British Folklore?

Question

Does anybody know of characters and/or creatures and/or stories from folklore specific to the British Isles?

For example: the Bean Nigh, black dogs, legends of the moors, etc...

Answer 1

There is of course the Arthurian mythology, which was originally based in fact.

The historical Arthur was a Christian Breton (Welsh, Sillurian) and died in 538 AD.

His existence is documented by two entries in ancient Latin Easter Annals (Harley 3859, folio 190a and 190b) which say:

518 AD: "Bellum badonis in quo arthur portavit crucem domini nostri jesu christi tribus et tribus noctibus in humeros suos et brittones victores fuerunt."

"The Battle of Badon in which Arthur bore the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ on his shoulder for three days and three nights and the Bretons were the victors."

Note that bearing the Cross on his shoulder is likely a reference to a leather shoulder guard.

539 AD: "Gueith camlann in qua Arthur et medraut corruerunt."

"A Strife(?) at Camlan, in which Arthur and Medraut (Mordred?) died."

In Harley 3859, folio 187a there is a quote from a different source that details Arthur’s 12 battles ending with Badon (as mentioned in the Easter Annals )

The text (which is from a Latin source with some information in welsh) describes Arthur’s military ranking:

"Tunc Arthur pugnabat contra illos in illis diebus con regibus brittonum sed ipsi dux erat bellorum."

"Then Arthur fought against them the [Saxons], in those days, together with the kings (regibus) of the Bretons. But he was himself Duke of Battles (dux erat bellorum)."

Note that Arthur was not one of the Breton Kings.

Then the manuscript lists his 12 battles (note that 4 battles were at Dubglas in Linnuis)

Glein. Dubglas in Linnuis (x4). Bassas. Caledonian Forest (Scotland?). Fort Gunnion. Caer Leon (Wales). Tribruit. Mount Agned. Badon.

A late 6th century porm called Y Gododdin describes a war hero and states "But he was no Arthur."

Also at the end of the 6th century, right around 600, several royal famility named sons Arthur, whereas before Badon, the name Arthur is unknown.

That is about all the documentary evidence of an historical Arthur.

There is a highly suspicious exhumation of Arthur at Glastonbury in 1191, adds interesting information. One is that a wife Guinevere (Welsh for White Shadow) is mentioned.

The Mythology of Arthur explodes in the works of Geoffrey of Monmouth (c.1100–1155), and Gerald of Wales (c.1146–1223), more than 600 years after his death. Afterward, French Writers who added even more fanciful detail.

Answer 2

I think the Green Man, Jack O' the Woods is distinctly British,

also Will O' the Wisp.

Some of the Arthurian legend becomes mixed up with tales from other Celtic areas, such as Brittany and the Basque regions. The Merlin legend does come from British folklore of wild men of the woods and travelling hermits.

Answer 3

The Wild Hunt

Dullahan

cutty black sow

selkie

water horse

Changelings

St. Swithin's Chair

sheela-na-gig

cwn annwn

beast of Dartmoor (well - this is really a cryptid)

STORIES:

How Thomas Connolly Met the Banshee (by J. Todhunter)

The story of Jack-o-Lantern

The Ship that Sailed too Soon (by Aodh De Blácam)

The Hound of the Baskervilles

Allison Gross

Ballad of Tam Lin

(Not all of these are folklore stories, but contain elements of folklore in them)

And a poem by Alexander Montgomerie: http://books.google.com/books?id=XHw-Jqr...

I remembered story names this time.  :)