Customs, Culture and Local Legends

Agricultural Customs, Boots in Houses, Brewing, Calan Hen, Calenning, Cantre'r Gwaelod, Ceffyl Pren, Children's Pastimes, Christmas Customs, Clothes and Costume, Cnapan, Death Customs, Devil and Llanarth Church, Devil's Bridge Legend, Easter Customs, Elvis Rock, Folk Tales, Food, Halloween, Henry VII Stone, Kinging the Bar (Aber Prom), March Glas, Mari Lwyd, Maritime Superstitions, Marriage Customs, Nanteos Cup, Omens, Sayings, Skulls in Houses, Sul Coch y Mwnt, Superstitions, Taliesin Legend, Ty Daws, Weather

AGRICULTURAL CUSTOMS

Harvest customs in Wales, BBC website, printout, 2/11/2006, RC394

BOOTS IN HOUSES (TO BRING GOOD LUCK)

Dyffryn Castell Hotel (Ponterwyd)
1980
 Boot in the hearth is 150 year old mystery, Western mail, 15/2/1980 [630kb]
 Boots theory, Western Mail, 22/2/1980 [242kb]
 Skulls too, Western Mail, 29/2/1980 [497kb]

BREWING

Jones, R. Osborne; Ty Dawns, no publication, no date, P67(1)

BRIEFS

Davies, Donald; Customs, Legends and Myths, Cardigan Tivyside, 20/6/1986, 27/6/1986, RC394

CALAN HEN

Calan Hen, Ceredigion V  Page 1 [638kb] Page 2 [449kb]
 Calennig [772kb]
Hanes Plwyf Llandysul, pages 145-147  Page 1 [594kb] Page 2 [633kb]
 Welsh Folk Customs [650kb]
1907
 Calan Hen at Llandysul, Cardigan Tivyside, 18/1/1907 [879kb]
1983
 Still waiting for 1983, Western Mail, 8/1/1983 [363kb]
1986
 Gwyl Calan Hen, Cardigan Tivyside, 17/1/1986 [276kb]
1987
 Villagers ring in the old new year, Western Mail, 12/1/1987 [243kb]
 When new year isn't, Cambrian News, 9/1/1987 [485kb]
1991
 Old calendar is 11 days out, Western Mail, 1/1/1991 [532kb]
1993
 Churches ring in the old New Year in prayer and song, W M, 11/1/1993 [628kb]
1997
 Gwyl fawr Calan Hen..., Cambrian News, 23/1/1997 [241kb]
 Later New Year is even later this year!, Cardigan Tivyside, 16/1/1997 [1.4Mb]
2008
 Blwyddyn newydd dda i chi, ac i phawb sydd yn y ty, Cambrian N, 10/1/2008 [793kb]

CALENNIG

 Arferiad sy'n rhan o eira ddoe yw casglu calennig, CN, 11/1/2007 [983kb]
Custom of Calennig, Cambrian News, 16/1/2003, RC394CAL
Davies, D. Jacob; Calennig, no publication, P43.394
Davies, Donald; Customs, legends and myths, Cardigan Tivyside, 11/7/1986, RC394
 Hela Calennig, Llafar Gwlad [569kb]
Jones, J. Islan; Yr Hen Amser Gynt, t. 6-11, RC394CAL
Llowarch; The right way with calennig, Cambrian News, 12/12/1986, RC394CAL
Troad blwyddyn – myfye henwr, RC394

Cardigan
Davies, Donald;  New Year in Cardigan 1848, Cardigan Tivyside, 28/12/1984 [937kb](P4.394CHR)
Davies, Donald;  Ringing in the New Year, Cardigan Tivyside, 29/7/1998 [927kb](P4.796)

