British Goblins: Welsh Folk-lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and TraditionsSikes, Wirt
History
British Goblins: Welsh Folk-lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions
Sikes, Wirt
Folklore -- Wales; Goblins -- Wales; Mythology, Celtic -- Wales; Mythology, Welsh; Wales -- Social life and customs
The puzzling jug is a vessel in use in some quarters as a means of
increasing the hilarity of a Hallow-e'en party. It is a stone jug,
'out of which each person is compelled to drink. From the brim,
extending about an inch below the surface, it has holes fantastically
arranged so as to appear like ornamental work, and which are not
perceived except by the perspicacious; three projections, of the size
and shape of marbles, are around the brim, having a hole of the size
of a pea in each; these communicate with the bottom of the jug through
the handle, which is hollow, and has a small hole at the top, which,
with two of the holes being stopped by the fingers, and the mouth
applied to the one nearest the handle, enables one to suck the
contents with ease; but this trick is unknown to every one, and
consequently a stranger generally makes some mistake, perhaps applying
his mouth as he would to another jug, in which case the contents
(generally ale) issue through the fissures on his person, to the no
small diversion of the spectators.'[130]
Another merry custom of All Hallows was--and is--twco am 'falau,
bobbing for apples. A large tub (crwc) is brought into the kitchen of
a farm-house and filled with water; a dozen apples are thrown into it,
and the rustic youths bob for them with their mouths. To catch up two
apples at a single mouthful is a triumphant achievement. Again the
revellers will form a semicircle before the fire, while there depends
above their mouths from a hook in the ceiling, a string with a stick
attached. At one end of the stick is an apple, at the other end a
candle. To snatch the apple with the lips, and yet avoid the candle,
is the aim of the competitors. The stick is so hung that it turns
easily on its axis, and the bobbers often find themselves catching
the candle in their hair while aiming at the apple. This appears to be
a relic of the ancient Welsh game of quintain, or gwyntyn.
FOOTNOTES:
[129] Brand, 'Pop. Ant.,' i., 191.
[130] 'Camb. Sup.,' 174.
V.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account