I've always wondered where the story of The Holy Grail started. Stories of the existance of The Holy Grail have been spoken of for a very long time. The earliest recorded writings of The Grail is an unfinished story of Perceval in the "Chrestien de Troyes" in around 1180. The Welsh version, written down after Chrestian's but was well known beforehand, is mainly about vengeance and describes the Grail Castle, also known as the Castle of Wonders. It has never been understood exactly what the Grail is or what importance it signifies. There are several versions of the Grail story, ranging from the Perceval in the "Chrestian de Troyes", the Peredur in the "Mabinogion", and Parzizal written in German, to name a few. The earliest version of the Grail story makes no mention of the Grail itself, which may seem confusing at first, but this is because that story was never finished; but it is mentioned in the Chrestian account. That story was eventually finished in other guises by other cultures, but due to their versions seeming to be "over-the-top" descriptions that don't coinicide with the original, these later versions can't be completely trusted. The "Per" in Peredur stands for "bowl or vessal" in the languages of the Welsh and Cornish; but no explanation has ever been given as to what the remainder relates to. What follows is mostly from the Welsh version.
Peredur, a seventh son - of special mystical importance at the time - was brought up in a forest by his mother as she thought he would get killed in a fight just like his other six brothers. He was blessed with significant bodily strength and prowess. One day he saw three knights from Arthur's Court - Gwalchmai, Geneir and Owain. When he asked his mother what these people were, she replied "Angels". This made Peredur want to become an "Angel", and Owain showed him the use of saddles, shield, sword and tactics. That very evening he mounted a draught horse with a saddle made of twigs, took with him some sharp-pointed sticks and set out for Arthur's Court. The steward Kai greatly chastised Peredur and tried to deny him entrance to the Court, and eventually set him the challenge of fighting a stranger knight who had earlier challenged the whole Court to a fight. Peredur went and found the knight, who was swaying back and forth waiting for an opponent, and pierced his skull with one of the sharp sticks. Not knowing how to take the fallen knights armour off for himself, again Owen showed Peredur how to do this. Peredur then left Arthur's Court where he went about figthing in Arthur's name, overcoming his opponents with realative ease. Peredur never went back to Arthur's Court until Kai was reproved by Arthur for the insult he was given.
Peredur came about a castle that sat beside a lake, with an old man, and several attendants who were fishing. As Peredur drew nearer, the old man got up and turned round to head back inside the castle, and it's here that Peredur noticed that the man was lame. When Peredur went inside the castle, he was greeted warmly, and the old man told him "I am thy uncle, thy mother's brother". After they had a meal, the old man asked him whether he knew how to fight with a sword. The old man then taught him all the knightly accomplishments, including courtesy and noble bearing. As Peredur left the castle, the old man reminded him that whatever he saw not to ask the meaning of it unless he was informed; as this is a true test of self-restraint, and also shows obediance in what the old man was instructing. Peredur left the castle to continue his adventures.
He next came to a large desert wood, beyond which was a magnificant castle, the Castle of Wonders. He entered it by an open door, and found a stately hoary-headed man siting in a great hall with many assistants about him, who recieved Peredur honourably. After they had eaten a meal, the lord of the castle asked him whether he could fight with a sword. Peredur replied "Were I to receive instruction, I think I could". The lord then gave Peredur a sword and bade him to strike at an iron staple that was in the floor. Peredur did this, and cut the staple in two, but the sword also split in two. "Place the two parts together" said the lord, and whence Peredur did this the two parts became one again, both sword and staple. The second time this was done, the same result occured. On the third strike neither sword nor staple would reunite. The lord then said "Thou hast arrived, at two-thirds of thy strength. I am your uncle, brother of the fisher-lord". Two youths then entered the hall bearing a mighty spear, the point of which three streams of blood dropped to the ground, to which the lords assistants began wailing. The lord took no notice of this and carried on conversing with Peredur. Next came in two maidens carrying between them a large salver, on which lay a man's head admid a profusion of blood. To which the wailing increased in tempo and volume. Then a double-branched candlestick was brought in, the light from which pierced and lit up every shadow in the lord's hall. The wailing continued. Throughout all this the lord continued to convers with Peredur. Next the Graal was brought in, which immediately extinguished the light from the candles, to be replaced with the Graal's own brilliant and shimmering light. The wailing died down. Peredur was led to his chambers. Mindful of the injunction of the fisher-lord, he had done as he was asked and shown no surprise nor had he asked the meaning of it. He left the Castle of Wonders the next morning.
The head on the silver dish was Peredur's cousin. The lance was the spear that had slain him, which had also lamed the fisher-lord. Peredur was shown these things to incite him the avenge the wrong and to prove his fitness for the task. The "9 Sorceresses of Gloucester" were said to have worked this evil on Peredur's relatives, and soon thereafter Peredur found this out. With Arthur's help they attacked the Sorceresses and killed every one, and the vengeance was accomplished.
This brings an end to the Welsh version of the tale. The Welsh version is the shortest and less informative of all accounts given. Chrestien's version does mention some further adventures with Peredur's companion knight, Gauvain (Sir Gawain), but the objects in the castle were not described in this tale, the story being never completed. In other versions of this story, although appearing to be of similar factual basis, there are rumours that Peredur asked many questions and subsequently failed the test, thereby curing the lame fisher-lord and allowing the stately uncle to finally rest, for Peredur now became the guardian of the Castle of Wonders; but these add-on tales are mainly to be found in the sections that have since been added to Chrestien's account after he died. Had Peredur not successfully completed the tests then he would have suffered a similar fate to his six brothers and two uncles.
Peredur was being tested. He listened and heeded the words of his fisher-man uncle, namely he showed self-restraint in not asking questions, and the obediance in the striking of the iron staple. He had passed all the tests. There are similarity's between this and both the "Conte del Graal" or "Perceval le Gallois" versions written in 1180.
What historical material was used to write the "Chrestien de Troyes" version is not known, but the Welsh version is certainly the most archaic of all. The post-historical continuations of Chrestian's tell of Sir Gawain attempting the same test as Peredur, but only half completed it. Afterwards he was able to restore the lands about the castle, which were actually desert, to a blooming fertility. The Grail thereafter was proported to have the talismanic powers of rejuvination.
It has always been said that the Grail was the Cup of the Last Supper, and the lance was the one that had pierced the side of Christ at the Crucifixion. No ancient text has ever mentioned this explicitly, but there is certainly some clues that have lead to the reasoning behind such an idea. The Cauldron of the Dagda is an object that is suppose to have the character of rejuvination according to Celtic myth. It is also mentioned in many myths in early Breton legends. I'll admit to having included in the above story the part about the Graal in the lord's hall - for it is not in the original Welsh version but is mentioned in others - and it was included for the following purpose. The Parzival version of the tale describes the talisman was a stone, which usually in Celtic myth is either a cauldron or vessel of some description. This vessel has always been associated with blood-dripping lances.