CANTRE'R GWAELOD

Ashton, William. Lost Cantref Gwaelod, 1920  Page 1 [667kb] Page 2 [667kb] Page 3 [522kb] Page 4 [405kb] Page 5 [677kb] Page 6 [662kb] Page 7 [697kb]
Borth forest was submerged 6,700 years ago, Cambrian News, 2/12/1983, RC398
Borth Review ,1950, RC398
Canu clychau Cantre'r Gwaelod, Llafar Gwlad, Rhif 118  Page 1 [360kb]
Cymru Fu, Hughes and Son, t. 1-12
Davies, D. J.; Cantref y Gwaelod, Trans. Cardiganshire Antiquarian Society, 1927 http://welshjournals.llgc.org.uk/browse/viewpage/llgc-id:1177372/llgc-id:1178070/llgc-id:1178095/get650/cantre'r%20gwaelod
Howard, Betty; Cantref y Gwaelod, Country Quest, Sept. 1998, RC398
Jones, Eirwen; Folk Tales of Wales, Gomer Press, p. 76-87, RC398
 Legend of Cantre'r Gwaelod, Country Quest, Nov 2004 [704kb] Page 2 [652kb]
Lewis, Hugh; Bells of Aberdovey, RC398
Lost lowlands of Cardiganshire, Cardigan Tivyside, 5/3/1880, RC550
Meyrick, S. R.; History and Antiquities of the County of Cardigan, London, 1810, p. 60-79, RC398
Morus, Elena; Cantre'r Gwaelod, Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, 1996, RC398
Owen, John Idris; Cantre'r Gwaelod, CET, 1981, RC398
Parry, R. Williams; Cantre'r Gwaelod, Cylchgrawn Cymdeithas Addysg y Gweithwyr, Cyf 12  http://welshjournals.llgc.org.uk/browse/viewpage/llgc-id:1114944/llgc-id:1117419/llgc-id:1117442/get650/cantre'r%20gwaelod
Prichard, T. Jeffery Llewelyn; Welsh Minstrelsy containing the Land Beneath the Sea, John and W. L. Hunt, 1824, p. 1-7, RC398
Ritchie, Carson; Lost Lands of Wales, Country Quest, May 1995, RC398

CEFFYL PREN

Jones, T. Llew; Ceffyl Pren, Llafar Gwlad, 37  Page 1 [550kb] Page 2 [263kb]

CHILDREN'S PASTIMES

Cardigan
Davies, Donald; Children's Pastimes, Cardigan Tivyside, 10/4/1987; 17/4/1987,  Part 1 [1.0Mb] Part 2 [1.1Mb] Part 2a [1.0Mb]

CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS

Jones, Mary; Hen arferion y Nadolig, Ddoe, Gwasg Gomer, t. 36-40, RC394
Just one day off school for Xmas, Cambrian News, 8/1/2004, RC394CHRI

Aberystwyth Chills and thrills on Boxing Day, Cambrian News, 2/1/2003 [313kb]
 Party time, Cambrian News, 24/12/1971 [905kb]
1989
 Thieves fail to spoiul Christmas fun, Western Mail, 19/12/1989 [604kb]

Cardigan
Davies, Donald;  Christmas in Cardigan in the late 19th century, CTivyside, 23/12/1983 [877kb]
Davies, Donald;  Special days of festive fun, Cardigan Tivyside, 15/7/1998 [1013kb]
Davies, Donald;  Those were the days, Cardigan Tivyside, 21/12/1984 [1.0Mb]

Llanbadarn Trefeglwys
 Hen arfer, Llan, 19/1/1981 [657kb]

Llanfihangel Y Creuddyn
 Hen wyl y Nadolig, Welsh Gazette, 22/12/1938 [889kb]
 Plygain, Welsh Gazette, 23/1/1968 [375kb]

CLOTHES AND COSTUME

Patters for various Welsh clothes, photocopies, RC391

Hats
Bye-Gones, Sept, 29, 1886-7, P6.391

CNAPAN

Chwarae Cnapan, Llafar Gwlad, 13, 1986  Page 1 [467kb]
Davies, Donald; Customs, Legends and Myths, Cardigan Tivyside, 4/7/1986, RC394
Davies, Donald; Early sport in Cardigan, Cardigan Tivyside, 5/4/1985, P4.796
Davies, Donald; Sporting gift from our Roman conquerors, Cardigan Tivyside, 18/1/1996, P4.796
Old Welsh game lives on in festival, Western Mail, 10/7/1986  Page 1 [49kb]
Remember Cnappan?, Cardigan Tivyside, 19/1/1984  Page 1 [42kb]

