn and Margaret Gwyn, of Ty'r Bwci), his Brother (Evan Gwyn, Maes y Blodau), his Sisters (Gwladys and Hannah), and his Aunt (Mary Bowen, Llwyn y Fedwen, Llannon), desire that all gifts of the above nature due to them be returned to the Young Man on the above day, and will be thankful for all additional favours granted.
The Young Woman, her Father (Rhys Morgan, Castell y Moch), and her Brothers and Sister (Howel, Gruffydd, and Gwenllian Morgan), desire that all gifts of the above nature due to them be returned to the Young Woman on the above day, and will be thankful for all additional favours conferred on her.
The Young Man's company will meet in the Morning at Ty'r Bwci ; and the Young Woman's at Pant y Clacwydd, near the Village of Llansadwrn.
As we intend to enter the Matrimonial State, on Wednesday, the 30th of July instant, we purpose to make a BIDDING on the occasion, the same day, at the Young Man's Father's House, called TY'R Bwci, X in the Parish of Llanfair ar y Bryn, when and where the favour of your good and agreeable company is respectfully solicited, and whatever donation you may be pleased to confer on us then will be thank-fully received, warmly acknowledged, and cheerfully repaid whenever called for on a similar occasion.
By your most obedient Servants,
OWEN GWYN,
ELEN MORGAN.
The Young Man, his Father and Mother (Llewelyn and Margaret Gwyn, of Ty'r Bwci), his Brother (Evan Gwyn, Maes y Blodau), his Sisters (Gwladys and Hannah), and his Aunt (Mary Bowen, Llwyn y Fedwen, Llannon), desire that all gifts of the above nature due to them be returned to the Young Man on the above day, and will be thankful for all additional favours granted.
The Young Woman, her Father (Rhys Morgan, Castell y Moch), and her Brothers and Sister (Howel, Gruffydd, and Gwenllian Morgan), desire that all gifts of the above nature due to them be returned to the Young Woman on the above day, and will be thankful for all additional favours conferred on her.
The Young Man's company will meet in the Morning at Ty'r Bwci ; and the Young Woman's at Pant y Clacwydd, near the Village of Llansadwrn.
The Bidding is sometimes held on the day of the wedding, and sometimes on the day and night before it ; the custom varies in different districts, as all these customs do. When the latter is the case, the night is an occasion of great merry-making, with much consumption of cwrw da, and dancing to the music of the harp, for poor indeed would be the Welsh community that could not muster up a harper. This festival is called Nos Blaen, or preceding night, and is a further source of income to the couple, from the sale of cakes and cwrw. 'Base is the slave who pays' is a phrase emphatically reversed at a Welsh wedding.
The Bidding is but one form of a feature of Welsh life which extensively prevails, known by the term
Cymmhorth. The Bidding is a Priodas Cymmhorth ; the Cyfarfod Cymmhorth, or Assistance Meeting, is much the same thing, minus the wedding feature.
The Bidding is but one form of a feature of Welsh life which extensively prevails, known by the term
Cymmhorth. The Bidding is a Priodas Cymmhorth ; the Cyfarfod Cymmhorth, or Assistance Meeting, is much the same thing, minus the wedding feature.
Funeral & Death Customs
Arian y Rhaw, or spade money
At the grave, the gravedigger rubs the soil off his spade, then extends it for donations, and receives a piece of silver from each one in turn, which he also pockets. In Merionethshire the money is received at the grave in a bowl, instead of on the spade, and the gift is simply called the offrwm
At times the old clerk, "yr hen glochydd," when collecting the offrwm, rather than go around the grave to the people, to the no small annoyance of the friends, would reach his spade over the grave. It is noted in this connection that the sexton's spade 'was a terror to the superstitious', for if the gravedigger would but shake his spade at anyone, it was a matter of but short time ere the sexton would be called upon to dig the grave of that person who had come under the evil influence of the spade. "Has the sexton shook his spade at you? " was a question often put to a person in bad health.
Beer Drinking
On the day of the funeral, the customs are not always in keeping with modern notions of the praiseworthy. Indulgence in beer-drinking at funerals is still a Welsh practice
Burying the dead in the garment of a monk
In the middle ages there was a Welsh custom of burying the dead in the garment of a monk, as a protection against evil spirits. This was popular among the wealthy, and was a goodly source of priestly revenue.
