Bwgan Brain: The Welsh Scarecrow in Folklore

Bwgan brain means scarecrow in Welsh. It names the familiar human-shaped figure put among crops, but its first word also belongs to the language of ghosts and bogeys. That makes it an expressive word to learn: the practical object and the frightening idea sit close together.

The connection needs care. A ghostly meaning for bwgan does not, by itself, establish a national legend in which every Welsh scarecrow comes alive. The word, the object and the stories people tell about frightening figures each offer something different to explore.

What the two words mean

Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru's entry for bwgan gives meanings including ghost, hobgoblin and bugbear, and records bwgan brain as scarecrow. The second word, brain, means crows. It is the plural of brân.

A useful way to remember the expression is a bogey for crows: something intended to frighten birds away. The natural English translation of the whole expression is simply scarecrow. Translating the parts too literally as the ghost of a crow would give the wrong impression.

The phrase is worth learning as a pair. Either word can occur in other contexts, but together they give you the everyday name for the figure in a field or allotment.

One scarecrow, several scarecrows

For one scarecrow, use bwgan brain. For more than one, use bwganod brain. The first word changes; brain already means crows and stays the same.

You can see the plural in ordinary contemporary writing. Mentrau Iaith's account of its scarecrow competition uses bwganod brain when discussing the entries. That is a useful bridge between learning a dictionary form and recognising it in a real sentence.

The figure in the field

Clothes create a human outline

A simple scarecrow turns a support frame, old clothes and stuffing into a recognisable figure. The Royal Horticultural Society's scarecrow activity shows one familiar construction: crossed sticks support a shirt and trousers, with straw or leaves used as filling. There is no single required costume.

The Penmaenmawr allotment photograph shows the idea at work. A hat, sleeves and a standing posture suggest a person among the plants. Old garments supply much of the character, whether the result looks cheerful, shabby or alarming.

The crops explain the setting

Step back from the figure and the surrounding plants become part of the explanation. In Richard Webb's photograph of the Teme Valley, scarecrows stand among wheat at Lower Stanage. A close view makes the clothes and construction visible; a wider view shows the agricultural setting.

That distinction is useful when reading an old photograph or visiting an allotment. Is the figure standing among growing crops, beside a road, or at a village display? The answer may suggest its purpose. A field deterrent, a decorative figure and a competition entry can all be called a scarecrow, even when they are being used differently.

Where the folklore connection begins

The dictionary meaning of bwgan explains why the expression can sound eerie. A figure that resembles a person but remains motionless lends itself to a frightening story. That is an interpretation of its appearance and language, rather than evidence for one fixed Welsh scarecrow legend.

Welsh folklore also contains named beings with their own recorded traditions. The Hwch Ddu Gwta, for example, appears in Amgueddfa Cymru's account of Halloween customs. It is a fearsome sow in those stories, not another name for a scarecrow. Keeping such distinctions makes the folklore more interesting and more accurate.

When someone tells you a local scarecrow story, ask where they heard it and what place it belongs to. A remembered family tale, a published story and a newly invented character can all be enjoyable, but they should be described on their own terms.

From field deterrent to community display

Scarecrows also give communities an opportunity to make something together. The photograph below records a figure advertising a harvest-festival scarecrow competition at All Saints, Buttington, in 2007. Its roadside position and sign tell a different story from the figures standing among wheat.

A later example is Brwydr y Bwgan Brain, the national competition organised by Mentrau Iaith in 2020. Its announcement named Fforwm Cymunedol Penparcau as the winner and described a theme centred on Wales and Welsh identity. This is a documented modern use of scarecrows for community creativity, with a date and organiser of its own.

A quick way to remember it

Picture one figure in an allotment and say bwgan brain. Picture several entries in a village competition and say bwganod brain. Now try recalling the plural before opening the answer.

For the seasonal stories mentioned here, continue with Calan Gaeaf and the Welsh traditions behind Halloween.