DEATH

Will O'Whispers; Remember any funeral customs?, Cambrian News, RC394

Gravestones
Chater, A. O.; Early Cardiganshire Gravestones, AC, 1976, 1977, RC393

Portents
Lewis, W. J.; Customs and Superstitions, New Quay and Llanarth, Cambrian News, RC133
Ymysg hen bobl Ceredigion, Cymru X111, RC133

Aberystwyth
Funeral caper, Cambrian News, 15/2/1980, P6.393
Funeral custom, Cambrian News, 27/8/1971, P6.393

DEVIL AND LLANARTH CHURCH

Devil and the bells, Cardigan Tivyside, 14/3/1930, P29.394

DEVILS BRIDGE LEGEND

Legend of Devils Bridge
 Cardiganshire Bygones, no publication, no date [663kb]
Devil's Bridge (Mysterious Wales, Chris Barber)  Page 1 [146kb] 
Jones, Eirwen; Folk tales of Wales, p. 72-75  Page 1 [596kb] Page 2 [565kb]
 Linking the chain, p. 30 [611kb]
 Pont y gwr drwg, Bore Da, 2 [483kb]
1983

EASTER

Cardigan
Easter customs, Cardigan Tivyside, 20/4/1900,  Page 1 [684kb] Page 2 [922kb]P4.394EAS

ELVIS ROCK (A44)

Elvis roadside rock revival bid, BBC website printout, 2/1/2005, RC388.1
The Elvis rock, BBC website printout, 2/1/2005, 23/3/2006, RC388.1

FOLK TALES AND LEGENDS

Capel Bangor
Llowarch; Grey cats of Capel Bangor, Weird Wonders of Wales, RC133

Cwm Ystwyth
Llowarch; Talking Tree, Weird Wonders of Wales, RC133

Fairies
Fairy slave  Page 1 [622kb] Page 2 [618kb] Page 3 [578kb]

Holy Grail of Nanteos
Holy Grail and hauntings, BBC Mid Wales Website, RC133

Llanarth
Old beliefs in the district of Llanarth and New Quay, Welsh Gazette, 14/3/1930  Page 1 [946kb] Page 2 [809kb]

Llyn y Maes (Tregaron)
Llyn y Maes (Mysterious Wales by Chris Barber)  Page 1 [84kb]

Maelgwyn Legend (Borth)
2001
Borth remembers its black widows and its crafty prince, Cambrian News, 16/8/2001, P10.94
2004
Prince who passed the tide test is celebrated at Borth, Cambrian News, 19/8/2004, P10.94

Mermaid
Davies, Donald; Customs, legends and superstitions, Cardigan Tivyside, 25/7/1986, RC394

Stone of Blessing (Carreg y Fendith, St. Dogmaels)
Davies, Donald; Customs, legends and superstitions, Cardigan Tivyside, 25/7/1986, RC394

Taliesin
Story of Taliesin, P10(1).398

FOOD

Bwydydd a diodydd y wlad gynt, Cardigan Tivyside, 25/10/1939, RC394.1
Cawl, Cymru 111, RC394.1
Evans, R. M.; Folklore and Customs in Cardiganshire, Cardiganshire Antiquarian Society, RC394.1
Farm feast in 1760, Welsh Gazette, 4/12/1958, RC394.1

HALLOWEEN

Trick or treating of yesteryear, Cambrian News, 1/11/2001, RC394HALL

HENRY VII STONE (LLANILAR)

1982
Villagers aim to save old stone, Western Mail, 8/6/1982, P57.913

KICKING THE BAR (ABERYSTWYTH)

1984
Do they do it for kicks?, Daily Mirror, 5/11/1984, P6.394KICK
2003
Called to the bar, but what does it mean in Aber?, Cambrian News, 19/6/2003, P6.394KICK
Kicking the Bar – was it meant to ward off evil spirits, or just a stylish way of turning around?, Cambrian News, 24/7/2003, P6.394KICK
Some more 'kicking the bar' memories remembered, Cambrian News, 14/8/2003, P6.394KICK
Timewatch reader remembers 'kicking the bar', Cambrian News, 3/7/2003, P6.394KICK
2005
Aberystwyth : A History and Celebration, p. 68, P6.394KICK

