Halloween Nights in Wales | Burning the Wicker Man at St Fagans

Every Halloween, St Fagans National Museum of History near Cardiff is transformed for Halloween Nights — with Welsh folklore, scare actors, storytelling, fairground rides and plenty of fire.

And at the end of the night, the Wicker Man is burned. Yep – a Wicker Man is burned!

But why is there a Wicker Man at Halloween in Wales? Where did the idea come from, and what does it have to do with Welsh traditions such as Nos Calan Gaeaf?

In this video, I explore Halloween Nights at St Fagans, including the Ladi Wen, Hwch Ddu Gwta, ghost stories, Welsh folklore and the spectacular burning of the Wicker Man:

Watch the video below, or check out Halloween Nights on my YouTube channel

I also look at the ancient claims about wicker figures and human sacrifice, the illustrations that helped create the modern image of the Wicker Man, and Wales’s connection with this enduring piece of Gothic imagery.

Halloween Nights returns to St Fagans from 29–31 October 2026 – see you there!

Spooky season is busy season!

I’ll be holding lots of talks – public and private – across Wales and beyond during September, October and November 2026. Keep an eye on social media for the latest dates.

I try my best to record a vlog at as many as I can, be sure to check out the YouTube channel for more spooky cultural adventures!

Also, for more Cardiff ghost stories – including accounts from St Fagans – be sure to check out my books Paranormal Wales and Paranormal Cardiff, available from all good bookshops, offline and on.

Got a suggestion for a future spooky cultural adventure, or want to book a talk? Get in touch!