Posted
on July 3, 2015
Ceridwen
was an enchantress in Welsh legends that were told and retold during
the Middle Ages.
You
probably know that Wales is one of three countries found on the
island of Great Britain. (The other two countries are England and
Scotland. United Kingdom is the name of the nation that comprises
Great Britain plus Northern Ireland. It's pretty confusing when you
first come across all these country and nation names!)
Ceridwen
was said to have a “hideous” son and a beautiful daughter and to
live with them and her husband near Llyn Tegid. She had the cauldron
of poetic inspiration, and a tale is told of Ceridwent swallowing one
of her servants (while the servant had shape-shifted into a kernel of
corn!), and that that servant was reborn through her as the poet
Taliesin.
Ceridwen
is also considered a Celtic goddess by some modern Pagan people. She
is supposed to be the goddess of rebirth, transformation, and
inspiration.
For
some reason, a “white sow” (white pig) is supposed to be
Ceridwen's special symbol. Some Pagan followers have a special feast
today; they eat pork and also foods that pigs love to eat, such as
corn, nuts, and truffles. Decorations for the feast table could
include a cauldron or images of white pigs.
The
Welsh legend and the white pig makes me think of Lloyd Alexander's
delightful Prydain series, which are based partly on Welsh legends.
Check out The Book of Three first; if you love it you can move on to
read the other four books of the series!
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