Celibacy
In Wales, expressing the popular disapprobation for celibacy, by planting on the graves of old bachelors that ill-scented plant, the rue, and sometimes thistles, nettles, henbane, and other unlovely weeds. The practice was even extended, most illiberally and unjustly, to the graves of old maids, who certainly needed no such insult added to their injury.
Distributing bread and cheese
After taking the coffin out of the house and placing it on a bier (frame) near the door, it was formerly customary for one of the relatives of the deceased to distribute bread and cheese to the poor, taking care to hand it to each one over the coffin.
Funeral procession
In rural districts where hearses are unknown, the funeral procession wends its way graveward on foot, with the corpse borne by the nearest relatives of the deceased, a custom probably introduced in Wales during their residence here by the Romans. As the Welsh procession winds its way along the green lanes, psalms and hymns are sung continually, except on coming to cross-roads. Here the bier is set down, and all kneel and repeat the Lord's Prayer. The origin of this custom, as given by the Welsh, is to be found in the former practice of burying criminals at cross-roads. It was believed that the spirits of these criminals did not go far away from the place where their bodies lay, and the repeating of the Lord's Prayer was supposed to destroy and do away with any evil influence these spirits might have on the soul of the dear departed.
Grassless Graves
The legend of the Grassless Grave is a well-known Montgomeryshire tale, concerning a certain spot of earth in the graveyard of Montgomery Castle, upon which the verdure is less luxuriant than in other portions of the yard. One dark November night, many years ago, a man named John Newton, who had been at Welshpool fair, set out for home. Soon after, he was brought back to Welshpool in the custody of two men, who charged him with highway robbery, a crime then punishable with death. He was tried, and executed, in spite of his protestations; and in his last speech, admitting he had committed a former crime, but protesting he was innocent of this, he said: ' I have offered a prayer to Heaven, and believe it has been heard and accepted. And in meek dependence on a merciful God, whom I have offended, but who, through the atonement of His blessed Son, has, I trust, pardoned my offence, I venture to assert that as I am innocent of the crime for which I suffer, the grass, for one generation at least, will not cover my grave"
For thirty years thereafter, the grave was grassless; a bare spot in the shape of a coffin marked, amidst the surrounding luxuriance, the place where lay the penitent criminal, unjustly executed. Then a sacrilegious hand planted the spot with turf; but it withered as if blasted by lightning; and the grave is still grassless.
Graves of criminals and suicides
The Welsh retain much of the superstitious feeling regarding the graves of criminals and suicides, are believed to have left a tortured soul, that doesn't go very far from where he was buried. Criminals were buried at crossroads & so, prayers & caution were taken when going through a crossroad.. There is indeed a strong prejudice against hanging, on account of the troublesome spirits thus let loose. Hangings are almost unknown in Wales
Gwylnos (The)
It is a meeting held in the room where the corpse is lying, on the night before the funeral. The Irish cry, "Why did ye die?" is replaced by pious appeals to Heaven, in which great and strong emotion is expressed, the deceased referred to in stirring sentences, and his death made a theme for warnings on the brevity of earth-life and the importance of the future life of the soul.
Marriage Bed
There is an old custom, at the funeral of a young unmarried person, of strewing the way to the grave with evergreens and sweet-scented flowers, and the common saying in connection therewith is that the dead one is going to his or her marriage bed.
No Coffin
Until a recent date, burials without a coffin were common in some parts of Wales. Old people in Montgomeryshire not many years ago, could remember such burials, in what was called the 'cadach deupen', or cloth with two heads. Old Richard Griffith, of Trefeglwys, who died many years ago, recollected a burial in this fashion there, when the cloth gave way and was rent; whereupon the clergyman prohibited any further burials in that churchyard without a coffin. That was the last burial of the kind which took place in Montgomeryshire.
Oblong sponge cakes
In funerals of a higher class, to hand to those who are invited to attend the funeral, oblong sponge cakes sealed up in paper, which each one puts into his or her pocket, but the providing and distribution of these cakes are now often part of the undertaker's duty.
