Iolo ap Hugh’s fiddle on Hallowe’en

31 October · Chirk, Denbighshire

Lore and belief

A cave said to run from Morda to Chirk Castle drew in anyone who went near it, and on Hallowe’en the wandering fiddler Iolo ap Hugh went in with bread, cheese, candles and his fiddle and was never seen again. Years later, on another Hallowe’en, a shepherd saw him dancing and fiddling at the cave mouth with his head loose on his shoulders, and afterwards heard the same tune under the church floor early on Christmas morning. The vicar wrote it down, and it became the Welsh air known as Ffarwel Ned Pugh.

On Hallowe'en, one of the "three spirit nights," Iolo provided himself with a basket of provisions

From Trevelyan's Folk-Lore of Wales, p. 139. Read the original

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Folklore from the old calendars

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Burning the Nuts Lore and belief England, Ireland, ScotlandOn Hallowe'en a pair of nuts was named for a lad and a lass and laid in the fire.
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Iolo ap Hugh’s fiddle on Hallowe’en

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