Status Updates From Celtic Tales: Fairy Tales a...

I wonder if this coat of arms is still around in Wales? I know that the flag of Wales has a dragon on it. It's the only flag that does.

Hey, a mentioning of a cairn! It's not a word you see often nowadays except if you're on trails or you are reading these folktale and fairy tale books.

Okay! Even though our hero has slain the beast, his troubles are not yet over as he has an evil wizard to deal with.

Turns out both Nannau and Hafodfraith are both real places in Wales and are close to each other. If I were to travel to Briton, I would love to spend a day or two in Wales.

Nannau, Llywelyn, Meredydd, Elwyn, what is it about Wales and their fantasy-sounding names? Do they still do that today, or do they just go with English names?

I love how in these first couple of pages, it is centered on the dragon and how it has been tormenting this countryside day-in and day-out.

The final story is "Meredydd and the Wyvern." The picture shows a man with an axe preparing to cut off a dragon's, or wyvern's in this case, head as it is asleep.

Another lovely story! I love that it was once again about a heroine who accomplished the deeds.

"Of course, the old woman was delighted, but she was very suspicious as well...So, as she knew that the Black Knight intended to return for the mantle that very night, and she wanted her daughter to get the credit for washing it, she advised Innes to go to bed early..." Similar to Cinderella.

"He was returning in haste down the glen to present himself, in his rightful form, to the maiden whom he loved and whom he hoped to win for his bride, but he could not see her. Long, long he sought, but he could not find her, while all the time she was sitting patiently waiting on the stone. For the spell was on her eyes, too, and hindered her from seeing him, as it hindered him seeing her."Oh that's devious & clever

Lol, what?! You get food out of the right ear of the bull and drink out of the left? I've never heard of such a thing!

A little editing mistake here. It should be the first daughter who left at this moment, not the second.

The next story is "The Black Bull of Norrorway."

That was a lovely story. And it was the heroine who saved the day instead of the hero.

And the hobgoblin tells Bella that she has to cross-dress in order to trick the witch and free her fiancé? Oh, that's hilarious!

A sudden hobgoblin is sudden!

"He set the knife down on his plate and started to stand up. But hardly had the spell-destroying knife touched the golden dish than all the fishes stood up and transformed before his eyes into little men. Each one wore the garb of his profession or trade." Just like with Circe, only these are fish instead of pigs.

So, the witch tricked him into getting him drunk and liable to listen, and now she is asking him to be her husband. Typical fey.

I'm reminded of Circe by this witch who lives on an island who is beautiful and magical. The difference in details being that she is living in a palace underwater while Circe did not.

The final section is stories about Romance. The first is "The Witch of Lok Island." The picture seems to show a mermaid, so I'm curious as to why it's in this section and not the one about the sea.