MARCH GLAS

Jones, T. Llew; March Glas, Llafar Gwlad, 1983, RC394MAR

MARI LWYD

Davies, Donald; Custom, legends and myths, Cardigan Tivyside, 18/7/1986, RC394

Llandre
2013
Mari lwyd, Cambrian News, 17/1/2013  Page 1 [47kb]

Talsarn
1969
 Horse's head greets 1969, Western Mail, 2/1/1969 [679kb] 

MARITIME SUPERSTITIONS

Davies, Donald; Custom, legends and myths, Cardigan Tivyside, 18/7/1986, RC394

MARRIAGE

Bidding
 Bidder – Gwahoddwr, Cardigan Tivyside, 16/5/1902 [751kb](P4.394WED)
 Bidding – Gwahoddiad, Cardigan Tivyside, , no date [997kb] Page 2 [1.0Mb](P4.394WED)
Davies, Donald; Customs, Legends and Myths, Cardigan Tivyside, 13/6/1986, 20/6/1986, RC394
Ifans, Dafydd; Gwahodd a Phwnco Priodasol o Fro'r Eisteddfod, Llafar Gwlad, 37
Old memories of Ceredigion, Ceredigion, 1960-1963 http://welshjournals.llgc.org.uk/browse/viewpage/llgc-id:1093205/llgc-id:1094155/llgc-id:1094245/get650
Some aspects of the bidding in Cardiganshire, Ceredigion, 1960-1963 http://welshjournals.llgc.org.uk/browse/viewpage/llgc-id:1093205/llgc-id:1094155/llgc-id:1094205/get650
 Some Cardigan bidding notices, Cardigan Tivyside, 6/11/1925 [840kb]

Bungling
Davies, Donald; Custom, legends and myths, Cardigan Tivyside, 18/7/1986, RC394

Courting
Old memories of Ceredigion, Ceredigion, 1960-1963 http://welshjournals.llgc.org.uk/browse/viewpage/llgc-id:1093205/llgc-id:1094155/llgc-id:1094245/get650

Dowries
Morgan, Gerald; Dowries for daughters in West Wales, 1500-1700, Welsh History Review, 1995, RC394

Halting
Davies, Donald; Customs, legends and superstitions, Cardigan Tivyside, 25/7/1986, RC394

Towns and Villages

Cenarth
1916
Welsh wedding tragedy, Welshman, 19/5/1916, P41(3).614

NANTEOS CUP

Ai'r Greal ei hun a fu yn Nanteos?, Cymro, 20/3/1958  Page 1 [787kb] Page 2 [854kb]
Amery, Ethelwyn M.; Sought and Found : a Story of the Holy Grail, William Jones, 1905  Page 1 [273kb] Page 2 [317kb] Page 3 [481kb] Page 4 [343kb] Page 5 [410kb] Page 6 [466kb] Page 7 [479kb] Page 8 [486kb] Page 9 [308kb] Page 10 [496kb] Page 11 [493kb] Page 12 [347kb] Page 13 [472kb] Page 14 [501kb] Page 15 [251kb] Page 16 [421kb] Page 17 [400kb] Page 18 [255kb]
 An opportunity missed, Cambrian News, 31/5/2001 [672kb]
 Chwalu chwedl y cwpan, Cymro, 12/4/1995 [1.6Mb]
 Cwpan Nanteos, Bore Da, rhif 2 [413kb]
 Does this house hold the key to one ....?, Sunday Express, 30/7/1995 [1.0Mb]
Gorman, David; Custodian of the Holy Grail, Country Quest, November 2004,  Page 1 [691kb] Page 2 [816kb]
Gorman, David; In search of the Holy Grail, Cross Ties, April, 1995  Page 1 [711kb] Page 2 [293kb]
Gorman, David, Nanteos Cup, Catholic Life, January 2004  Page 1 [761kb] Page 2 [851kb]
 Healing cup of Nanteos, Western Mail, 17/3/1953 [506kb]
Healing cup of Nanteos, I. J. Bromham, 'Mysteries of Wales', Celtic Publications, 1979  Page 1 [118kb] Page 2 [94kb]
 Holy Grail, Sunday Times, 12/10/1986 [724kb]
Holy Grail and hauntings, BBC Mid Wales Website, RC133
 Holy Grail re-discovered, Cambrian News, 22/4/1988 [456kb] 
Is this the cup that was used at the Last Supper?, Sunday Express, 8/1/1961  Page 1 [1.2Mb] Page 2 [1022kb]
Jones, Mary; Hunangofiant Cwpan Nanteos  Page 1 [360kb] Page 2 [622kb] Page 3 [564kb] Page 4 [612kb] Page 5 [604kb] Page 6 [628kb] Page 7 [594kb] Page 8 [435kb] 
 Light ray test for Nanteos healing cup, Cambrian News, 9/8/1957 [586kb]
 Miraculous powers of Nanteos Cup, Western Mail, 15/4/1953 [425kb]
 Mysteries of the Holy Grail, no publication [577kb]
 Nanteos Cup [250kb]
Nanteos Cup, Country Quest, Oct 2007  Page 1 [613kb] Page 2 [611kb]
 Nanteos cup, Western Mail, 13/4/1953 [231kb]
 Nanteos Cup, Western Mail, 21/3/1953 [318kb]
 Nanteos Cup – a broken legend?, Cambrian News, 1/11/1991 [543kb]
 Object of romantic history, Cambrian News, 13/5/1988 [630kb]
 On the grail trail, Cambrian News, 19/4/1991 [417kb]
 Photo of the Nanteos Cup [141kb]
 Search for the Holy Grail continues, Cambrian News, 14/1/1994 [602kb]
 The treasure house of a Cardigan glen, WG, 5/7/1934 [597kb]

