Tradition: English Mythology
Alternative Names: Joan-the-Wad
Category: Fairy
The Myth
Joan the Wad is the Queen of the Pixies, the tiny supernatural beings traditionally associated with Cornwall and Devon. Her name is connected with the Cornish term wad, meaning a torch or bundle of straw. She is therefore closely associated with light and with the mysterious glowing lights that appear on lonely moors at night.
Joan the Wad is associated with Jack o’ the Lantern, the King of the Pixies, and the two may appear as supernatural will-o’-the-wisps. In this form, they wander across lonely moors and can lead travelers astray in the darkness. Joan’s torch can therefore be dangerous, drawing those who follow its light away from safety when the weather is bad.
Yet Joan’s light is not always harmful. She is also believed to use her torch to guide travelers safely home and bring them good fortune. Her supernatural light consequently has a dual nature: it can mislead those who encounter it on the moors, but it can also illuminate the way toward safety and prosperity.
Sources
“Joan the Wad.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 5, 2026.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_the_Wad