The Golden Harp Once there was a man named Morgan who lived on the edge of the rocky Welsh coast. Above everything else he loved singing and playing instruments, though he was quite awful at it. Everyone from his wife to his priest asked him to stop making such awful rackets. His voice was off-key, …
Welsh Tourist Destinations Wales is renowned for its beautiful landscapes, magnificent castles, and rich cultural history. One of the most common places to visit is Beaumaris Castle, a beautiful castle on the shore at Anglesey Island. Built by Edward I in the 13th century, it is one of the most preserved and largest castles of …
Welsh Alphabet The Welsh language uses a form of the Latin alphabet, just like English does. When the English invaded Wales during the Middle Ages, they brought their alphabet with them. Previous to the invasion Welsh had no written language. However, Welsh itself is older than the English language. The Welsh language does not use …
Welsh Children’s Songs Wales is known for its inventive songs and rhymes for children. Here are a couple of Welsh favorites. Y Broga Bach Broga bach aeth maes i rodio Twywyadio, Ar gefen ei farch a’i gyfwy cryno, Pwy lygadai ond llygoden. Meddai’r Broga Bach yn serchog, “A fynni di fod yn wraig i farchog?” …
Welsh Baby Names In the past, Welsh babies were usually given names from the Welsh language. For boys this meant names like Llewellyn, Carey, Bevan, Rhys, Tristan, and Gareth. Nowadays, boys often have names that come from the English language like Oliver, Jack, Ethan, Harry, and Charlie. The same thing goes for girls names. In …
Welsh Music Music plays a large part in Welsh culture and was a very important part of traditional life. Wales is often referred to as “the land of the song” because of its rich musical heritage. Wales is famous for its beautiful choral songs, which originate in the early Middle Ages. Welsh music has also …
Welsh Costumes At the end of 19th century Welsh people began to wear the suits and dresses common in England, and continue to follow English clothing trends today. However, Welsh women traditionally wore a very specific costume in their everyday life. They wore a dress called a “bedgown.” A bedgown is kind of like a …
Welsh Holidays The Roman Catholic faith has played a large part in Wales for the last millennia, and many Welsh holidays come from Catholic holidays. Besides Christmas and Easter, the most important Welsh Holiday is Saint David’s Day, which takes place every March 1st. Saint David lived in the 6th century. He was a famous …
A little Welsh History Wales has had a very long and difficult history. The nation has suffered through many invasions. The Ancient Romans invaded Wales in AD 48 and ruled over the area into the 4th century. After the Romans left many regional tribes and king fought for control of tiny principalities. By the 11th …
Welsh Children’s Games The most famous Welsh game of all time is “Oranges & Lemons.” Played throughout the UK, children sing a rhyming song called “Oranges & Lemons” and play a game along with it. The song goes like this: Oranges and lemons, Say the bells of St. Clement’s. You owe me five farthings; Say …