Folklore and Placenames
1963; Routledge; Volume: 74; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/0015587x.1963.9716906
ISSN1469-8315
Autores Tópico(s)Historical Studies of British Isles
ResumoGeneral Meeting on 20o March, 1963 WHEN we were children we were often asked, 'Which came first, the hen or the egg?' A somewhat similar problem arises when considering the relation of folklore and placenames, but it is less difficult to solve. In many cases the placenames no doubt precede the folklore and traditions connected with them, although some examples of the reverse do occur, for instance in the name 'Carlinghow(e)' in Yorkshire, the meaning of which is the 'hill of the old woman or hag', no doubt as Professor Ekwall suggests, because witches were supposed to foregather there. Two examples of stories composed around placenames occur in the Welsh collection of tales known as the Mabinogion, written in their present form about 1050. In North Wales Gwydion, son of Don (the equivalent of the Irish goddess Danu-her family are the Tuatha De Danann) tells his uncle Math that he has heard of strange little creatures owned by the ruler of South Wales, Pryderi, which his father Pwyll had received as a gift for services he had rendered to Arawn, King of the Otherworld. Math's curiosity is aroused and Gwydion promises to try to obtain some. With his brother and ten others, all dressed as bards, they travel to the south of Cardiganshire, to Rhuddlan Teifi where Pryderi is then holding court. They are made welcome and Gwydion, the best teller of tales, entertains the court that evening and then makes his request. But Pryderi is loth to grant it as he had promised his people the creatures (in reality swine) should not leave the realm until they had doubled their number. The next morning Gwydion who was a magician, like his uncle Math, produced twelve magnificent steeds marvellously caparisoned, no metal other than gold on harness and saddle, twelve greyhounds, black and white-breasted with golden collars and leashes, and twelve golden shields which he persuaded Pryderi to accept in return for the pigs 2c 361
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