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Eisteddfod:
According to the
Wales Tourist Board:
"...The
present form of the eisteddfod is a nineteenth century creation.
Wales at that time was a country where the national language and culture
lacked patronage because the property owning gentry had become Anglicised.
The medieval meeting of the bards, called an eisteddfod, was revived as
a means of attracting patronage for Welsh cultural activity. At
first, competitions were confined to poetry composition and harp playing;
but today choir singing, bands, acting, recitation, fiction writing, painting
and much more is judged at an eisteddfod."
"There
are two important annual eisteddfodau in Wales. The first is the
National Eisteddfod which is held in North Wales and South Wales in alternate
years at the beginning of August. The ceremonies of this
eisteddfod are carried out by the Gorsedd of Bards which is an association
of people interested in Welsh literature and music. The International
Eisteddfod takes place in Llangollen where dancers, singers and choirs
from every part of the world converge to take part in this global festival
of music. The Llangollen Eisteddfod usually takes place in July."
Saint
David:
St.
David has been the patron saint of Wales since the 12th century.
He is the only saint to be canonized in the Western Church but little
else is known about his life. He died in 589 or 601 and a monastery
which he founded in the area of Pembrokeshire bears his name.
St.
David's Day is celebrated on the 1st March, with the Welsh wearing a daffodil
or leek in their buttonhole, many school children wearing the national
costume, and many schools holding eisteddfoddau.
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The Leek:
The leek is the
traditional National emblem for Wales. It is worn as a buttonhole
on Dydd Dewi Sant (St. David's Day) although these days people usually
wear a cotton replica.
The leek
is known to have been worn as a Welsh emblem in 1536. Shakespeare's
'Henry V' has references to this.
A legend tells of a battle fought between the Welsh and the Saxons
in a field of leeks and that St. David told the soldiers to wear
a leek on their helmets. It is also thought that the leek
was linked to St. David as it was an important part of the diet
in days of old, particularly at Lent. |
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Daffodils:
The daffodil
is the National Flower emblem for Wales. It has no literary
and historical distinction and has been used as the emblem only
in fairly recent history.
It has
possibly become the favoured buttonhole because it is more attractive
than the leek. It does share the same welsh name as the leek
- ceninen. It heralds the beginning of summer and
flowers in time for Dydd Dewi Sant (St. David's Day)
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Lovespoon:
It
was a tradition in Wales (from as far back as the 17th century)
for a boy to present his true love with a wooden 'Lovespoon' which
he had carved by his own hand.
A spoon
suggests that one can help himself; a love spoon the desire to help
one's lover.
The spoon
usually contained a number of significant elements with increasing
degree of difficulty in carving to show the strength of his love
for her:
- one
or two spoon bowls
- a heart
- a key
- a chain link
- a captive ball
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The
Welsh Flag:
The
red dragon (Y ddraig goch) became the symbol of the Welsh
nation through its adoption by the Tudor ancestors of King Henry
VII. It is probable that the dragon banner of Henry Tudor
served as his tribute to the Welsh people who made possible his
victory against King Richard III. |
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The
Crest:
The
crest of three ostrich plumes and the motto of "Ich Dien"
(German - "I Serve") were adopted by the Black
Prince at the Battle of Crecy. The feathers and motto were
suggested by the decorations of the King of Bohemia who led the
cavalry charges against the English. The crest is still used by
Welsh regiments.
It is the crest used by the Welsh Association of Male Choirs (Cymdeithas
Corau Meibion Cymru) of which the Australian Welsh
Male Choir is a member. |
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