Also called Lake maidens, the Lady of Llyn y Fan Fach.
The tale
The Gwragedd Annwn are the fair women who live in Welsh lakes. In the best-known tale a young farmer wooed a lady from Llyn y Fan Fach with bread, and she agreed to marry him on condition that he never struck her three causeless blows. When the third blow fell, she returned to the lake with all her fairy cattle. But she came back to teach her sons herbal healing, and they became the Physicians of Myddfai.
When they are met
- on the shore of a mountain lake
- at New Year, as walkers to Llyn y Fan Fach once gathered
Staying on their good side
- bread, which won the lady of Llyn y Fan Fach
- keep your promises
- never strike your partner
Honouring them, or keeping safe
- Visit a mountain lake and leave it just as you found it.
- Keep your promises to those you love.
What their tales teach
- the tales teach faithfulness
- healing knowledge
- respect in marriage
Symbols
- the lake
- the fairy cattle
- the three blows
- healing herbs
Sources
- Sikes, British Goblins
- Rhys, Celtic Folklore: Welsh and Manx
More Celtic folklore
- The Banshee The keening woman of the fairy mound
- Selkies The seal folk who come ashore
- The Púca The shape-shifter of November
- The Aos Sí The people of the fairy mounds
- The Kelpie The water horse of the lochs
- The Tylwyth Teg The Fair Family of Wales
- Leprechaun The solitary fairy shoemaker
- Clurichaun The fairy of the wine cellar