Hafgan: a Cymric Mabinogi Hero (Summer White)

Synonyms:
Cym: Summer White

Hafgan is known from the Mabinogi of Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed where he is the mortal enemy of Arawn lord of the realm of Annwfn. Pwyll leader of Dyfed is out hunting and he encounters a white red-eared stag being hunted by another man's hounds. He drives these away and sets his own hounds on the beast. The huntsman appears and in recompense rquests that Pwyll deal with his enemy, Hafgan. For Havgan is a king of Annwfn but his lands are opposed to Arawn's and they are forever warring. Pwyll agrees to rid Arawn of his enemy. Arawn gives Pwyll his own semblance and sends him to Annwfn in his stead. Exacly a year hence Arawn and Hafgan were destined to do battle at the Ford. Arawn explains that with a single blow he could kill Hafgan. But were he to give him a second blow then Hafgan would revive and continue to fight on the second day as well as he did on the first. Thus Pwyll takes Arawn's form and Arawn assumes Pwyll's that they may enter each other's kingdom.

A year from that day and he came to the Ford and engaged Hafgan in single combat. So mighty was Pwyll's blow that it struck the boss of Hafgan's shield, cleaving it in two. The sword drove through his armour and bore Hafgan to the ground a full spear's length from his steed's crupper. Hafgan is mortally wounded and implores Pwyll (who is in the guise of Arawn) to properly dispose of him, but Pwyll refuses. Hafgan has his nobles bear him away and declares Pwyll the sole lord of Annwfn. Thus he received the momage of Hafgan's men and conquered his domains, uniting the two lands as one. Thus did Arawn become the lord of all Annwfn and from than day forward was Pwyll Leader of Dyfed known as Pwyll Head of Annwfn.

The symbolic battle between Pwyll and Hafgan is highly reminiscent of the combat between Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in the tale of the same name and it is widely believed that Hafgan contirbuted to the conception of the Green Knight.

Hafgan's name can be split into two parts haf (summer) and can — which could either be the literal form 'song' or a corruption of 'gwyn' (white) — the latter rendering currently being the one preferred. Thus Hafgan would seem to be the Summer Lord. Pwyll's hunt could either be a late autumn hunt (after the rut) or an early spring hunt; placing the combat either at Calan Gaeaf (Hallowe'en) or Calan Mai (May Eve). Traditionally the hosts of Annwfn venture forth on Calan Gaeaf (the start of the ancient Celtic New Year) thus it would seem that the fight between Hafgan and Pwyll ocurred during the winter half of the year at Calan Gaeaf. In one sense the defeat of Hafgan could be seen as the uniting of the light and dark halves of the year under Arawn's rule. The relationship between Arawn and Pwyll representing a linkage of the world of men and Annwfn within the cantref of Dyfed.

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