We’re continuing with our two-part series on Welsh ghost folklore. In June, we looked into the history of collecting ghost folklore in Wales. This month, we’ll explore the characteristics of Welsh ghosts with unfinished business here in the mortal world. We’ll also look at a spirit sighting account of the same nature in order to see this type of ghost in action. Finally, if you happen to be a fiction writer, we’ll see how you might take this further and apply aspects of this type of tale that appeal to you in your own writing.
Why Welsh Ghosts Might Have Unfinished Business
A ghost with unfinished business is a frequent theme in Welsh ghost folklore accounts. The reasons why a ghost would appear vary, but they could include the need to reveal a hidden treasure, correct some sort of injustice, or even expose a murderer. Resolving the unfinished business generally helped the ghost to rest and cease haunting. But what I really found interesting was that the folklore writings I read through offered a sort of guidebook for interacting with Welsh ghosts, should you ever come in contact with one. I was not aware of this ghostly etiquette!
It’s Always Best to Greet the Ghost
Beginning with a very general observation, Delyth Badder and Mark Norman note in The Folklore of Wales: Ghosts “… that a ghoul will only appear to one person, who must then begin the conversation when both souls are alone.” Therefore, if a person came into contact with a ghost and it was just the two of them, it was important for the person to gather their bravery and greet the ghost. If not, there was potential for the ghost to keep reappearing. Badder and Norman provide a quote from a folklore text entitled, Ysten Sioned: Neu Y Gronfa Gymmysg (Sioned’s Pitcher: Or The Mixed Collection) by Daniel Silvan Evans and John Jones, which expands on this concept. This is the English translation they provided:
Within the whole literature of ghosts, there is no mention that any of them have ever opened their mouths to anyone, if someone else was there to hear them. You might as well try to get a goat to a furnace as to persuade a ghost to start talking before it is spoken to; the person with whom it has decided to speak, or has been forced to do so, must greet it first; otherwise, the demon will not say what its message is; and until it can reveal its secrets and tell the tale it has to tell, that person will never be at peace from it.
(Side note: I’ve actually never tried to “get a goat to a furnace,” but I love the tangible imagery of it!) But to continue—upon receiving the ghost’s message or instructions, it was best to take action and fulfill the spirit’s request as soon as possible.
It’s a Good Idea to Promptly Assist the Ghost
Badder and Norman offer a quote from Ofergoelion yr Hen Gymry: Mewn Pymtheg Dosparth (The Superstitions of the Old Welsh: In Fifteen Categories) by Tudur Clwyd (Reverend Thomas Frimston) that explains why a person should not hesitate to help the ghost. Again, here is the English translation given:
If after the first apparition those persons neglected their duty, the spirit would manifest itself to them continuously; first, discontented; secondly, displeased; and thirdly, in a furious manner, threatening to tear the bodies of the parties to pieces if the matter in question was not completed promptly.
From this description, it seems that it was ill-advised, and almost unavoidable, to simply ignore the ghost! Peace was only gained by assisting the ghost as expediently as possible. So to sum up—should we encounter a ghost of this sort, we should greet them when we’re alone, listen to their message, and help them resolve their unfinished business without delay. Otherwise, we should expect continual torment—or worse!
As a quick aside, I’m grateful for the English translations Badder and Norman provide because it allows me access to folklore texts written in Welsh. I’ve been learning Welsh through Duolingo, which has helped me to better understand pronunciation, vocabulary, and sentence structure, but I still have a ways to go.
“The Laws Governing the Welsh Spirit-World”
One of the most thorough set of instructions that I encountered in my research of Welsh ghosts with unfinished business comes from British Goblins: Welsh Folk-lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions by Wirt Sikes. In last month’s post, I had mentioned that Badder and Norman warn that Sikes has a tendency to enhance or romanticize his tales. From what I can tell, the facts he presents seem mostly substantiated by their book and other ghost folklore writings. But he does add in a bit of drama and flair, which I secretly love. Here is what Sikes offers:
The laws governing the Welsh spirit-world are clear and explicit. A ghost on duty bent has no power of speech until first spoken to. Its persistency in haunting is due to its eager desire to speak, and tell its urgent errand, but the person haunted must take his courage in both hands and put the question to the issue. Having done so, he is booked for the end of the business, be it what it may. The mode of speech adopted must not vary, in addressing a spirit ; in the name of the Father, Son, or Holy Ghost it must be addressed, and not otherwise. Its business must be demanded ; three times the question must be repeated, unless the ghost answer earlier. When it answers, it speaks in a low and hollow voice, stating its desire ; and it must not be interrupted while speaking, for to interrupt it is dangerous in the extreme. At the close of its remarks, questions are in order. They must be promptly delivered, however, or the ghost will vanish. They must bear on the business in hand : it is offended if asked as to its state, or other idle questions born of curiosity. Neglect to obey the ghost’s injunctions will lead to much annoyance, and eventually to dire results. At first the spirit will appear with a discontented visage, next with an angry one, and finally with a countenance distorted with the most ferocious rage. Obedience is the only method of escape from its revenge. Such is a resumé of the laws.
