December 26th- Pryderi

Today we're going to start to really dig in to the stored of The Mabinogion, at a rate of 1 each day, as very helpfully there are 11 stories, to accompany our 11 special colours of Superfine Merino and Silk. 
This is the First Branch of the Mabinogi, in my companion book, The Mab it goes by the name Rhiannon, Pwyll and the Hideous Claw. 
Here's a retelling if you would like to hear how to pronounce Pwyll...

If you'd like a bit of audio background and some explanation this podcast does a good job... though I think the pronunciation of some of the names is a little bit dodgy. 
If you'd rather read the story for yourself there's an online version here.

The fibre todays is called Pryderi, which means care, and that rather gives away the ending of our story. The narrative is one of the classic changeling child. Pwyll falls in love with Rhiannon, and she gives birth to a baby boy. That night the baby is snatched away, and her serving women blame the hound sleeping in the corner of the bed chamber (there are certain resemblances to the legend of Gelert in this story.) In reality the monster that snatches the baby actually ends up leaving him at a different household. They raise him as their own, until they hear the tale of what happened Rhiannon and Pwyll, when he's returned to them they change his name from Gwri to Pryderi. 

The 12 Days of Christmas parcels were so popular this year that I don't have much spare of some of the colours of fibre... what tiny amount there is  left is now in the online shop. If you miss that and want something with a similar feel Flamingo features streaks of grey and brown but is a cooler shade of pink, or Shell is a very similar shade of pink/peach but with no variegation.