Fairies In Markets And Fairs
: FAIRY MEN CAPTURED.: Welsh Folk-lore
It was once firmly believed by the Welsh that the Fairy Tribe visited
markets and fairs, and that their presence made business brisk. If there
was a buzz in the market place, it was thought that the sound was made by
the Fairies, and on such occasions the farmers' wives disposed quickly of
their commodities; if, however, on the other hand, there was no buzz, the
Fairies were absent, and there was then no business transacted.
Mr. Richard Jones, Ty'n-y-Wern, Bryneglwys, who, when a youth, lived in
Llanbedr parish, near Ruthin, informed the writer that his mother, after
attending a market at Ruthin, would return home occasionally with the sad
news that They were not there, meaning that the Fairies were not
present in the market, and this implied a bad market and no sweets for
Richard. On the other hand, should the market have been a good one, she
would tell them that They filled the whole place, and the children
always had the benefit of their presence.
This belief that the Fairies sharpened the market was, I think, general.
I find in Y Gordofigion, p. 97, the following words:--
Byddai y Tylwyth Teg yn arfer myned i farchnadoedd y Bala, ac yn gwneud
twrw mawr heb i neb eu gweled, ac yr oedd hyny yn arwydd fod y farchnad
ar godi, which is:--
The Fairies were in the habit of frequenting Bala markets, and they made
a great noise, without any one seeing them, and this was a sign that the
market was sharpening.
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