Medieval
There are numerous examples of Welsh folklore throughout Medieval Welsh literature, such as in the Historia Brittonum, Middle Welsh poetry and the Book of Taliesin. However, while there are allusions to Welsh folklore in the works of the "Beirdd yr Uchelwyr" (Poets of the Nobility) 1350 to 1600 it was the cyfarwyddiaid (singular: cyfarwydd, "storyteller"), who were mostly responsible for recording folklore in this period.
The cyfarwyddiaid were members of the bardic order in Wales. The only historical cyfarwydd known by name is Bledri ap Cydifor ('Bledericus Walensis', 'Bleherus'). The cyfawyddiaid were considered a learned class with duties and an education that exceeded that of a common poet. They were court officials with extensive training in their art, and often had a close relationship with their lord. Their duties extended to the traditions involved in praising, celebrating and mourning their lord. Welsh folklore includes a number of tales that were preserved and told by the cyfarwyddiaid, who were also tasked with conserving the traditional historical material, the accepted myth of the Welsh past, and sharing the corresponding stories, being considered as historians themselves. Besides storytelling, the cyfarwyddiaid also had the task of protecting the genealogies of the powerful families. [2]
The tales of Welsh lore were shared as proverbs and songs, in addition to simple spoken stories. The historical tales were told along with the non-historical fables, without significant distinction. This allowed culture and history to be explored and taught through the poetics of the time. [2] In earlier periods, the penceirddiaid are believed to have narrated stories in the courts of princes and nobles. Later, the stories were told by the cyfarwyddiaid for audiences other than nobility. [3]
The writing of medieval folklore had adopted and explored a set of rules and themes. It relied on the poetic triads of the time, poetics, old verse and knowledge of histories, which enabled the conception of well-crafted stories about the historical truths of the population. Additionally, regions would adopt their own guidelines in storymaking, such as the Triads of the Island of Britain, which led tales to be based on mythological, historical and heroic themes. [2] The writing also followed structure, having a chronological series of events in short episodes, known as features, which reflect the oral origins of the tales for easy story-telling to the audiences. [4]
Welsh folklore was often compared to Irish literature of similar value. They both consisted of similar structure and aimed to inform about the past, rather than to target the mistakes of their ancestry with satire. [4] The form of these tales also mimicked that of early Irish sagas, being prose sprinkled with poetry. [3] Moreover, the conservation of Irish tales was also performed by a class of gentry, much like the cyfarwyddiaid of Wales. [4] However, even with other similar duties, the Irish bards were not story-tellers. That role was saved for the poets in Ireland. [3]
This type of storytelling, in both Ireland and Wales, was believed to have arisen through spiritual inspiration. The poets spoke ‘through’ great knowledge, which was sometimes thought to be acquired only by the practice of divination, a concept known as ái in Irish, and awen in Welsh. The Welsh cyfarwyddiaid were thus considered awenyddion, able to deliver prophetic speech in a possessed state of awen. [3] This is not the only ritual practice that evolved around Welsh folklore, as other customs have originated from the tales themselves. [5]
Folk tales and legends have also survived through retellings by common people. Storytelling could and does occur in many different forms: "gossip, games, dancing, and the reciting of riddles, tongue-twisters, nursery-rhymes, harp-stanzas, folk-songs and ballads." [6] Common occasions for telling folk narratives were the nosweithiau llawen (or "merry evenings," similar to a céilidh), nosweithiau gwau ("knitting nights"), and Calan Gaeaf (Winter's Eve).
Early modern period
During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, a number of laws were passed to suppress Welsh culture. The 1401 and 1402 act, Penal laws against the Welsh forbid any public assembly for Welsh people as well as prohibiting Welsh men (and English men who married Welsh women) from holding senior public office, bearing arms or purchasing property in English boroughs. The laws were reaffirmed throughout the fifteenth century, before being replaced by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542. As such, the Welsh-speaking gentry were replaced with a highly anglicised one, who used the English language and English customs. The laws had a substantial impact on Welsh culture, legally limiting both the Welsh language and culture to the lower classes. [7]
Despite the demise of an affluent Welsh class, Wales saw a great number of cultural and educational movements in eighteenth century. As "the decay or demise of an ancient way of life" was matched by an unprecedented level of activity which worked to preserve or develop Welsh culture and an interest in all things Welsh, regardless of social status. [8]
