Calan Gaeaf

Calan Gaeaf - the start of winter in Wales celebrated on November 1st following 'Nos Calan Gaeaf' (Halloween, All Hallow's Eve, Samhain or what ever you wish to call it) on October 31st when spirits abound, and the old year is ended and the earth is ready to rest over winter.

The start of winter was observed, and in some places still is, in Welsh villages and towns. Traditionally the main celebration was when the women and children danced around a fire in the centre of the village, everyone would write their name on a stone which would be placed into or near to the fire. As the fire started to fade, everybody would run home through fear that Yr Hwch Ddu Gwta - an evil spirit appearing as a tailless black sow with a headless woman would take their souls.

The next morning, all the named stones would be retrieved from the ashes and checked, any stones missing would foretell the person named dying within the year.

Haunting of Hill House

Wow...we finished watching it a couple of days ago and my goodness it was good. A gripping, believable horror that completely enchanted us. I'm not a fan of the blood and guts type horror films, I don't want to see people suspended on hooks or having their fingernails pulled out, I like to exercise my mind, and this programme certainly did that! Each episode left me wanting more...hence the almost binge-watching that followed.

Everything from the writing that transformed a classic novel into a modern day setting, together with the scene settings, atmosphere, sound and lighting made this an absolute winner...I may need to watch it again if only to spot all the ghosts I missed (which add to the almost subliminal 'did I just see that' feeling) first time round.

Watch it, I recommend it!

Elf holes and fairy doors.

I think of myself as very lucky, in the way that when I was a child, my parents and I walked a lot. On these walks my Dad would sometimes tell me tales, superstitions and stories of the countryside, being from a farming family superstitions were rife with his elders...everything (or so it seems) could bring bad luck! Never bring snowdrops into the house, red and white flowers mixed in a vase would mean a death in the family, never bet on a horse with one white foot, they go on and on.

However, on a lighter note, elves and fairies were not always a bad thing. Holes and cracks in cliffs and rock formations were elf entrances to their homes, and similar crevices in trees were where fairies lived. We would often leave a little present (a sweet, a penny, a flower) by the hole as a good will gesture for passing through their area - to a small child this was fantastic. 

In my adult life I have found many similar things, fairy doors are now made by craft people to put in one's garden for example. Research I did for an article about the Domovik house spirits seemed very familiar and I could see in my mind's eye farm houses from my childhood being home to such helpers.

Are children still told these tales? I do hope so. Sadly in the age of political correctness I wonder sometimes if these age-old stories will be allowed soon! The resurgence in storytelling and folklore should hopefully keep these encounters alive...fingers crossed.

Changelings - sinister fairy legend.

Changelings are said to be the offspring of elves, fairies or trolls which are left in place of a human child they have taken. Blond, good looking, healthy children especially would be taken to fairyland, where usually they would be slaves.

People (according to legend) reported sudden changes in their children such as bad tempers and huge appetites as well as physical differences, sometimes the child became very pale, or very hairy with a change in skin tone. It is said that the substituted child would be enchanted to appear human, the only way to tell would be a difference in the eyes, such as a sudden change of colour. Quite scary one would imagine!

One explanation for the tales of changeling children with such 'deformities' is suggested by the high infant mortality rates of the past, it may have been easier or more accepted to believe in other-worldly explanations for children being ill, and dying. Cases have been reported over a vast period of time however, from before the 15th century up to the late 1800's - who can say for sure what had been going on?