Black dog (ghost)
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A black dog is a spectral being found primarily in British folklore. The black dog is essentially a nocturnal spectre, and its appearance was regarded as a portent of death. It is generally supposed to be larger than a physical dog, and often has large, glowing eyes.
It is often associated with electrical storms (such as Black Shuck's appearance at Bungay, Suffolk), and also with crossroads, places of execution and ancient pathways. Its Welsh form is confined to the sea-coast parishes, and on the Norfolk coast the creature is supposed to be amphibious, coming out of the sea by night and travelling about the lonely lanes.
The origins of the black dog are difficult to discern. It is impossible to acertain whether the phantom originated in the Celtic or Germanic elements in British culture. Throughout European mythology, dogs have been associated with death. Examples of this are the Cŵn Annwn, Garm and Cerberus, all of whom were in some way guardians of the underworld. This association seems to be due to the scavenging habits of dogs. It is possible that the black dog is a survival of these beliefs.
Black dogs are almost universally malevolent, although few (like the Barghest) are held to be directly harmful. Most are a portent of death, or are in some way associated with the Devil. Some, however, like the Gurt Dog in Somerset and the Black Dog of West Peak (below) are benevolent.
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[edit] Black dogs by locale
Some of the better-known black dogs are the Barghest of (Yorkshire) and Black Shuck of (East Anglia).
Various other forms are recorded in folklore:
- In Wales its counterpart was Gwyllgi, the Dog of Darkness, a frightful apparition of a mastiff with baleful breath and blazing red eyes. A Welsh variant is Cŵn Annwn, or dogs of hell.
- In Lancashire the spectre-hound is called Gytrash, Trash, Striker or sometime, Shriker.
- In the Isle of Man it is styled Mauthe Doog, or Moddey Dhoo (black dog in Manx). People believe that anyone who sees the dog clearly will die soon after the encounter. It is mentioned by Sir Walter Scott in The Lay of the Last Minstrel--
- "For he was speechless, ghastly, wan
- Like him of whom the Story ran
- Who spoke the spectre hound in Man."
- In the Channel Island of Guernsey, there are two named dogs. One, Tchico (Tchi-coh two Norman words for dog, from whence cur), is headless, and is supposed to be the phantom of a past Bailiff of Guernsey, Gaultier de la Salle, who was hanged for falsely accusing one of his vassals. The other dog is known as Bodu or tchen Bodu (tchen being dog in Dgèrnésiais). His appearance, usually in the Clos du Valle, foretells death of the viewer or someone close to him. There are also numerous other unnamed apparitions, usually associated with placenames derived from bête (beast).
- In Jersey folklore, the Black Dog of Death is also called the Tchico, but a related belief in the Tchian d'Bouôlé (Black Dog of Bouley) tells of a phantom dog whose appearance presages storms. The story is believed to have been encouraged by smugglers who wanted to discourage nocturnal movements by people who might witness the movement of contraband.
- On mainland Normandy, the dog is referred to as the Rongeur d'Os (bone-gnawer).
- The Demon drummer of Tedworth sometimes manifested itself as a huge black dog.
- In Tring, Hertfordshire, a fierce-looking black hound with red eyes is said to haunt the middle of the road in the area where the gibbet once stood. Locally it is known as Lean Dog, and is the spirit of a chimney sweep executed for murder. When approached, the lean dog sinks into the ground.
- The Gurt Dog of Somerset is an example of a benevolent dog. It was said that mothers would allow their children to play unsupervised on the Quantock Hills because they believed that the Gurt Dog would protect them.
- The Black Dog of Winchester.
- Padfoot of Wakefield.
- The Black Dog of West Peak in Meriden, Connecticut is unique in that it does not take the guise of a large, fearsome hound. Instead, it appears as a small, sad black dog. The Black Dog of West Peak leaves no footprints and makes no sound, even when it appears to be barking happily or howling. It also appears to enjoy human company, somewhat ironically. Seeing the Black Dog of West Peak once is supposedly good luck, twice is bad luck and three times means death.
[edit] References
- Phenomena: A Book of Wonders Bob Rickard and John Michell (Thames Hudson Ltd, 1977; hardback ISBN 0-500-01182-6, paperback ISBN 0-500-27094-5)
- Folklore of Guernsey by Marie de Garis (1986) ASIN: B0000EE6P8
- Folklore, Myths and Legends of Britain (1977) ISBN 0-276-00168-0
- The Lore of the Land: A Guide to England's Legends, from Spring-heeled Jack to the Witches of Warboys Jennifer Westwood & Jacqueline Simpson (2005) ISBN 0-14-100711-7
