Cŵn Annwn facts for kids

The Cŵn Annwn (pronounced koon an-oon) are famous mythical dogs from old Welsh mythology and stories. The name means "Hounds of Annwn." Annwn was the name for the Welsh Otherworld, a magical place that was not part of the human world.

These weren't ordinary dogs. They were seen as supernatural spirits that took part in a great chase across the sky known as the Wild Hunt. In some stories, they were led by Arawn, the king of Annwn. In other tales, their master was Gwyn ap Nudd, a king of the fairies.

People in Wales sometimes connected the Cŵn Annwn with the sound of migrating geese flying at night. They thought the honking of the geese sounded like a pack of dogs barking in the distance.

What Were the Cŵn Annwn?

The Cŵn Annwn were a pack of ghostly hounds that were said to hunt at night. According to legend, hearing their howls was a sign that something important or life-changing was about to happen.

One of the most famous places they were said to haunt is the mountain of Cadair Idris in Wales. Stories claimed that the howling of these huge dogs on the mountain slopes was a warning. A strange thing about their howl was that it was said to be loudest when they were far away. As the hounds got closer, their barking would grow softer and quieter.

Appearance and Symbolism

The Cŵn Annwn had a very striking look. They were described as having bright white bodies and glowing red ears. These colors were very important to the ancient Celts.

• White was often linked to the supernatural and the Otherworld. Animals that were pure white were thought to be magical or to belong to gods or spirits.
• Red was often associated with death and the supernatural. The red ears made the hounds stand out and showed they were not from the normal world.

Legends of the Hounds

The King of Annwn and a Prince

One of the most famous stories about the Cŵn Annwn is in the Mabinogion, a collection of old Welsh tales. In the story, a prince named Pwyll is hunting in the woods and comes across a pack of strange, white-and-red-eared dogs that have just caught a stag.

Pwyll chases them away and lets his own dogs eat the stag. Suddenly, a mysterious man on a horse appears. It is Arawn, the king of Annwn, and he is angry that Pwyll has insulted him by stealing his hounds' kill. To make up for it, Pwyll agrees to trade places with Arawn for a year and a day, leading to a great adventure.

The Wild Hunt

The Cŵn Annwn are best known for being part of the Wild Hunt. This was a mythical chase across the sky, where a pack of supernatural hounds and hunters would ride through the night.

People believed the Wild Hunt happened on special nights of the year, like the eves of holidays such as Christmas, All Saints' Day, and New Year. In some stories, the hounds were seen as guardians who escorted souls to the Otherworld. In other tales, they were said to chase after wrongdoers.

Later Beliefs

When Christianity spread, some people started calling the Cŵn Annwn "The Hounds of Hell." However, the original Welsh idea of Annwn was very different from the Christian concept of Hell. Annwn was a magical paradise, a place of youth and plenty, not a place of punishment.

Sometimes, the hounds were said to be with a scary woman called Mallt-y-Nos, which means "Matilda of the Night."

Similar Mythical Dogs

Stories of supernatural or ghostly dogs are found in many cultures, not just in Wales. Some similar creatures include:

• Gabriel Hounds and Ratchets in England.
• Yell Hounds on the Isle of Man.
• Hounds associated with Herne the Hunter in English folklore.

These tales of ghostly hunting dogs show how different cultures used similar ideas to explain strange sounds in the night or to tell exciting stories about the supernatural world.

See also

• Barghest
• Black dog (folklore)
• Black Shuck
• Cu-sith
• Dip (Catalan myth)
• Gwyllgi
• Hound of the Baskervilles
• Huan