National Eisteddfod

Did you know that Wales has its own language? Or that the Welsh language has a vibrant, growing, exciting music scene? We even have our own national dish and a cake named after us!

What is the National Eisteddfod? / Beth yw'r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol?

• Celebration of Welsh culture and language (Cymraeg)
• Held during the first week of August every year
• Competition-based festival, including
  • Singing
  • Dancing
  • Recitals 

History / Hanes

• Origins

  • The first historical Eisteddfod (eye-steth-ffod) can be traced back to 1176
  • Bardic competition held in Cardigan Castle
  • Competition-based festival
  • Held locally
     

• Modern Celebrations

  • First National Eisteddfod of Wales celebrations were held in Aberdare back in 1861

  • Still competition-based

  • Evolved into a festival celebrating Welsh culture and language
  • Alternates between North and South Wales locations each year

Welsh Language / Iaith Gymraeg

• Cymraeg (come-raig)
• Celtic language
• One of the oldest in the world
• Spoken in Britain even before the Roman occupation - as far back as 600 BC!
• Saw a decline in usage around 1911, but it endured and is now seeing a renewed increase in popularity
• You'll find it on road signs, in supermarkets, and spoken on the street
• Hard-fought, dedicated Welsh-language TV channel; S4C

Culture / Diwylliant

Bands / Bandiau

There's no shortage of bands from Wales - Manic Street Preachers, Super Furry Animals, Feeder, Catfish and the Bottlemen - but there is also a growing Welsh language music scene. Here are a few to get you started!

• Adwaith
  • Indie-rock band from Carmarthen
     
• Super Furry Animals
  • Album Mwng is the highest-selling Welsh language record
     
• Yws Gwynedd
  • Pop rock from North Wales
     
• HMS Morris
  • Avant-garde art-rock from South Wales
     

Films & TV / Ffilmiau & Teleddu

• Hedd Wyn (film)
  • Anti-war biopic
     
• Y Swn (film)
  • Story of Welsh politician Gwynfor Evans and his campaign for a Welsh language television in Wales
    
     
• Y Gwyll (TV series, English language version: Hinterland)
  • A Welsh-noir crime drama set in mid-Wales
     
• 35 Diwrnod (TV series)
  • A gripping whodunnit murder mystery

Food / Bwyd

• Welsh Rarebit
  • Ultimate Welsh comfort food!
  • Welsh cheese mixed with mustard or beer, generously spread over toasted bread
     
• Cawl (ca-ool)
  • Considered the national dish of Wales
  • Dates back to the 14th century
  • Stew made of lamb, leeks, and other seasonal vegetables
     
• Cockles
  • Small, shelled molluscs
  • Traditionally seen as a Welsh breakfast but now enjoyed as a snack with a dash of vinegar
  • Originally (though no longer) transported by donkey from Gower for sale in town!
     
• Bara Brith
  • Sweet afternoon pick-me-up
  • Cake infused with tea, dried fruits and spices
  • Enjoyed with butter and a cuppa
     
• Welsh Cakes
  • Can be found in almost all Welsh markets
  • Soft, circular cakes dusted in sugar
  • Traditionally contain sultanas but can be found with chocolate chips too
     
• Laverbread
  • The Welshman's Caviar
  • Boiled seaweed mixed with oats and then fried
  • Part of the Welsh Breakfast
     

Language / Iaith

If you have some Welsh-speaking housemates, impress them by banging out a couple of these sayings:

• Shwmae! (shoo-my)
  • A versatile and informal greeting that can be used at any time of the day
     
• Ti'n iawn? (teen ya-oon)
  • An informal way of asking how someone is; "you ok?"
     
• Diolch (dee-ol-ch - the ch as in the Scottish 'loch')
  • Thank you
     
• Bore da! (boreh dah)
  • Good morning!
     
• Prynhawn da (prin-how-n dah)
  • Good afternoon
     
• Nos da (norse dah)
  • Good night
     
• Hwyl! (hor-eel)
  • Bye!

This article will give you a good basis for understanding the Eisteddfod and some bits and bobs of Welsh culture and language - there are plenty of resources online if you want to find out more about the history of our amazing country, or even learn how to speak Cymraeg!