Tylwyth Teg (Middle Welsh for "Fair Family";[1]Welsh pronunciation:[ˈtəlʊi̯θteːg]) is the most usual term in Wales for the mythological creatures corresponding to the fairy folk of Welsh and Irish folklore Aos Sí. Other names for them include Bendith y Mamau ("Blessing of the Mothers"), Gwyllion and Ellyllon.[2]
The term tylwyth teg is first attested in a poem attributed to the 14th-century Dafydd ap Gwilym, in which the principal character gets perilously but comically lost while going to visit his girlfriend: "Hudol gwan yn ehedeg, / hir barthlwyth y Tylwyth Teg" ("(The) weak enchantment (now) flees, / (the) long burden of the Tylwyth Teg (departs) into the mist").[3]
Attributesedit
In later sources the tylwyth teg are described as fair-haired and covet golden-haired human children whom they kidnap, leaving changelings (or crimbilion, sing. crimbil) in their place.[4] They dance and make fairy rings and they live underground or under the water. They bestow riches on those they favour but these gifts vanish if they are spoken of, and fairy maidens may become the wives of human men.[1] These fairy wives are however still bound by traditional taboos. They must be careful to avoid touching iron or they will vanish back to their realm never to be seen by their husbands again.[5]
As the Bendith y Mamau (the mothers blessing, a Southern Welsh name for fair folk),[1] they ride horses in fairy rades (processions) and visit houses where bowls of milk are customarily put out for them. A changeling story tells of a woman whose three-year-old son was stolen by the fairies and who was given a threefold instruction by a "cunning man" (magician) on how to get him back. She removed the top from a raw egg and began stirring the contents, and as the changeling watched her do this certain comments he made established his otherworldly identity. She then went to a crossroads at midnight during the full moon and observed a fairy raid in order to confirm that her son was with them. Lastly she obtained a black hen and without plucking it she roasted it over a wood fire until every feather dropped off. The changeling then disappeared and her son was returned to her.[1][6]
According to the folklorist Wirt Sikes the Tylwyth Teg may be divided into five general types: the Ellyllon (elves), the Coblynau (fairies of the mines), the Bwbachod (household fairies similar to brownies), the Gwragedd Annwn (female fairies of the lakes and streams) and the Gwyllion (mountain fairies more akin to hags). The ellyllon (singular ellyll) inhabit groves and valleys and are similar to English elves. Their food consists of toadstools and fairy butter (a type of fungus) and they wear digitalis bell flowers as gloves. They are ruled by Queen Mab and bring prosperity to those they favour.[7]
Referencesedit
^ abcdBriggs, Katharine (1976). An Encyclopedia of Fairies. Pantheon Books. pp. 21, 419. ISBN0-394-40918-3.
^Walters, John (1828). An English and Welsh Dictionary. Clwydian-Press. p. 448.
^Parker, Sean B. "On a Misty Walk / Ar Niwl Maith". Retrieved 2023-11-09.
^"Tylwyth Teg Are The Welsh Fairies From British Legend - Wales Culture". 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
^Evans-Wentz, Walter (1911). The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries. Oxford University Press. p. 138.
^Rhys, John (1901). Celtic Folklore: Welsh and Manx. Vol. 1. Oxford University Press. pp. 262–9.
^Sikes, Wirt (1880). British Goblins: Welsh Folklore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions. Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington. pp. 12–17.
Further readingedit
Evans, Hugh (1938). Y Tylwyth Teg. Liverpool: Gwasg Y Brython. p. 98.
Evans-Wentz, W. Y. (1994) [1909]. The Fairy-faith in Celtic Countries. Citadel Press. p. 576. ISBN978-0-8065-1160-3.
lang, tylwyth, tylwyth, middle, welsh, fair, family, welsh, pronunciation, ˈtəlʊi, teːg, most, usual, term, wales, mythological, creatures, corresponding, fairy, folk, welsh, irish, folklore, other, names, them, include, bendith, mamau, blessing, mothers, gwyl. Tylwyth Teg Middle Welsh for Fair Family 1 Welsh pronunciation ˈtelʊi 8 teːg is the most usual term in Wales for the mythological creatures corresponding to the fairy folk of Welsh and Irish folklore Aos Si Other names for them include Bendith y Mamau Blessing of the Mothers Gwyllion and Ellyllon 2 A contemporary imagining of Tylwyth Teg Contents 1 Origins 2 Attributes 3 References 4 Further readingOrigins editThe term tylwyth teg is first attested in a poem attributed to the 14th century Dafydd ap Gwilym in which the principal character gets perilously but comically lost while going to visit his girlfriend Hudol gwan yn ehedeg hir barthlwyth y Tylwyth Teg The weak enchantment now flees the long burden of the Tylwyth Teg departs into the mist 3 Attributes editIn later sources the tylwyth teg are described as fair haired and covet golden haired human children whom they kidnap leaving changelings or crimbilion sing crimbil in their place 4 They dance and make fairy rings and they live underground or under the water They bestow riches on those they favour but these gifts vanish if they are spoken of and fairy maidens may become the wives of human men 1 These fairy wives are however still bound by traditional taboos They must be careful to avoid touching iron or they will vanish back to their realm never to be seen by their husbands again 5 As the Bendith y Mamau the mothers blessing a Southern Welsh name for fair folk 1 they ride horses in fairy rades processions and visit houses where bowls of milk are customarily put out for them A changeling story tells of a woman whose three year old son was stolen by the fairies and who was given a threefold instruction by a cunning man magician on how to get him back She removed the top from a raw egg and began stirring the contents and as the changeling watched her do this certain comments he made established his otherworldly identity She then went to a crossroads at midnight during the full moon and observed a fairy raid in order to confirm that her son was with them Lastly she obtained a black hen and without plucking it she roasted it over a wood fire until every feather dropped off The changeling then disappeared and her son was returned to her 1 6 According to the folklorist Wirt Sikes the Tylwyth Teg may be divided into five general types the Ellyllon elves the Coblynau fairies of the mines the Bwbachod household fairies similar to brownies the Gwragedd Annwn female fairies of the lakes and streams and the Gwyllion mountain fairies more akin to hags The ellyllon singular ellyll inhabit groves and valleys and are similar to English elves Their food consists of toadstools and fairy butter a type of fungus and they wear digitalis bell flowers as gloves They are ruled by Queen Mab and bring prosperity to those they favour 7 References edit a b c d Briggs Katharine 1976 An Encyclopedia of Fairies Pantheon Books pp 21 419 ISBN 0 394 40918 3 Walters John 1828 An English and Welsh Dictionary Clwydian Press p 448 Parker Sean B On a Misty Walk Ar Niwl Maith Retrieved 2023 11 09 Tylwyth Teg Are The Welsh Fairies From British Legend Wales Culture 2023 11 08 Retrieved 2023 11 10 Evans Wentz Walter 1911 The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries Oxford University Press p 138 Rhys John 1901 Celtic Folklore Welsh and Manx Vol 1 Oxford University Press pp 262 9 Sikes Wirt 1880 British Goblins Welsh Folklore Fairy Mythology Legends and Traditions Sampson Low Marston Searle amp Rivington pp 12 17 Further reading editEvans Hugh 1938 Y Tylwyth Teg Liverpool Gwasg Y Brython p 98 Evans Wentz W Y 1994 1909 The Fairy faith in Celtic Countries Citadel Press p 576 ISBN 978 0 8065 1160 3 MacKillop James 1998 Dictionary of Celtic Mythology Oxford Oxford University Press p 368 ISBN 0 19 280120 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tylwyth Teg amp oldid 1199897541, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
