In the rich folklore of Wales, the tale of the Gwrach-y-Rhibyn, also known as the Hag of the Mist, is one that sends a chill down the spine. This monstrous spirit is described as a hideously ugly woman, with a harpy-like appearance: unkempt hair, withered arms with leathery wings, long black teeth and pale corpse-like features. An old Welsh saying used to describe a woman without good looks goes, “Y mae mor salw â Gwrach y Rhibyn”, translating to “she is as ugly as the Gwrach y Rhibyn”.
The Gwrach-y-Rhibyn is said to approach the window of a person on the brink of death at night, calling out their name. Sometimes, she travels invisibly beside them, uttering her cry when they approach a stream or crossroads. In some tales, she is depicted washing her hands at these spots. Her wails and shrieks are most often heard as “Fy ngŵr, fy ngŵr!” (My husband! My husband!) or “Fy mhlentyn, fy mhlentyn bach!” (My child! My little child!). Sometimes though, she assumes a male’s voice and cries “Fy ngwraig! Fy ngwraig!” (My wife! My wife!).
When death is imminent, it is believed that the name of the person doomed can be heard in her “shrill tenor”. Often invisible, she can sometimes be caught in sight at a crossroad or a stream when the mist rises.
Speculations suggest that this chilling apparition may have once been considered a water deity, or an aspect of the Welsh goddess Dôn. In certain narratives of the Taliesin myth, she is portrayed as the wife of Afagddu, the despised son of Ceridwen and Tegid Foel.
The tale of the Gwrach-y-Rhibyn adds a haunting layer to the rich tapestry of Welsh folklore, a reminder of the deep-rooted belief in the supernatural that still echoes in the modern era.