Folklore & Fairytales discussion

I haven't read the Mabinogion in a long time. I don't even remember which version I have. I remember my favourite story being "The Dream of Macsen Wledig"; I think it was the easiest to read and the most vividly translated for a start. Although I also liked the story about Blodeuwedd, particularly after reading the book we mentioned in another thread, The Owl Service. I actually used to try and draw her all the time!

Of course, there's always the Arthur stories, the earliest of which are Welsh. Earliest recorded, anyway. Hard to categorise where they belong as mythology, given that everyone's had a hand in them. I'm reading "The History of the Kings of Britain" (trans. Lewis Thorpe) by Geoffrey of Monmouth, a Welshman, and it's funny how at least 90% of it has got to be completely fictional, but I'm enjoying it a lot. I've just finished the parts with Merlin and Uther, and the next chapter heading is "Arthur of Britain". Anyway, last term I did Mallory's book, which completely appropriates Arthur, but Geoffrey definitely started the job.

I have English friends doing history (here at this Welsh university) and we actually devolved into a shouting match over Arthur's origins. *grin* Needless to say, I claimed him for the Welsh. There's something about a Welshman ruling Britain that my English friends didn't like...

(Can anyone tell I have a thing for Arthur?)

Anyway, getting back to the topic of the Mabinogion, I found it as a free PDF if anyone who hasn't read it wants to. Go here.

Oooh, that sounds interesting.

I'll have to look up what collections my parents have...

I remember them giving me a huuuge book of generally British stories, but that wasn't specifically Welsh... interesting though.

The story of Gelert is well known in Gwynedd - there is a town called Beddgelert (the grave of Gelert) in Snowdownia. And there is a 'grave' there - an inscribed stone.

http://www.beddgelerttourism.com/gelert/

But..the story only dates to the 19th century and has more to do with tourism. The real 'Gelert' was probably a saint of some sort. Though it seems to be one of those stories that has versions around the world.

I'm not all that familiar with it, actually. I recognise the name of the dog, but not sure where I read it...

Ohhh, yes, I do know that story.

I'm glad I found this thread! I went to Wales for a week last year and fell in love with it... I'd love to read up on Welsh folklore. Thanks for the link to the pdf Nikki!

I'm glad you fell in love with Wales. I've only just moved back here after being brought up in England, and the feeling of being home is amazing.

I've actually used the Gwydion story in my own writing somewhere, and now I'm trying to remember how/when.

BunWat wrote: "I was thinking this evening about the Fourth branch of the Mabinogi. About how Gwydion helped his brother Gilfaethwy get the court out of the way so he could rape the maiden who held their Uncle M..."

It makes you wonder if part of the story might be missing, perhaps it was the foundation story for three different groups of people or branches of families and those were there talismanic animals. You never know what got lost in those monks' copying..perhaps there was too much of a pre-christian religion in it? Those three animals so turn up in Celtic art.
I remember being told that Rhiannon and her various horsey associations might be a distant echo of Epona the goddess associated with horses.

The Changeling
Siôn And The Bargain Bee
Gwion and the Witch

Three illustrated picture books from a series titled "Legends from Wales" that I purchased when we were in Wales in late June (I have not read them yet, but they look good, only thing missing seems to be a detailed author's note).

I also picked up (and in the same bookstore in Wales)

The Mabinogion (the new translation by Sioned Davies) and The Magic of the Mabinogion (which is a rather sparse, but nicely illustrated retelling of the tales of the The Mabinogion for children). I've started reading the new translation of The Mabinogion by Sioned Davies, and I am really enjoying it (not only the text, but also the introduction, annotations etc., it even has a pronunciation guide).

I really like the translation by Sioned Davies.

Ancestral wrote: "I really like the translation by Sioned Davies."

I am enjoying the book as well, but I cannot compare Sioned Davies' translation to any other because it is the first and only version I have read (am reading). I wish I could actually read Welsh, that would be wonderful, sigh.

Sioned Davies is a lecturer at my university. I really should get round to reading that translation!