Welsh mythology facts for kids

Ceridwen is a major figure in Welsh stories. She is seen as a powerful enchantress connected to rebirth and inspiration.

Welsh mythology is a collection of amazing stories and folk tales from Wales. These legends were passed down for hundreds of years by storytellers called druids. Because the stories were spoken and not written, many have been lost or changed over time.

The most important stories were written down in the Middle Ages in special books. These include the Red Book of Hergest and the White Book of Rhydderch. These books contain the famous tales of the Mabinogion, which are filled with heroes, magic, and adventure. Other books, like the Book of Taliesin, contain poems about mythical events and characters. These ancient tales give us a glimpse into the magical world of the ancient Celtic Britons.

The Worlds of Welsh Myth

In Welsh mythology, there are different worlds or realms that characters can travel between.

• Elfydd: This is our world, the world of humans.
• Annwn: This is the Otherworld, a magical realm where gods, fairies, and spirits live. It's not a scary place, but a mysterious land that exists alongside our own. Sometimes, it could be found deep in a forest or on a misty island. Heroes often travel to Annwn on quests.

The Great Families of Gods

Many of the most powerful figures in Welsh mythology belong to one of two great families. After Wales became Christian, these gods and goddesses were remembered as powerful kings, queens, and magicians from the distant past.

The Children of Dôn

Dôn was a mother goddess, and her children were known for their intelligence and magical skills.

• Dôn: The leader of the family, often seen as a mother figure to the gods.
• Gwydion: A clever and powerful magician and a great storyteller. He is a main character in some of the most famous myths.
• Arianrhod: Gwydion's sister. Her name means "Silver Wheel," and she is connected to the stars and the moon.
• Gofannon: The divine smith, who could craft magical weapons.

The Children of Llŷr

Llŷr was the god of the sea, and his children were often involved in epic and tragic stories.

• Llŷr: The father of the family and a god of the ocean.
• Brân the Blessed: A giant and the King of Britain. He was so huge he could walk across the sea from Wales to Ireland. He was a brave and protective leader.
• Branwen: Brân's sister, known for her beauty. Her sad story is one of the most famous Welsh legends.
• Manawydan: Brân's brother, who was wise and skilled. He is known for his patience and cleverness.

Famous Legends from The Mabinogi

The Mabinogi is a collection of the most important Welsh myths. The first four stories are called the Four Branches of the Mabinogi and tell the tales of the great gods and heroes.

Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed

This story is about Pwyll, a prince who rules the kingdom of Dyfed. One day, he meets Arawn, the king of the Otherworld, Annwn. They agree to switch places for a year. Pwyll rules Annwn wisely and helps Arawn defeat an enemy.

When he returns, he meets the beautiful Rhiannon, a mysterious woman from the Otherworld. After many challenges, they marry and have a son named Pryderi. But soon after he is born, the baby disappears! Rhiannon is wrongly blamed, but the child was actually saved by a kind lord named Teyrnon. Years later, Pryderi is returned to his parents, and the family is reunited.

Branwen, Daughter of Llŷr

A statue near Harlech Castle shows Brân the Blessed carrying his nephew, Gwern.

This is the tragic tale of Branwen. She marries the king of Ireland, Matholwch, to create peace between the two islands. But her half-brother, Efnysien, causes trouble and insults the Irish king.

In Ireland, Branwen is treated cruelly. She sends a message for help to her brother Brân the Blessed by tying a note to a starling's leg. Brân is furious and sails to Ireland with his army. He is so big that he wades across the sea. A terrible war breaks out, and many heroes are lost on both sides. In the end, only seven of Brân's men survive to return home. Branwen, heartbroken by all the destruction, dies of sadness.

Manawydan, Son of Llŷr

After the war in Ireland, Manawydan and his friend Pryderi return to Dyfed. A magical mist covers the land, making it empty and barren. They travel to England to make a living, but their amazing skills make local craftsmen jealous, and they are forced to move from town to town.

Back in Dyfed, Pryderi and his mother Rhiannon get trapped in a magical castle. Manawydan must use his wits to save them. He cleverly catches a mouse, who is actually the enchanted wife of a wizard trying to get revenge. By threatening to punish the mouse, Manawydan forces the wizard to lift the spell and free his family and the land.

