Hello One and All!
The Gwragedd Annwn are female fairies from Welsh folklore who live under rivers or lakes. At times they are also referred to as Lake Maidens, and the Lady of the Lake from Arthurian legend might be one example of such a fairy. The following tale prominently features a Gwraig Annwn and tells something of the characteristics of this supernatural being.
Gwraig of the Golden Boat
Once upon a time there was a farmer that, though healthy and wealthy, still yearned for a companion. Each evening there was an intense loneliness that ravaged his soul, and each time it made his house seem quieter than ever. One evening, after a particularly torturous night, the man's friend visited him, in the hope that he could cheer him up. He brought news of a fantastic tale - people from nearby reported seeing a beautiful woman rowing up and down a lake with her golden boat and a golden oar. That brought the farmer out of his stupor. He resolved to see this fantastic sight.
On New year's Eve the man stationed himself on the edge of the lake and strained his eyes for a sight, even just a glimpse, of the reported luminous beauty. During the first hour of the new year a maiden appeared out of the mist, perched on her golden boat while she rowed. The farmer was spellbound, he couldn't help but stare at her for hours. When the woman started to vanish from view again though he couldn't bear the thought of losing her forever.
"Stay! I beg you."
The gwraig muttered something incomprehensible through the mist, then vanished.
Henceforth the young farmer spent all of his nights on the bank of the lake, but alas, the gwraig did not appear again. He started to waste away and his features were permanently set in a sullen expression. As a last resort, to save his life as well as a hope for love, the man sought out a soothsayer on a mountain, who recommended that he ply his object of affection with cheese and bread.
The man took the advice to heart, throwing bread and cheese into the water of the lake each night, but still the gwraig never appeared. There was still a glimmer of hope in his soul, and when New Year's Eve approached he was clothed in his best, then set out on a journey to the lake. At midnight he dropped seven loaves of bread into the water, accompanied by a significant amount of cheese. He sighed and looked at the food on the surface of the water...then it bobbed against a golden stern. The magical boat skidded to a halt against the land and she skipped ashore.
"I've seen your persistence, young farmer, and for it I will accept you as my husband. Hear this though; if you strike me three times then you will never see me again. Remember this."
Four years later, at the christening of their first child, the gwraig burst into tears in front of her husband.
"Why do make such a fool of yourself, my wife?"
"I cannot help it, I was overcome with emotion when I thought of all the misery in the world, and our child would have to navigate it."
The reply didn't make sense to the farmer and he pushed her.
"You have hit me once, my husband."
Only a couple of years later the couple attended the funeral of their first child. The gwraig danced, sang, and appeared to be jovial at the ceremony.
Anger rose in the breast of the farmer. "Why do you dishonour our child in such a way?!"
"My dear child has escaped the misery of this world. Why should we not rejoice."
The man pushed her away from him.
"You have hit me twice now, husband," she warned.
One day the married couple went to a wedding ceremony of an acquaintance. The bride at the ceremony was young and fair, whilst the groom was a rich, old man. In the middle of the ceremony the gwraig started to bawl.
"What is it now?!" the farmer hissed.
"Can you not see - this is a wedding for greed and not for love! He is a decrepit miser but she is beautiful and shining. This union isn't compatible."
The farmer pushed his wife by the shoulders.
"Three blows have been struck, my husband. Farewell."
The gwraig was never seen again by man or beast. The farmer lived out the rest of his days alone and regretted his actions.
Thank you for reading!
The Gwragedd Annwn are female fairies from Welsh folklore who live under rivers or lakes. At times they are also referred to as Lake Maidens, and the Lady of the Lake from Arthurian legend might be one example of such a fairy. The following tale prominently features a Gwraig Annwn and tells something of the characteristics of this supernatural being.
Gwraig of the Golden Boat
Once upon a time there was a farmer that, though healthy and wealthy, still yearned for a companion. Each evening there was an intense loneliness that ravaged his soul, and each time it made his house seem quieter than ever. One evening, after a particularly torturous night, the man's friend visited him, in the hope that he could cheer him up. He brought news of a fantastic tale - people from nearby reported seeing a beautiful woman rowing up and down a lake with her golden boat and a golden oar. That brought the farmer out of his stupor. He resolved to see this fantastic sight.
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| "The Lady of the Lake" by Lancelot Speed. |
On New year's Eve the man stationed himself on the edge of the lake and strained his eyes for a sight, even just a glimpse, of the reported luminous beauty. During the first hour of the new year a maiden appeared out of the mist, perched on her golden boat while she rowed. The farmer was spellbound, he couldn't help but stare at her for hours. When the woman started to vanish from view again though he couldn't bear the thought of losing her forever.
"Stay! I beg you."
The gwraig muttered something incomprehensible through the mist, then vanished.
Henceforth the young farmer spent all of his nights on the bank of the lake, but alas, the gwraig did not appear again. He started to waste away and his features were permanently set in a sullen expression. As a last resort, to save his life as well as a hope for love, the man sought out a soothsayer on a mountain, who recommended that he ply his object of affection with cheese and bread.
The man took the advice to heart, throwing bread and cheese into the water of the lake each night, but still the gwraig never appeared. There was still a glimmer of hope in his soul, and when New Year's Eve approached he was clothed in his best, then set out on a journey to the lake. At midnight he dropped seven loaves of bread into the water, accompanied by a significant amount of cheese. He sighed and looked at the food on the surface of the water...then it bobbed against a golden stern. The magical boat skidded to a halt against the land and she skipped ashore.
"I've seen your persistence, young farmer, and for it I will accept you as my husband. Hear this though; if you strike me three times then you will never see me again. Remember this."
Four years later, at the christening of their first child, the gwraig burst into tears in front of her husband.
"Why do make such a fool of yourself, my wife?"
"I cannot help it, I was overcome with emotion when I thought of all the misery in the world, and our child would have to navigate it."
The reply didn't make sense to the farmer and he pushed her.
"You have hit me once, my husband."
Only a couple of years later the couple attended the funeral of their first child. The gwraig danced, sang, and appeared to be jovial at the ceremony.
Anger rose in the breast of the farmer. "Why do you dishonour our child in such a way?!"
"My dear child has escaped the misery of this world. Why should we not rejoice."
The man pushed her away from him.
"You have hit me twice now, husband," she warned.
One day the married couple went to a wedding ceremony of an acquaintance. The bride at the ceremony was young and fair, whilst the groom was a rich, old man. In the middle of the ceremony the gwraig started to bawl.
"What is it now?!" the farmer hissed.
"Can you not see - this is a wedding for greed and not for love! He is a decrepit miser but she is beautiful and shining. This union isn't compatible."
The farmer pushed his wife by the shoulders.
"Three blows have been struck, my husband. Farewell."
The gwraig was never seen again by man or beast. The farmer lived out the rest of his days alone and regretted his actions.
Thank you for reading!
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