Calan Gaeaf / Welsh Halloween Welsh Phrases
Calan Gaeaf
Calan Gaeaf / Welsh Halloween is called "Calan Gaeaf" in Welsh and is celebrated on 1 November (Nos Galan Gaeaf: 31 October). The greeting is "Nos Galan Gaeaf" (Halloween night / Winter's Eve).
Calan Gaeaf is the Welsh name for the first day of winter — and Nos Galan Gaeaf (its eve, 31 October) is Welsh Halloween. Like Ireland, Wales has ancient traditions that predate the modern holiday. Here are the Welsh phrases for this haunted night.
Essential phrases
Nos Galan Gaeaf
Halloween night / Winter's Eve
The Welsh name for Halloween
Calan Gaeaf
First day of winter
1 November — the day after the haunted night
Yr Hwch Ddu Gwta
The tailless black sow
The terrifying spirit of Welsh Halloween
Coelcerth
Bonfire
Lit on hilltops — everyone wrote their name on stones placed around it
Ysbryd
Ghost / spirit
The spirits abroad on this night
Gwrach
Witch
Witches in Welsh folklore
Pwca
Goblin / Puck
A mischievous spirit — same root as Irish Púca
Afalau
Apples
Used for bobbing and divination games
Cnau
Nuts
Thrown into the fire for divination
Y Ladi Wen
The White Lady
A ghostly figure in Welsh folklore, active on this night
Twyll neu Trît
Trick or Treat
The modern tradition has Welsh roots
Bwgan
Scarecrow / bogeyman
A frightening figure in Welsh tradition
The history of Calan Gaeaf
Nos Galan Gaeaf was considered the most terrifying night of the year in Welsh tradition. People would light bonfires (coelcerthi) and run home without looking back, for fear of seeing Yr Hwch Ddu Gwta — a tailless black sow that chased the last person from the fire. Divination games with apples and nuts predicted who would marry. The tradition of carving turnip lanterns (not pumpkins) is shared with Ireland.
Further reading
Go beyond the phrases
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