Math, Son of Mathonwy

This story is about magic and betrayal in the kingdom of Gwynedd, ruled by the wizard-king Math. Math's nephew, the magician Gwydion, plays a trick that leads to a war with Pryderi of Dyfed.

Later, Gwydion's sister Arianrhod gives birth to a son, Lleu Llaw Gyffes. Arianrhod is angry and declares that her son will never have a name, weapons, or a wife unless she gives them to him. Gwydion uses clever tricks to get all three for Lleu. To find Lleu a wife, Gwydion and Math magically create a beautiful woman from flowers named Blodeuwedd.

But Blodeuwedd falls in love with another man, Gronw Pebr, and they plot against Lleu. They trick Lleu and he is badly wounded, transforming into an eagle and flying away. Gwydion searches for him, finds him, and turns him back into a man. For her betrayal, Gwydion turns Blodeuwedd into an owl, a bird that is hated by all other birds.

The Tale of Taliesin

This is the story of the greatest poet in Welsh legend. He began life as a boy named Gwion Bach, a servant to the enchantress Ceridwen. Ceridwen was brewing a potion of wisdom for her son. She had Gwion stir the cauldron for a year and a day.

Three hot drops of the potion splashed onto Gwion's thumb. He put his thumb in his mouth and instantly gained all the knowledge in the world. Frightened, he ran away, and Ceridwen chased him. They both changed into different animals: he became a hare, she a greyhound; he a fish, she an otter. Finally, he turned into a grain of corn, and she became a hen and ate him.

Ceridwen later gave birth to him as a baby. She set him adrift on the sea in a leather bag. He was found by a prince named Elffin, who named him Taliesin, meaning "radiant brow." As soon as he was found, the baby began to speak beautiful poetry. Taliesin grew up to be a legendary bard who could win any contest with his amazing words.

King Arthur's Welsh Adventures

An old drawing of King Arthur from a medieval book.

Before he was famous across Europe, King Arthur was a hero of Welsh legends. In these early stories, he was not a king with a round table but a great warrior who led a band of heroes against giants, witches, and monsters.

One of the oldest Welsh tales about Arthur is Culhwch and Olwen. In this story, the hero Culhwch must complete a series of impossible tasks to win the hand of Olwen, the daughter of a fearsome giant. Culhwch asks for help from his cousin, King Arthur. Arthur and his mighty warriors, including Cai and Bedwyr, join the quest and help Culhwch succeed. The story is filled with magic, adventure, and characters from all over Welsh mythology.

Magical Creatures of Wales

Welsh folklore is full of fascinating and mysterious creatures.

• Y Ddraig Goch: The Red Dragon, the famous symbol of Wales. Legend says it fought a white dragon, and its victory promised that the Welsh people would survive.
• Afanc: A monster that lived in lakes and rivers. It was so powerful that it could cause floods.
• Cŵn Annwn: The "Hounds of Annwn." These were the spectral hunting dogs of the Otherworld, with white fur and red ears. Hearing their cry was a sign that someone was about to die.
• Tylwyth Teg: The "Fair Folk," which is the Welsh name for fairies. They were said to live in the Otherworld but would sometimes visit the human world to dance or play tricks on people.
• Gwragedd Annwn: Beautiful female fairies who lived in lakes. Sometimes they would marry human men, but if the men broke a promise, the fairies would return to their lakes forever.

A Famous Folktale: The Story of Gelert

One of the most beloved Welsh folktales is about a faithful dog named Gelert. The story says that Prince Llywelyn the Great returned from hunting to find his baby's cradle overturned and his dog Gelert with blood around its mouth.

Thinking the dog had harmed his child, the prince drew his sword and killed Gelert. As the dog cried out, Llywelyn heard his baby crying from under the cradle. He found the baby safe, and next to him was a dead wolf that Gelert had fought to protect the child. Heartbroken, Llywelyn buried his loyal dog in a place now called Beddgelert, which means "Gelert's Grave." It is said the prince never smiled again.