HAF: summer
By Joshua Morgan, Sketchy Welsh
Haf summer
Mehefin June , meaning middle of the summer
(made from proto-celtic ‘medyos’ for middle, combined with ‘hefin’ a masculine version of haf)
Gorffennaf July (gorffen: finish + haf)
Afon Hafren The River Severn
Hafren (previously Halbren) was the name of the drowned princess and subsequent river godess that the River Severn was named after.
The name Severn itself comes from Sabrina which was the Roman’s latinised version of Hafren/Halbren.
Haf/Hafren is a girls name and Hefin is used for boys.
Hafgan
Can in Middle Welsh meant luminous brightness
Cân means song
Hafgan’s name either meaning ‘bright summer’ or ‘summer song.’
Arawn the king of Annwn (the underworld), who hunts with the Cŵn Annwn (the hounds of Annwn) throughout the winter and up until Calen Mai, the first day of May. Arawn also became conflated with the person of Gwyn ap Nudd, who was kind of a personification of winter and e-scooter of souls to the afterlife.
Hafgan and Arawn have been depicted as having a yearly battle for kingship creating the turn of the seasons from summer and spring to autumn and winter. In the tales of the Mabinogi, Arawn tricks Hafgan and has him killed by the mortal Pwyll.