SUPERSTITIONS: Some strange, some sinister, some simply silly

SUPERSTITIONS: Some strange, some sinister, some simply silly Part Two

Some further definitions of Superstition, even underground, have come to light since I wrote last month’s article on this subject. This quote from ‘Highland Superstitions’ by the Rev. Alexander Macgregor (writing in1922) explains that: “It is a Latin word, whose secret has been lost, so that, except for a guess, the meaning can never be recovered. However, the mere fact that it was once a living force commends it to our interest, for even when we laugh at old beliefs, and try to explain them away, they still intrigue us and win our interest.”

The topics under this heading are rich and various.

By far the most widely based, interesting and plentiful are reports of the activities of the ‘Little people’, Y Tylwyth Teg. Possibly, it has been suggested, they were the original residents of Wales, and of the north of Scotland, and as the Celts, then the Romans arrived, they were forced to move to higher, wilder parts of the countryside, or even underground. Keeping themselves well apart from the newcomers.

It was said that they were small of stature and unintelligible in their ways.

Sir John Rees and Professor Gwynn Jones produced considerable bodies of work on these “Fairy Tales”, albeit long ago at the end of the 18th century. Eiluned and Peter Lewis also added considerably to reports of their interchange with other later incomers in ‘The Land of Wales’ (published Batsford in 1937).

The Tylwyth Teg, from oral reports as recently as the 1920s, speaks of people who are friendly, lucky though mischievous folk, living in remote areas on the mountains and in caves. The women are very beautiful, frequently dressed in green silks and satins, but the green is the most wonderful shade of green. They come from time to time to local markets with many herbs and remedies for the ills of animals. They never speak, it is all done by signs, and all payments are in silver.

There were reported countless tales of people, frequently young men, out at dusk going on an errand to collect salt or flour or suchlike for the family from a nearby farmstead. In each quite similar report the young man on his own, would meet with a group of beautiful young people playing musical instruments, singing and dancing. He is invited and encouraged to join in.

The family await his return. They have a long wait. It will be a year and a day before the Tylwyth Teg permit their captive guest to complete his errand and return home. He will never accept he was away for a year and a day.

Mother’s confinements and babies’ births were subject to superstition, and fear. The expectant woman would be well warned not to make any preparations or purchases prior to the safe arrival of the new infant!

Another, possibly the greatest fear in all the Celtic countries, was that of a visit from one of the mischievous Little People determined to exchange the beautiful newborn with what was referred to as a changeling. The newborn baby would be whisked away and replaced by one of the Little Folk’s own offspring. The changeling would be deformed and unnaturally ugly. And unwanted.

A most interesting autobiography by a doctor, originally from Northumberland who was a G.P. on Shetland before the last War includes an account of his meeting with a local ‘midwife’, who along with himself was also attending a birth at a remote farmhouse. She volunteered

by Sara John

that there were two midwives, both very experienced on the island, she at age eighty was one and another, still attending mothers, was ninety-five.

She explained the essential items that were required for a safe birth. A large very rusty iron nail, to keep away the little folk, (see above), a Bible for her to read to herself in the quiet times, and a bottle of whisky to keep her going.

The day of birth was noted, and it was thought determined the personality of the child. This is one of many popular versions from the early 19th century foretelling the likely outcome for the new infant.

Sunday’s child is full of grace,

Monday’s child is full in the face,

Tuesday’s child is solemn and sad.

Wednesday’s child is merry and glad,

Thursday’s child is inclined to thieving, Saturday’s child works hard for a living.

The elderly midwife also explained to the Doctor that it was considered essential to get the baby christened as soon as possible after birth. Also, to get the mother “kirked” at a special service at the local place of worship. I recall quietly going through my Book of Common Prayer during a sermon too advanced for my tender ears at church, in Wales long ago with my grandma. I came across the procedure for ‘the Churching of Women’, and the note of warning that there should be no delay in attendance. The procedure should quickly follow the baby’s birth.

Another well recognised problem was that both in Wales and the Highlands and Outer Isles a new cradle was NOT allowed. It was considered unlucky and fraught with danger. I recall travelling to West Wales to collect a bassinet from family members I did not know, under strict instructions to use no other, they had insisted that this ‘family’ cradle was, without doubt, important to my expected baby’s well-being.

Hanselling is the word for what used to be a regular practice, the unfolding by visitors and

There was also a strong tradition, should the mother pass away, that the new baby was christened over its mother’s body.

