Celtic Fairy Tales and Legends: Keeping Folklore Alive
To celebrate the release of Celtic Fairy Tales and Legends, author Rosalind Kerven, shares her reflections on the book’s beautiful tales and how important it is to keep old stories alive.
By Rosalind Kerven
The stories in Celtic Fairy Tales and Legends come from the timeless oral traditions of Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The oldest and most solemn ones, first written down during the Middle Ages, such as the Welsh tale The Red Dragon written around 828AD, were once formally recited in the courts of ancient kings by their grandest and most eloquent court poets, as portrayed in a Welsh text of the 14th century:
‘My lord,’ said Gwydion, ‘it is our custom that on the night a visitor arrives at the court of a great man, the chief bard should speak, so I will gladly tell you a tale.’ Gwydion was the best storyteller in the world. And that night he entertained the court with pleasant tales and storytelling until he was praised by everyone there.
In contrast, the more light-hearted ones such as Kate Crackernuts and were not recorded in books until the late 19th century or even later. However, they too are very ancient, having been widely shared for countless generations by humble peasants and travelling storytellers around cottage firesides – as described in the western islands of Scotland in 1896:
The arrival of [a storyteller] in a village was an important event. As soon as it became known, there would be a rush to the house where he was lodged, and every available seat– on bench, table, bed, beam, or the floor – would quickly be appropriated. And then, for hours together … the storyteller would hold his audience spellbound. During his recitals, the emotions of the reciter were occasionally very strongly excited, as were also those of his listeners, who at one time would be on the verge of tears, at another would give way to loud laughter. There were many of these listeners who believed firmly in all the extravagances narrated.
Despite these very different origins, all the stories retold here have much in common. They are peopled by giants, faeries, dragons, witches, magic animals, bold young women and famous heroes. They tell of astonishing adventures, strange enchantments, impossible ordeals, eerie shapeshifting and visits to supernatural ‘otherworlds’. In the words of Irish poet and cultural icon W.B. Yeats, ‘Everything exists, everything is true, and the earth is only a little dust under our feet.’
So relax, learn to believe in magic – then read on!
Rest for a while! The night is young,
Time is short and the road is long.
Tell me a story and I’ll sing you a song
For tomorrow the road will be calling us on.
– traditional Celtic song
Celtic Fairy Tales and Legends is a beautiful collection of 16 enchanting tales from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Meet iconic characters such as the first great Welsh poet, Taliesin, and the mighty Irish hero, Fionn Mac Cumhaill and cheer on bold Scots lasses such as Mallie Whuppy, as she outwits a fearsome giant, and Kate Crackernuts, who rescues a prince from bewitchment. Encounter witches, fairies, dragons, talking animals and strange underwater beings. With the richest of historical tales, escape into new worlds of magic and adventure.
Discover Celtic Fairy Tales and Legends by Rosalind Kerven.
Discover more Folklore by Rosalind Kerven.
