Home Site Map English Folklore English Folktales English Fairies Quick Guide Scottish Folklore Scottish Folktales Scottish Fairies Quick Guide Welsh Folklore Welsh Folktales Welsh Fairies Quick Guide Gwrach-y-rhybin A hideous hag who haunts Welsh families, and is also associated with specific places. In appearance she has matted black hair, overlong arms, black teeth and a hooked nose. A traditional Banshee, she haunts the old Welsh families, warning of death. She would cry out as if she was lamenting the person who was going to die. For instance she would cry 'Oh my husband! my husband!' if a man was to die. She is mentioned in 'Celtic Folklore' by John Rhys, he considers that she may be an ancient goddesses, as similar figures, such as Black Annis () and the Cailleach Bheur (), appear throughout the British Isles. These figures may be a remnant of a widely worshiped dark goddess. The Gwarach-y-rhybin is also said to haunt Pennard Castle and the banks of the river Dribble. Ellylldan A Welsh spirit similar to the English Will O the Wisp, it appears as a light and misleads travellers from their path. Along with black dogs, tales of fairy lights are common throughout Britain, with a different name given to a similar phenomena. In general they are seen as malevolent, guiding lone travellers into treacherous bogs. The belief may arise from the natural production and combustion of methane in boggy areas.