Second Sight was considered a not that unusual gift in many families in all the Celtic countries, including the Isle of Man and Ireland. Reports, research and written articles on this topic all tell the same tales.

Many of the visions experienced by the seers such as a death bed scene, an accident with a cart, bodies tangled up having fallen from a height, or someone dying as a result of a short sudden, fatal fever.

Second sight was the faculty of seeing otherwise invisible objects or future events neither voluntary nor constant. It was frequently something of a nuisance to the possessors of the gift, who were known as seers. Many saw images once only in their lives; others more often. The images were of people known, but not necessarily close to the seer, frequently visions of an accident, impending doom or a sudden death. The visions were always dramatic and unexpected. Deeply troubling for the witness.

When Dr Samuel Johnson visited Skye in 1773 he had heard much about second sight and gave credit to it. He expressed his surprise that it was disbelieved by the clergy, while many in the Highlands held a different opinion, more in line with his own.

There were many charms to invoke or verses to repeat to try to avoid bad vibrations. Along with steering clear of many known threats and situations, care was taken regarding asking simple questions of others.

It was deemed unlucky if a stranger counts the number of your sheep, cattle or children. It was common to ask how many children you had, but hurriedly adding, “Bless them”. An odd number was considered unlucky.

Guests sitting at a table had to be served from left to right. It was considered unlucky in setting off to row a boat or to commence a procession at a marriage or at a funeral, unless you turned to the right.

The manifestation of second sight could also affect a group or even a crowd of people. Prior to a funeral taking place there are many reports of seeing, on the previous evening, what are referred to as corpse candles.

These would show up along the route to the place of burial from the deceased’s home. They would appear as a long procession of lit candles, a few feet up from the ground, carried by invisible mourners.

My Grandmother (born 1875) claimed these were seen frequently on dark evenings on the track to Treorchy Cemetery in the Rhondda on the evening prior to a funeral. Not every funeral, but she never mentioned what the criteria might be.

Reference books on Folklore never fail to introduce, early information about the Druids. These Druids, all male it would appear, were well read and well informed, and were well respected members of society. They were active well before the arrival of the Romans, and, thanks to the research, bravado, imagination and ‘sheer Showmanship’ of Iolo Morganwg remain active in Wales to the present day.

St Columba, living and preaching in the Highlands and of course on Iona, was well aware how the Druids held sway on belief systems that had existed for centuries. St Columba was preaching Christianity to the ‘heathens’ and gaining success. Gradually his preaching gained him more and more followers. The story goes that the Easter buns we still enjoy today were previously a big part of the pagan Spring/Beltane/Mayday Celebrations. As part of the conversion of his followers he decided to ask the bakers to mark each bun with a cross, the most significant of Christian symbols. They agreed, and we have eaten Hot Cross Buns ever since at Easter, as symbols of Christian belief.

Another tale of St Columba that is with us to this day is as follows. One day he put on his right

shoe first, and his enemies came, and he had to flee with only one foot covered. To prevent the same from happening to his followers he insisted that the left shoe should be put on first, then the right, then the left one should be tied and then the right. I have heard reports that this superstition is still widespread, in particular, with footballers.

Druidic beliefs from pre-Christian times are also interesting when great regard was awarded to the importance of fire, water and wind.

Water in particular was of great importance including snow, rain, dew, lakes, lochs, rivers, brooks, streams, springs and natural wells. Many place names in rural Wales refer to a source of water with particular properties, especially springs with a reputation for healing.

Taffs Well was visited by many who were seeking relief from arthritis and similar pains. Near my original home in the Rhondda, up above Ystrad on the side of the mountain, Cefn Y Rhondda, there is a well with a reputation from long before the Reformation (and notwithstanding the Reformation) for healing blindness and many other problems with eyes.

Recently a surprising number of books have been written describing the abundance of alternative cures, mostly wells and springs that people still seek to ease their ills.

When we were living in Manorbier in Pembrokeshire some years ago my husband was involved with a plan to restore the fishponds which once were in use around the walls of the castle and had fallen into disuse. Father Gildas from Caldey Abbey was a fund of information regarding the local area. One day he was speaking of the great importance and old beliefs in water and explained in times past many, many bodies were, automatically taken across a small stretch of sea to be buried on Caldey Island, in safety. Evil spirits, he said with very considerable authority, cannot cross water.

Although no longer spoken about it is remarkable how many of these ancient superstitions have become habit or have survived in other forms of belief.