Offrwm, or Parson's Penny
A curious custom at Welsh funerals is the Offrwm, or parson's penny. After having read the burial service in the church, the parson stands behind a table while a psalm is being sung, and to him go the mourners, one and all, and deposit a piece of money on the table. The parson counts it, states the amount, and pockets it. If the mourner depositing his offrwm be wealthy, he will give perhaps a guinea; if a farmer or tradesman, his gift will be a crown; and if poor, he will lay down his sixpence. Each one that intended making an offering of silver, would go up to the altar in his turn, and after each one had contributed there would be a respite, after which those who gave copper as their offering went forward and did likewise; but no coppers were offered at any respectable funeral.
These offerings often reached the sum of ten and even twenty pounds in the year. The Welsh believe that this custom was originally intended to compensate the clergyman for praying for the soul of the departed. It has now ceased to mean anything more than a tribute of respect to the deceased, or a token of esteem towards the officiating clergyman.
Red & White Roses
The red rose is planted on a grave, its tenant is indicated as having been in life a person of peculiar benevolence of character. The flower specially planted on the grave of a young virgin is the white rose.
Shoe Donation
In the parish of Defynog, Breconshire, there was a custom (up to 1843) of giving to the parish clerk the best pair of shoes and stockings left behind by the defunct.
Sin-Eater
The first reference to the Sin-eater anywhere to be found is in the Lansdowne MSS. in the British Museum, in the handwriting of John Aubrey, the author. It runs thus: 'In the county of Hereford was an old custom at funerals to hire poor people, who were to take upon them the sins of the party deceased'. The manner was that when the corpse was brought out of the house, and laid on the bier, a loaf of bread was brought out, and delivered to the Sin-eater, over the corpse, as also a mazard (memorial) bowl of maple, full of beer (which he was to drink up), and sixpence in money, in consideration whereof he took upon him, all the sins of the defunct, and freed him or her from walking after they were dead.
Aubrey adds, 'and this custom though rarely used in our days, yet by some people was observed in the strictest time of the Presbyterian Government; as at Dynder (the like was done at the city of Hereford, also in Brecon, at Llangors, where Mr. Gwin, the minister, about 1640, could not hinder the performance of this custom). "I believe", says Aubrey, 'this custom was heretofore used all over Wales" He states further, 'A.D. 1686: This custom is used to this day in North Wales"
When a person died, his friends sent for the Sin-eater of the district, who on his arrival placed a plate of salt on
the breast of the defunct, and upon the salt a piece of bread. He then muttered an incantation over the bread, which he finally ate, thereby eating up all the sins of the deceased. This done he received his fee of is. 6d. and vanished as quickly as possible from the general gaze; for, as it was believed that he really appropriated to his own use and behoof the sins of all those over whom he performed the above ceremony, he was utterly detested in the neighbourhood regarded as a mere Pariah as one 'irredeemably lost.' The speaker then mentioned the parish of Llandebie where the above practice ' was said to have prevailed to a recent period.' He spoke of the survival of the plate and salt custom near Swansea, and indeed generally, within twenty years, (since 1830) and added : ' In a parish near Chepstow it was usual to make the figure of a cross on the salt, and cutting an apple or an orange into quarters, to put one piece at each termination of the lines' A Mr. Allen, of Pembrokeshire, testified that the plate and salt were known in that county, where also a lighted candle was stuck in the salt; the popular notion was that it kept away the evil spirit.
It has been suggested that the custom of the Sin-eater is in imitation of the Biblical 'scapegoat'. 'And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness. And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness'
Snuff
There is an Irish custom of placing a plate of snuff on the body of a corpse; hence the saying, addressed to an enemy, 'I'll get a pinch off your belly yet.' The Irish also employ the plate of salt in the same manner as the Welsh do.
Sprig of Rosemary
Each mourner at a funeral carried in his hand a sprig of rosemary, which he threw into the grave. The Pagan practice of throwing a sprig of cypress into the grave has been thought to symbolize the annihilation of the body, as these sprigs would not grow if set in the earth: whereas the rosemary was to signify the resurrection or up-springing of the body from the grave.
