Welsh Mythical creatures and characters Mythical creatures of

Welsh Mythical creatures and characters

Mythical creatures of Wales • There are many 'Welsh Monsters & Mythical Beasts' that are explored in Welsh myths and legends. • The most iconic creature of Wales is the Red Dragon (Ddraig Goch) featured on the national flag of Wales. • Sadly, many of our other beasts and creatures found in Welsh legend stories are being forgotten. • Take a look at the following creatures found in Wales’ world of mythology.

Lady of the Lake A beautiful golden girl emerges from Myddfai’s lake.

The word "gwiber" in Welsh means viper or adder but many centuries ago the word actually meant "flying snake". The gwiber lived in a valley near Penmachno. Gwiber was a very dangerous creature and was unique amongst its kind. It was the only one in Wales that could live on land under the water. It preyed on the fish in the river, local livestock and on anyone foolish enough to get in its way

The legend of Ceffyl Dwr a ghost of a lone white horse that haunts Oxwich. Ceffyl Dŵr is a beautiful white spirit of a horse that approaches weary travellers; she entices them to climb on her back and flies into the air dropping the terrified rider to their doom. Ceffyl Dwr is from the Welsh language and means Water Horse.

Tylwyth Teg The Welsh Tylwyth Teg, or Fair Family, have much in common with the fairies of other cultures but also have some important differences. Most strikingly they look like beautiful humans in miniature, no wings, no flying, no fairy dust. They do their best to avoid humans, preferring the dark, out of the way places to dance and make their rings on the ground. Some live in caves, others in lakes, though not lakes and caves open to us.

The Water Leaper, also known as Llamhigyn Y Dwr, is an evil creature from Welsh folklore that lived in swamps and ponds. It is described as a giant frog with a bat's wings instead of forelegs, no hind legs, and a long, lizard-like tail with a stinger at the end. It was blamed for problems ranging from snapping fishing lines to eating livestock or even fishermen

It is said that people who lived along the Conwy valley were constantly plagued with terrible floods that both drowned their livestock and ruined their crops. The cause of this destruction to people’s farms and livelihood was not however a natural occurrence: all knew that the floods were caused by the Afanc. The Afanc was a legendary Welsh water monster, likened, some have said, to the Loch Ness Monster. The Afanc lived in Llyn-yr-Afanc (The Afanc Pool) in the River Conwy. It was a gigantic beast who, when annoyed, was strong enough to break the banks of the pool causing the floods. The wise men of the valley held a meeting and decided that if force wouldn’t work, then the Afanc must somehow be enticed out of his pool and removed to a lake far away beyond the mountains, where he could cause no further trouble. The lake chosen to be the Afanc’s new home was Llyn Ffynnon Las, under the dark imposing shadow of Mount Snowdon

Design your own Mythical Welsh creature/character • Draw a picture of them • Create a name for them – if you can - include some welsh words in their name • What do they look like ? Describe them using interesting vocabulary. • Where do they live? Use a specific Welsh local place that you know of. • Brief outline of a made up legend that suits your imaginary Welsh mythical creature. Take a look at Mrs Rimell’s example of her imaginary Mythical Welsh character on the next slide.

Name: Môr-forwyn o draeth Caswell (Mermaid of Caswell Beach) Lives: Caswell beach and woods, Swansea Legend : Legend says that Môr-forwyn o draeth Caswell will sneak into Caswell woods after her early morning swim from Langland to Caswell and read stories to the woodland animals, she especially likes foxes. Only children can see her and many have reported that they have enjoyed a story with her in the round house by the car park. She leaves words from her stoies engraved into tree trunks and writes sentences from her favourite books on pebbles and shells. Adults have found these pebbles and shells and have taken them home which annoys her greatly. When Môr-forwyn o draeth Caswell gets angry, she will use her fox tip tail to create bigger waves to discourage anyone from entering the sea, eaving her in peace and quiet. Sparkling shell hair clips Glowing amber tail with sandy swirly design Fluffy fox tail tips Holographic purple hair which feels like seaweed Gills in her neck to help her breathe. Green eyes that give off light under dark deep waters