Research source

Fairy Midwife and Magic Oil.--'The Tylwyth Teg had a kind of magic oil, and I remember this story about it:--A…

Date of account: Published 1911
Source: The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries
Reference: The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries · selected passage 226
Rights: public_domain
Language: English with translated testimony
Record updated: 2026-08-24

Record summary

Fairy Midwife and Magic Oil.--'The Tylwyth Teg had a kind of magic oil, and I remember this story about it:--A farmer went to Llangefni to fetch a woman to nurse his wife about to become a mother, and he found one of the Tylwyth Teg, who came with him on the back of his horse

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Source passage

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_Fairy Midwife and Magic Oil._--'The _Tylwyth Teg_ had a kind of magic oil, and I remember this story about it:--A farmer went to Llangefni to fetch a woman to nurse his wife about to become a mother, and he found one of the _Tylwyth Teg_, who came with him on the back of his horse. Arrived at the farm-house, the fairy woman looked at the wife, and giving the farmer some oil told him to wash the baby in it as soon as it was born. Then the fairy woman disappeared. The farmer followed the advice, and what did he do in washing the baby but get some oil on one of his own eyes. Suddenly he could see the _Tylwyth Teg_, for the oil had given him the second-sight. Some time later the farmer was in Llangefni again, and saw the same fairy woman who had given him the oil. "How is your wife getting on?" she asked him. "She is getting on very well," he replied. Then the fairy woman added, "Tell me with which eye you see me best." "With this one," he said, pointing to the eye he had rubbed with the oil.

Historical context

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Modern context

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