The existing custom of throwing flowers and immortelles into the grave is derivable from the ancient practice. But the Welsh carry the association of graves and floral life to the most lavish extreme
Sul Coffa
Is an old Welsh custom of honouring the dead on the Sunday following the funeral, and for several succeeding Sundays, until the violence of grief has abated.
In the Journal of Thomas Dinelly, Esquire, an Englishman who travelled through Wales and Ireland in the reign of Charles II, after the description of the wake, and the keening (wail in grief for a dead person), etc.: 'This done ye Irish bury their dead, and if it be in or neer ye burying place of that family, the servants and followers hugg kiss howle and weep over the skulls that are there, digg'd up and once a week for a quarter of an year after come two or three and pay more noyse at the place' The similarity in spirit between this and the Welsh Sul Coffa is as striking as the difference in practice. The Welsh walk quietly and gravely to the solemn mound beneath which rest the remains of the loved, and there kneeling in silence for five or ten minutes, pray or appear to pray.
Swelling
A custom of placing a plate of salt on the breast of the corpse. in Cardiganshire, was for the purpose of ' preventing swelling', as well as the custom of the 'Sin-eater'
Upkeep of Graves
There are graves in Glamorganshire which have been kept blooming with flowers for nearly a century without interruption, through the loving care of descendants of the departed.
Weeping & Wailing
Before the funeral procession started for the church, the nearest friends and relatives would congregate around the corpse to wail and weep their loss; while the rest of the company would be in an adjoining room drinking warm beer and smoking their pipes; and the women in still another room drinking tea together.
Wind
If the east wind blew on Christmas eve, this wind was considered to be the wind blowing over the feet of corpses, because it blew towards the foot of the graves in the churchyards.
At the grave, the gravedigger rubs the soil off his spade, then extends it for donations, and receives a piece of silver from each one in turn, which he also pockets. In Merionethshire the money is received at the grave in a bowl, instead of on the spade, and the gift is simply called the offrwm
At times the old clerk, "yr hen glochydd," when collecting the offrwm, rather than go around the grave to the people, to the no small annoyance of the friends, would reach his spade over the grave. It is noted in this connection that the sexton's spade 'was a terror to the superstitious', for if the gravedigger would but shake his spade at anyone, it was a matter of but short time ere the sexton would be called upon to dig the grave of that person who had come under the evil influence of the spade. "Has the sexton shook his spade at you? " was a question often put to a person in bad health.
Beer Drinking
On the day of the funeral, the customs are not always in keeping with modern notions of the praiseworthy. Indulgence in beer-drinking at funerals is still a Welsh practice
Burying the dead in the garment of a monk
In the middle ages there was a Welsh custom of burying the dead in the garment of a monk, as a protection against evil spirits. This was popular among the wealthy, and was a goodly source of priestly revenue.
Celibacy
In Wales, expressing the popular disapprobation for celibacy, by planting on the graves of old bachelors that ill-scented plant, the rue, and sometimes thistles, nettles, henbane, and other unlovely weeds. The practice was even extended, most illiberally and unjustly, to the graves of old maids, who certainly needed no such insult added to their injury.
Distributing bread and cheese
After taking the coffin out of the house and placing it on a bier (frame) near the door, it was formerly customary for one of the relatives of the deceased to distribute bread and cheese to the poor, taking care to hand it to each one over the coffin.
Funeral procession
In rural districts where hearses are unknown, the funeral procession wends its way graveward on foot, with the corpse borne by the nearest relatives of the deceased, a custom probably introduced in Wales during their residence here by the Romans. As the Welsh procession winds its way along the green lanes, psalms and hymns are sung continually, except on coming to cross-roads. Here the bier is set down, and all kneel and repeat the Lord's Prayer. The origin of this custom, as given by the Welsh, is to be found in the former practice of burying criminals at cross-roads. It was believed that the spirits of these criminals did not go far away from the place where their bodies lay, and the repeating of the Lord's Prayer was supposed to destroy and do away with any evil influence these spirits might have on the soul of the dear departed.