OMENS

Bird
Bird omens in Wales, Welsh Gazette, 30/1/1968, RC598

PWNC

Davies, Donald; Customs, Legends and Myths, Cardigan Tivyside, 4/7/1986, RC394

RECANTATION

Davies, Donald; Customs, Legends and Myths, Cardigan Tivyside, 27/6/1986, 4/7/1986, RC394

SAYINGS

Casglaid healaeth o ddywediadau Ceredigion, llawysgrif, RC398.9PRO

SKULLS IN HOUSES

Llanilar
1982
 500 year old skulls are re-buried 'to keep evil spirits away', CN, 15/10/1982 [721kb]
 Penglogau ein hofergoeledd, Cymro, 12/10/1982 [755kb]

SUL COCH Y MWNT

Traditions and customs of Sul Coch y Mwnt, Cardigan Tivyside, 26/8/1904  Page 1 [1.0Mb] Page 2 [1015kb]
1990
 Players hope for no bloody noses, Western Mail, 14/6/1990 [348kb]
 Sul Coch y Mwnt, poster, 17/6/1990 [663kb]
1991
 Fresh life for an old tradition, Cambrian News, 14/6/1991 [335kb] 

SUPERSTITIONS

Casgliad o Hen Ofergoelion a'i Draddodiadau, Cardigan Tivyside, 16/4/1920 onwards
 Hen Arferion ac Ofergoelion Bro [663kb]
Jones, R. Gwmryn; Ofergoelion Tafarn Magl, Cymru XI  Page 1 [1.4Mb] Page 2 [1.2Mb]
Ofergoelion Ceredigion, Cymru 111, RC398

Number 13
Will O'Whispers; Why there is no number 13, Cambrian News, 8/2/1974, RC394

Omens
Will O'Whispers; Some good and bad omens, RC398

TALIESIN LEGEND

Ancient Sites of Ceredigion : Bedd Taliesin  Page 1 [375kb] Page 2 [246kb]
Boon, Karen; The legend of Taliesin, Country Quest, April 2004  Page 1 [470kb] Page 2 [478kb]
 Magic of Taliesin, Cambrian News, 28/2/1986 [831kb]
 Story of Taliesin [609kb]

TY DAWNS

Swyddffynnon
Jones, R. Osborne; Ty Dawns, no publication, no date  Page 1 [484kb] Page 2 [686kb]

WEATHER

Arwyddion tywydd, Cymru 111, RC394WEA
Mark Thomas investigates some enduring folklore surrounding the weather, Country Quest, May 1999, RC394

WELLS

Trisant
Coxe, A. D. H.; Cardiganshire, Haunted Britain, Hutchinson, 1973, RC133