Death Omens 4

Cwn Annwn (Hounds of the Deep or Hounds of Hell) Cwn Mamau (Hounds of the Mothers) Sluagh (Host) Unseelie Court (Unblessed Court) Marcaigh Móra Géala (Great Bright Moon Riders) Teufelhunden (Devil & His Dandy Dogs) (Wild Hunt) (Yule Host) Cú Taidhbhse (Ghost Hounds) (Gabriel Hounds) Ratchets (Death Rattle) (Yeth Hounds: Isle of Man) Heath, Heathen (Heather)

(pron. koon anoon, slooa, heeth) Welsh pack of soul-hunting ghost dogs who are snow white with red ears and eyes like silver mirrors. They are the hounds of the Underworld Annwyn: The Great Deep whose baying is identified with the crying of wild geese as they migrate. The Cwn Annwyn ride the skies in autumn, winter, and early spring with the god Arawn: Slow Sun on a grey horse. Brân: Black Raven of Rebirth is Arawn’s companion in the form of a gray dog with yellow feet, two black sides, white stomach, and two red small ears. The Crone Mallt-y-Nos: Matilda of the Night, rides with Arawn and the hounds, chasing lost souls to Annwn with her shrieks and wails. The Cwn Annwn also serve as the escorts of souls on their journey to the Otherworld. They hunt on the eves of St. John, St. Martin, Saint Michael the Archangel, All Saints, Christmas, New Year, Saint Agnes, Saint David, & Good Friday

The English Wild Hunt are black dogs with red eyes who haunt the moors: treeless areas filled with an evergreen shrub called heather that has tiny blossoms shaped like bells. Both sets of dogs snort fire and hunt human beings. Running among them is a shadowy figure of a man with antlers carrying a long hunting-pole. You can put them at bay by praying. Wisht Hounds are headless. Their opposite is the Seelie: Blessed Court In Germany the leader of the hunt called the Erlkönig: Erl King and the Hag is Berchta. (13, 10, 20, 39, 133)

World Book Encyclopedia: The ratchet rattle is a wooden toothed wheel fixed to a handle at one end of a frame. At the opposite end of the frame is a flexible blade. When swung or twirled, the frame swings around the handle and each tooth on the turning wheel plucks the blade. It is a musical instrument in symphony orchestras. In Switzerland, Spain, & other Roman Catholic countries, enormous mechanically operated ratchet rattles are set up in church towers. They call the faithful to prayer during the week before Easter because no bells may be rung from Maundy Thursday until the following Saturday.