Saturday, 3 October 2026

Accusation of selling a bewitched pig in an 1888 book on Welsh folklore

A book of Welsh folklore from 1888 tells of a Welsh woman accused of selling a "bewitched pig" at market. Having noticed that something was amiss from certain outward signs and from the piglet's behaviour, the buyer insisted that the seller lift the curse by passing her hand over the pig's back seven times, each time saying "God's blessing be upon thee". Strangely enough, the blessing worked: the pig came to its senses and, to judge by its look, the curse had withdrawn. Indeed, it is sometimes easier to lift a hex than to come down on the price.

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