Wales' Darkest Folklore

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

History Hit

Myths, Folklore, Mystery, History, Ghosts, Society & Culture, Murder, Ufos, True Crime, Paranormal, Supernatural, Serial Killers

4.6 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 17 April 2025

⏱️ 39 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Wales is set apart from a lot of countries, with one of its folk tales - the Red Dragon - featuring in its flag.

What are the mythical origins of Wales, and other dark folk tales and traditions, such as the Cŵn Annwn; the hounds of the otherworld? Why does the skull of a dead horse, the Mari Lwyd, visit people at Christmas? And how did Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks play a part in Welsh folklore?

Taking Anthony and Maddy through some of the darker corners of Welsh folklore is Russ Williams, author of Where the Folk: A Welsh Folklore Road Trip.

Edited by Tomos Delargy. Produced by Stuart Beckwith. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long.

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All music from Epidemic Sounds.

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal is a History Hit podcast.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, we're your host's Anthony Delaney and Maddie Pelling.
0:03.7	And if you would like After Dark myths, misdeeds and the paranormal, ad free and get early access, sign up to History Hit.
0:11.1	With a History Hit subscription, you can also watch hundreds of hours of original documentaries with top history presenters and enjoy a new release every week.
0:20.7	Sign up now by visiting historyhit.com forward slash subscribe. top history presenters and enjoy a new release every week.
0:24.8	Sign up now by visiting historyhit.com forward slash subscribe.
0:31.7	The weather. Tomorrow, expect a biting cold front.
0:37.3	Hmm, how naughty. I wonder what I'll be wearing or taking off. The night will be wild and untamed.
0:38.5	Expect heavy, lashing rain that'll soak you to the skin.
0:42.3	By Monday, temperatures will rise slowly but surely reaching their peak in the afternoon.
0:48.5	Not in the mood for miserable weather?
0:50.7	Fly cheaply to Turkey with Sun Express.
0:53.6	Sun Express, nonstop sunshine.
0:59.0	In the mists of ancient whales, where magic and reality are intertwined, a tale of two dragons emerged that would shape a nation.
1:14.5	As the fifth century dawned, King Vortigan sought to build a fortress atop Dina Semris,
1:20.6	and with each attempt to construct it, however, the foundations crumbled.
1:27.2	A young boy believed to be Merlin, the magician from the legend of King Arthur, revealed
1:34.0	the true cause of the king's woes.
1:37.4	Beneath the hill, in an underground lake, slept two fierce dragons. One red, the symbol of the native Britons, and one
1:48.4	white, that of the invading Saxons.
1:53.1	The disruption above had awoken the two dragons who engaged in a fierce battle.
1:59.6	Despite the white dragon's dominance, it was eventually the Red Dragon who was victorious.
2:06.9	This legend, woven into the fabric of Welsh law, became a rallying cry for kings and commoners
	...

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