After I read this passage, I wondered if any written accounts of ghost sightings would really reflect all of these points? Sikes lists very precise details in a specific order. I couldn’t find one that completely fit the bill, but I did come across an account which includes many items from all that we’ve discussed so far. In Welsh Folk-Lore: A Collection of the Folk-Tales and Legends of North Wales, Elias Owen includes a ghost sighting, which occurred at Powis Castle.
A Spirit Sighting at Powis Castle
As the original is quite a long story, I’ve provided a summarized version below. While reading, perhaps keep an eye out for ways in which the account exemplifies the rules for ghost interactions.
One day a woman, who made her living by spinning hemp, inquired for work at Powis Castle. The gentry were in London at this time, so only the steward, his wife, and other servants were there. The steward’s wife gave the woman some work, but then later that evening asked the woman to spend the night because they would have more work for her the next day.
At bedtime, several servants escorted the woman to a grand bedroom with fine furniture, a large candle, and a nice fire. She found this surprising on two counts. First, she considered herself a poor person, who wouldn’t have normally been given such a room. Second, she didn’t understand why more than one servant had brought her to the room. But she didn’t seem to worry about it too long. Instead, she pulled a small Bible from her pocket and sat down in a chair to read before going to sleep. (There are several mentions in the tale of her being a “serious” woman and a Methodist, and that this was likely the reason the servants chose her to interact with the ghost.)
As she read her Bible, she heard the bedroom door open and saw a gentleman enter. He walked through over to the corner of the room; then on his return, stopped to lean against the bottom of a window. She did not recognize him, nor speak to him, and soon he left closing the door behind him.
At that point, she realized he was a ghost and that the servants had put her in this grand room intentionally. She stood up from the chair and went to kneel at the side of the bed in prayer. While she prayed, the ghostly gentleman entered the room again, walked around, then stopped behind her. She thought to speak, but was too distressed to do so. Then he left again, pulling the door closed.
She then prayed for strength, gathered her confidence, and resolved to speak to the apparition should it enter the room again. He soon came in once more, walked around, then stood behind her. This time she asked him who he was and what he wanted. He responded, instructing her to bring the candle, follow him, and that he would tell her. He led her down a long passage to a small room. He opened the door and entered, but she held back. He promised not to harm her and asked her to watch what he did.
He bent over and lifted up one of the floorboards, exposing a box. Then he showed her a crevice in the wall where the key to open the box was hidden. He explained that the box and key must be given to the Earl in London and provided her with all of the specific details. He then asked if she would see that this was done. She agreed to help. He told her if she accomplished the task, he would not haunt the room any longer. He then left the room.
She shouted to get the attention of the steward, his wife, and other servants. She told them all what had happened. The group of servants carried away the box and key. She then went to bed and slept undisturbed. She never learned what the box contained, but it was sent to the Earl in London. The Earl rewarded her by ensuring that she never wanted for anything for the rest of her life.
When Elias Owen first introduces the above account in his book, he claims it to be “… one of the most singular tales of the appearance of a Ghost ….” I’m inclined to agree with him, in that it is very complete and detailed. Additionally, it illustrates several aspects of an encounter with a ghost who has unfinished business. For example:
- The ghost appeared when the woman was alone, but he did not speak to her.
- The ghost continued to reappear until she greeted him and asked what he wanted.
- She received the ghost’s message and acted on it quickly, thus avoiding any potential ghostly wrath. In fact, Owen includes a parenthetical comment in the account about this and states, “He seems to have been a very civil Spirit, and to have been very careful to affright her as little as possible.”
Applying Aspects of Folklore to Creative Writing
For me as a creative writer, one of the most interesting aspects of folklore is studying tale types (a recurring plot pattern) like this. They can help generate ideas about plot and structure, which you can then incorporate into your own writing. For instance, you might use the structural points of the ghost with unfinished business theme (the “resumé of the laws”) as a story arc for writing a piece of folklore-inspired fiction or poetry.
I did something similar for the novel I’m working on, but using common elements of the changeling legend. After I established what elements many changeling accounts shared, I applied that knowledge to contribute to the plot of my book.
Thanks for reading and learning about Welsh ghosts with me! If you know someone who is fascinated by ghosts, feel free to share this post with them. 🙂
Art credit (featured image): Diligence and Dissipation: The Modest Girl in her Bed Chamber (Plate 4), print made by Thomas Gaugain via Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Fund, licensed under CC0