Grassless Graves
The legend of the Grassless Grave is a well-known Montgomeryshire tale, concerning a certain spot of earth in the graveyard of Montgomery Castle, upon which the verdure is less luxuriant than in other portions of the yard. One dark November night, many years ago, a man named John Newton, who had been at Welshpool fair, set out for home. Soon after, he was brought back to Welshpool in the custody of two men, who charged him with highway robbery, a crime then punishable with death. He was tried, and executed, in spite of his protestations; and in his last speech, admitting he had committed a former crime, but protesting he was innocent of this, he said: ' I have offered a prayer to Heaven, and believe it has been heard and accepted. And in meek dependence on a merciful God, whom I have offended, but who, through the atonement of His blessed Son, has, I trust, pardoned my offence, I venture to assert that as I am innocent of the crime for which I suffer, the grass, for one generation at least, will not cover my grave"
For thirty years thereafter, the grave was grassless; a bare spot in the shape of a coffin marked, amidst the surrounding luxuriance, the place where lay the penitent criminal, unjustly executed. Then a sacrilegious hand planted the spot with turf; but it withered as if blasted by lightning; and the grave is still grassless.
Graves of criminals and suicides
The Welsh retain much of the superstitious feeling regarding the graves of criminals and suicides, are believed to have left a tortured soul, that doesn't go very far from where he was buried. Criminals were buried at crossroads & so, prayers & caution were taken when going through a crossroad.. There is indeed a strong prejudice against hanging, on account of the troublesome spirits thus let loose. Hangings are almost unknown in Wales
Gwylnos (The)
It is a meeting held in the room where the corpse is lying, on the night before the funeral. The Irish cry, "Why did ye die?" is replaced by pious appeals to Heaven, in which great and strong emotion is expressed, the deceased referred to in stirring sentences, and his death made a theme for warnings on the brevity of earth-life and the importance of the future life of the soul.
Marriage Bed
There is an old custom, at the funeral of a young unmarried person, of strewing the way to the grave with evergreens and sweet-scented flowers, and the common saying in connection therewith is that the dead one is going to his or her marriage bed.
No Coffin
Until a recent date, burials without a coffin were common in some parts of Wales. Old people in Montgomeryshire not many years ago, could remember such burials, in what was called the 'cadach deupen', or cloth with two heads. Old Richard Griffith, of Trefeglwys, who died many years ago, recollected a burial in this fashion there, when the cloth gave way and was rent; whereupon the clergyman prohibited any further burials in that churchyard without a coffin. That was the last burial of the kind which took place in Montgomeryshire.
Oblong sponge cakes
In funerals of a higher class, to hand to those who are invited to attend the funeral, oblong sponge cakes sealed up in paper, which each one puts into his or her pocket, but the providing and distribution of these cakes are now often part of the undertaker's duty.
Offrwm, or Parson's Penny
A curious custom at Welsh funerals is the Offrwm, or parson's penny. After having read the burial service in the church, the parson stands behind a table while a psalm is being sung, and to him go the mourners, one and all, and deposit a piece of money on the table. The parson counts it, states the amount, and pockets it. If the mourner depositing his offrwm be wealthy, he will give perhaps a guinea; if a farmer or tradesman, his gift will be a crown; and if poor, he will lay down his sixpence. Each one that intended making an offering of silver, would go up to the altar in his turn, and after each one had contributed there would be a respite, after which those who gave copper as their offering went forward and did likewise; but no coppers were offered at any respectable funeral.
These offerings often reached the sum of ten and even twenty pounds in the year. The Welsh believe that this custom was originally intended to compensate the clergyman for praying for the soul of the departed. It has now ceased to mean anything more than a tribute of respect to the deceased, or a token of esteem towards the officiating clergyman.
Red & White Roses
The red rose is planted on a grave, its tenant is indicated as having been in life a person of peculiar benevolence of character. The flower specially planted on the grave of a young virgin is the white rose.
Shoe Donation
In the parish of Defynog, Breconshire, there was a custom (up to 1843) of giving to the parish clerk the best pair of shoes and stockings left behind by the defunct.
Sin-Eater
The first reference to the Sin-eater anywhere to be found is in the Lansdowne MSS. in the British Museum, in the handwriting of John Aubrey, the author. It runs thus: 'In the county of Hereford was an old custom at funerals to hire poor people, who were to take upon them the sins of the party deceased'. The manner was that when the corpse was brought out of the house, and laid on the bier, a loaf of bread was brought out, and delivered to the Sin-eater, over the corpse, as also a mazard (memorial) bowl of maple, full of beer (which he was to drink up), and sixpence in money, in consideration whereof he took upon him, all the sins of the defunct, and freed him or her from walking after they were dead.
