The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries   By: W. Y. (Walter Yeeling) Evans-Wentz (1878-1965)

THE MYSTIC CENTRE OF THE CELTIC WORLD CARNAC IN A. D. 1909 LOOKING TOWARD THE SUNRISE, FROM WITHIN THE CROMLECH, LES ALIGNEMENTS DU MÉNEC ]

THE FAIRY FAITH IN CELTIC COUNTRIES

BY W. Y. EVANS WENTZ

M.A. STANFORD UNIVERSITY CALIFORNIA U.S.A. DOCTEUR ÈS LETTRES UNIVERSITY OF RENNES BRITTANY B.SC. JESUS COLLEGE OXON.

HENRY FROWDE OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS LONDON, NEW YORK, TORONTO AND MELBOURNE 1911

OXFORD: HORACE HART PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY

THIS BOOK DEPENDS CHIEFLY UPON THE ORAL AND WRITTEN TESTIMONY SO FREELY CONTRIBUTED BY ITS MANY CELTIC AUTHORS, THE PEASANT AND THE SCHOLAR, THE PRIEST AND THE SCIENTIST, THE POET AND THE BUSINESS MAN, THE SEER AND THE NON SEER, AND IN HONOUR OF THEM I DEDICATE IT TO TWO OF THEIR BRETHREN IN IRELAND:

A. E., WHOSE UNWAVERING LOYALTY TO THE FAIRY FAITH HAS INSPIRED MUCH THAT I HAVE HEREIN WRITTEN, WHOSE FRIENDLY GUIDANCE IN MY STUDY OF IRISH MYSTICISM I MOST GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE;

AND

WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS, WHO BROUGHT TO ME AT MY OWN ALMA MATER IN CALIFORNIA THE FIRST MESSAGE FROM FAIRYLAND, AND WHO AFTERWARDS IN HIS OWN COUNTRY LED ME THROUGH THE HAUNTS OF FAIRY KINGS AND QUEENS.

OXFORD November 1911.

'It remains for ever true that the proper study of mankind is man; and even early man is not beneath contempt, especially when he proves to have had within him the makings of a great race, with its highest notions of duty and right, and all else that is noblest in the human soul.'

The Right Hon. SIR JOHN RHYS.

CONTENTS

PAGES

PREFACE xi xiii

INTRODUCTION xv xxviii

SECTION I

THE LIVING FAIRY FAITH

CHAPTER I

ENVIRONMENT 1 16

Psychical Interpretation The Mysticism of Erin and Armorica In Ireland In Scotland In the Isle of Man In Wales In Cornwall In Brittany.

CHAPTER II

THE TAKING OF EVIDENCE 17 225

Method of Presentation The Logical Verdict Trustworthiness of Legends The Fairy Faith held by the highly educated Celt as well as by the Celtic Peasant The Evidence is complete and adequate Its Analysis The Fairy Tribes dealt with Witnesses and their Testimony: from Ireland, with Introduction by Dr. Douglas Hyde; from Scotland, with Introduction by Dr. Alexander Carmichael; from the Isle of Man, with Introduction by Miss Sophia Morrison; from Wales, with Introduction by the Right Hon. Sir John Rhys; from Cornwall, with Introduction by Mr. Henry Jenner; and from Brittany, with Introduction by Professor Anatole Le Braz.

CHAPTER III

AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE EVIDENCE 226 82

The Celtic Fairy Faith as Part of a World wide Animism Shaping Influence of Social Psychology Smallness of Elvish Spirits and Fairies, according to Ethnology, Animism, and Occult Sciences The Changeling, Belief and its Explanation according to the Kidnap, Human Sacrifice, Soul Wandering, and Demon Possession Theory Ancient and Modern Magic and Witchcraft shown to be based on definite psychological laws Exorcisms Taboos, of Name, Food, Iron, Place Taboos among Ancient Celts Food Sacrifice Legend of the Dead Conclusion: the Background of the Modern Belief in Fairies is Animistic.

SECTION II

THE RECORDED FAIRY FAITH

CHAPTER IV

THE PEOPLE OF THE GODDESS DANA OR THE SIDHE 283 307