Calan Gaeaf The Welsh Hallowe’en. Calan Gaeaf In most of the Celtic countries the evening of 31 st...

Calan GaeafCalan Gaeaf

The Welsh Hallowe’enThe Welsh Hallowe’en


In most of the Celtic countries the evening In most of the Celtic countries the evening of 31of 31stst October is associated with the October is associated with the Otherworld, the world of spirits and was Otherworld, the world of spirits and was seen as a time when the the two worlds, seen as a time when the the two worlds, human and spirit overlapped.human and spirit overlapped.

In Welsh tradition this was the time when In Welsh tradition this was the time when the two particularly frightening apparitions, the two particularly frightening apparitions, the Hwch Ddu Gota and the Ladi Wen the Hwch Ddu Gota and the Ladi Wen could be seen.could be seen.


Other traditions held that all those who Other traditions held that all those who would die over the following year could be would die over the following year could be seen by looking through the parish church seen by looking through the parish church keyhole at midnight on Calan Gaeaf.keyhole at midnight on Calan Gaeaf.

The evening was also associated with The evening was also associated with divination or trying to see into the future.divination or trying to see into the future.

The most popular range of traditions was The most popular range of traditions was that of seeing the person you would marry that of seeing the person you would marry in spirit form.in spirit form.


This could be done in several ways. One was to This could be done in several ways. One was to sow flax at a crossroads at midnight on Calan sow flax at a crossroads at midnight on Calan Gaeaf.Gaeaf.

An important element in Calan Gaeaf traditions An important element in Calan Gaeaf traditions was the lighting of a large bonfire, although by was the lighting of a large bonfire, although by the end of the 19the end of the 19thth century this became century this became associated with Bonfire Night held on 5associated with Bonfire Night held on 5 thth November with its associations with Guy November with its associations with Guy Fowlkes. (Guto Ffowc).Fowlkes. (Guto Ffowc).


In North Wales this was the time when In North Wales this was the time when people collected food or gifts that would be people collected food or gifts that would be sold to pay for prayers for the souls of the sold to pay for prayers for the souls of the dead in purgatory. It was called ‘hel bwyd dead in purgatory. It was called ‘hel bwyd cennad y meirwon’.cennad y meirwon’.

By the end of the 19By the end of the 19thth century, most of the century, most of the religious aspects of the festival had been religious aspects of the festival had been lost and it became an occasions for lost and it became an occasions for singing and fun-making.singing and fun-making.


An authentic description of a real rural An authentic description of a real rural Welsh Hallowe’en night can be found in a Welsh Hallowe’en night can be found in a collection of folk customs published in the collection of folk customs published in the 1862 by Glasynys (“Cymru Fu”).1862 by Glasynys (“Cymru Fu”).

He clearly shows that even by then, the He clearly shows that even by then, the emphasis was on having fun (rather than emphasis was on having fun (rather than concentrating on the more serious concentrating on the more serious aspects).aspects).


Glasynys gives us a picture of a rural Glasynys gives us a picture of a rural mountain community in North Wales who mountain community in North Wales who all congregate in a farm-house for the all congregate in a farm-house for the evening. evening.

Outside the bonfire is being prepared on Outside the bonfire is being prepared on the top of a hill, whilst indoors the game of the top of a hill, whilst indoors the game of apple-dunking is already taking place.apple-dunking is already taking place.

It is obviously an occasion for the youth of It is obviously an occasion for the youth of the area to relax in each other’s company.the area to relax in each other’s company.


Special drinks are prepared for the Special drinks are prepared for the evening: diod griafol (berry-wine) and evening: diod griafol (berry-wine) and meth (mead, fermented honey). The food meth (mead, fermented honey). The food is a large piece of farm cheese.is a large piece of farm cheese.

There are nuts as well which are used in a There are nuts as well which are used in a custom for divining who will be your custom for divining who will be your husband. husband.


There are other entertainments as well.There are other entertainments as well.The local poet arrives who reels off his The local poet arrives who reels off his

poems about local characters, and people poems about local characters, and people who have come to the evening.who have come to the evening.

A musicial as well: in this case a fiddler. A musicial as well: in this case a fiddler. No mention of a harpist.No mention of a harpist.


After some songs and poetry, it is the turn After some songs and poetry, it is the turn of the girls to throw the nuts into the large of the girls to throw the nuts into the large bonfire as it burns out.bonfire as it burns out.

If the nut makes a loud click, then If the nut makes a loud click, then everyone laughs because it means the girl everyone laughs because it means the girl is in love or will soon be in love. is in love or will soon be in love. Sometimes the pieces of nut jump out of Sometimes the pieces of nut jump out of the fire and do in the direction of one of the fire and do in the direction of one of the boys congregated. the boys congregated.


But everyone wants to get away from the But everyone wants to get away from the fire before it finally goes out, because this fire before it finally goes out, because this is the moment when the Hwch Ddu Gwta is the moment when the Hwch Ddu Gwta will appear and attack the last person to will appear and attack the last person to leave!leave!

In short: divination, the Otherworld In short: divination, the Otherworld creature, and the souls of the dead.creature, and the souls of the dead.


The Hwch Ddu Gwta was a creature that people The Hwch Ddu Gwta was a creature that people feared on Nos Galan Gaeaf (Hallowe’en Night).feared on Nos Galan Gaeaf (Hallowe’en Night).

In the Conwy Valley people said:In the Conwy Valley people said: Hwch Ddu Gwta ar ben pob camfa/gyda’i Hwch Ddu Gwta ar ben pob camfa/gyda’i

nodwydd ddur yn nhu ol yr ola’.nodwydd ddur yn nhu ol yr ola’. This belonged to the time when people lit fires This belonged to the time when people lit fires

on the hillsides to drive away bad spirits, and on the hillsides to drive away bad spirits, and brought some of the fire to their own homes.brought some of the fire to their own homes.


If you did not do this you were in danger of If you did not do this you were in danger of being consumed by the Hwch Ddu Gwta.being consumed by the Hwch Ddu Gwta.

The creature would wait at each stile and The creature would wait at each stile and would drive a hot steel pin into the would drive a hot steel pin into the unfortunate victim.unfortunate victim.

Some people claimed they had seen the Some people claimed they had seen the pig with its piglets on Hallowe’en night pig with its piglets on Hallowe’en night (Ceredigion).(Ceredigion).

Calan Gaeaf The Welsh Hallowe’en. Calan Gaeaf In most of the Celtic countries the evening of 31 st...

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