Aubrey adds, 'and this custom though rarely used in our days, yet by some people was observed in the strictest time of the Presbyterian Government; as at Dynder (the like was done at the city of Hereford, also in Brecon, at Llangors, where Mr. Gwin, the minister, about 1640, could not hinder the performance of this custom). "I believe", says Aubrey, 'this custom was heretofore used all over Wales" He states further, 'A.D. 1686: This custom is used to this day in North Wales"
When a person died, his friends sent for the Sin-eater of the district, who on his arrival placed a plate of salt on
the breast of the defunct, and upon the salt a piece of bread. He then muttered an incantation over the bread, which he finally ate, thereby eating up all the sins of the deceased. This done he received his fee of is. 6d. and vanished as quickly as possible from the general gaze; for, as it was believed that he really appropriated to his own use and behoof the sins of all those over whom he performed the above ceremony, he was utterly detested in the neighbourhood regarded as a mere Pariah as one 'irredeemably lost.' The speaker then mentioned the parish of Llandebie where the above practice ' was said to have prevailed to a recent period.' He spoke of the survival of the plate and salt custom near Swansea, and indeed generally, within twenty years, (since 1830) and added : ' In a parish near Chepstow it was usual to make the figure of a cross on the salt, and cutting an apple or an orange into quarters, to put one piece at each termination of the lines' A Mr. Allen, of Pembrokeshire, testified that the plate and salt were known in that county, where also a lighted candle was stuck in the salt; the popular notion was that it kept away the evil spirit.
It has been suggested that the custom of the Sin-eater is in imitation of the Biblical 'scapegoat'. 'And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness. And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness'
Snuff
There is an Irish custom of placing a plate of snuff on the body of a corpse; hence the saying, addressed to an enemy, 'I'll get a pinch off your belly yet.' The Irish also employ the plate of salt in the same manner as the Welsh do.
Sprig of Rosemary
Each mourner at a funeral carried in his hand a sprig of rosemary, which he threw into the grave. The Pagan practice of throwing a sprig of cypress into the grave has been thought to symbolize the annihilation of the body, as these sprigs would not grow if set in the earth: whereas the rosemary was to signify the resurrection or up-springing of the body from the grave.
The existing custom of throwing flowers and immortelles into the grave is derivable from the ancient practice. But the Welsh carry the association of graves and floral life to the most lavish extreme
Sul Coffa
Is an old Welsh custom of honouring the dead on the Sunday following the funeral, and for several succeeding Sundays, until the violence of grief has abated.
In the Journal of Thomas Dinelly, Esquire, an Englishman who travelled through Wales and Ireland in the reign of Charles II, after the description of the wake, and the keening (wail in grief for a dead person), etc.: 'This done ye Irish bury their dead, and if it be in or neer ye burying place of that family, the servants and followers hugg kiss howle and weep over the skulls that are there, digg'd up and once a week for a quarter of an year after come two or three and pay more noyse at the place' The similarity in spirit between this and the Welsh Sul Coffa is as striking as the difference in practice. The Welsh walk quietly and gravely to the solemn mound beneath which rest the remains of the loved, and there kneeling in silence for five or ten minutes, pray or appear to pray.
Swelling
A custom of placing a plate of salt on the breast of the corpse. in Cardiganshire, was for the purpose of ' preventing swelling', as well as the custom of the 'Sin-eater'
Upkeep of Graves
There are graves in Glamorganshire which have been kept blooming with flowers for nearly a century without interruption, through the loving care of descendants of the departed.
Weeping & Wailing
Before the funeral procession started for the church, the nearest friends and relatives would congregate around the corpse to wail and weep their loss; while the rest of the company would be in an adjoining room drinking warm beer and smoking their pipes; and the women in still another room drinking tea together.
Wind
If the east wind blew on Christmas eve, this wind was considered to be the wind blowing over the feet of corpses, because it blew towards the foot of the graves in the churchyards.