Joan the Wad
Joan the Wad…I just love that name. ‘Wad’ is Cornish dialect for ‘Torch’ and Joan is the Queen of the piskeys (or pixies). It was easy to elect Joan as their queen, since most piskeys are male.
Harry Potter and his blue piskeys notwithstanding, piskeys are fair-skinned, wrinkled, and dress mainly in green, with red caps on their heads. They are small – anywhere from mouse-size to just under three-feet tall.
Piskeys are mischievous, rather than malicious, playing pranks on people. They like to lead travelers astray in the moors, turn milk sour by dancing on the cowshed roof, and ride a horse in circles all night until the animal is exhausted. If you are traveling in Cornwall, one way to protect yourself from their tricks is to wear your coat inside out.
Even today, people carry small figures of Joan with them for luck. There is a rhyme that says, “Good fortune will nod, if you carry upon you Joan the Wad.”
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Monday is the What’s Your Chocolate? blogfest! I hope to see you here, sharing thoughts with me about the creamy goodness. 
Laura, this is your best Fantasy Friday ever. There’s no violence in it. And who couldn’t imagine the mostly male piskeys electing Joan their queen? This says it all about these folks: “Piskeys are mischievous, rather than malicious, playing pranks on people.” Where do I go to sign up?
Thanks, Ron! It might be kind of fun to sign up to play pranks. I wouldn’t like wearing the red hat though.
I think of flying Gremlins when you describe piskeys. )
I can’t wait for the Chocolate blogfest. It’s going to be so much fun!!
Oh, dear…flying Gremlins can’t be good, Ciara! Bring on the chocolate.
I heart this post!
I knew you would, Buffy!
I love this. I had no idea about Joan the Wad. Have a great weekend.
Hi, Melissa. Just her name cracks me up.
Is that a Joan the Wad statue in your pocket…?
Sorry, couldn’t resist!
Bad, Alex, bad! I’m glad I wasn’t drinking something when I read that!
Hi Laura .. got chocolate in mind … but fascinating about Wad – have got a very old Cornish dictionary from my mother’s – which I’ve kept …
Cornwall is ‘my home’ … piskeys, pasties and all things Cornish and now Joan the Wad ..
Cheers Hilary
I didn’t know you hail from Cornwall, Hilary. I’d love to get back to England and go piskey hunting.
I love the name Joan the Wad. I was telling the boys last weekend about the lady creating people from mud. Good stuff, Laura. See you Monday!
Was that while threatening to fling mud at them, Mary?
Happy stargazing and see you Monday!
A great name, as everyone mentioned.
I know nothing of Cornish, other than pasties. So Joan is a great addition.
I’m glad to have contributed Joan to your collection, Kevin.