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Culture of Wales |
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Wales has a distinctive culture including its own language, customs, holidays and music.
Wales is primarily represented by the symbol of the red Welsh Dragon, but other national emblems include the leek and daffodil. The Welsh words for leeks (cennin) and daffodils (cennin Pedr, lit. "(Saint) Peter's Leeks") are closely related and it is likely that one of the symbols came to be used due to a misunderstanding for the other one, though it is less clear which came first.
Contents
Development of Welsh culture
Historical influences
Identity
Nationalism
Symbols
Language
Religion
Prior to the Roman occupation, the dominant religion in Wales was pagan, led by the druids. Little is known about the traditions and ceremonies, but it was known that they performed human sacrifice as described by Tacitus in AD 61, an altar on Anglesey was found to be "drenched with the blood of their prisoners".[1] Christianity was introduced to Wales through the Romans, and after they abandoned the British Isles, it survived in South East Wales at Hentland. It the 6th century, it was home to Dubricius, the first celtic saint.[2]
The largest religion in modern Wales is Christianity, with almost 58% of the population declaring to be Christian in the 2011 census.[3] The Presbyterian Church of Wales was for many years the largest denomination and was born out of the Welsh Methodist revival in the eighteenth century and seceded from the Church of England in 1811;[4] The Church in Wales had an average Sunday attendance of 32,171 in 2012.[5] It forms part of the Anglican Communion, and was also part of the Church of England, but was disestablished by the British Government in 1920 under the Welsh Church Act 1914.[6] Non Christian religions have relatively few followers in Wales, with Muslims making up 1.5% of the population while both Hindus and Buddists represent 0.3% each in the 2011 census. Over 32% of the population in Wales did not note a religion.[3] Research in 2007 by the Tearfund organisation showed that Wales had the lowest average church attendance in UK at 12% of the population routinely attending.[5]
Festivals
The patron saint of Wales is Saint David, Dewi Sant in Welsh. St. David's Day is celebrated on 1 March, which some people argue should be designated a public holiday in Wales. Other days which have been proposed for national public commemorations are 16 September (the day on which Owain Glyndŵr's rebellion began) and 11 December (the death of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd).
The traditional seasonal festivals in Wales are:
- Calan Gaeaf (a Hallowe'en or Samhain-type holiday on the first day of winter)
- Gwyl Fair y Canhwyllau (literally Mary’s Festival of the Candles, but equivalent to Candlemas and Imbolc)
- Calan Mai (May Day, and similar to Beltane)
- Calan Awst (or Midsummer, equivalent to Lughnasa)
- Gŵyl Mabsant celebrated by each parish in commemoration of its native saint, often marked by a fair
- Dydd Santes Dwynwen, a Welsh equivalent to St Valentine's Day
- Calennig is a Welsh New Year celebration
Arts
Visual arts
Many works of Celtic art have been found in Wales.[7] In the Early Medieval period, the Celtic Christianity of Wales participated in the Insular art of the British Isles and a number of illuminated manuscripts possibly of Welsh origin survive, of which the 8th century Hereford Gospels and Lichfield Gospels are the most notable. The 11th century Ricemarch Psalter (now in Dublin) is certainly Welsh, made in St David's, and shows a late Insular style with unusual Viking influence.
The best of the few Welsh artists of the 16-18th centuries tended to move elsewhere to work, but in the 18th century the dominance of landscape art in English art bought them motives to stay at home, and bought an influx of artists from outside to paint Welsh scenery. The Welsh painter Richard Wilson (1714–1782) is arguably the first major British landscapist, but rather more notable for Italian scenes than Welsh ones, although he did paint several on visits from London.[8]
It remained difficult for artists relying on the Welsh market to support themselves until well into the 20th century. An Act of Parliament in 1857 provided for the establishment of a number of art schools throughout the United Kingdom, and the Cardiff School of Art opened in 1865. Graduates still very often had to leave Wales to work, but Betws-y-Coed became a popular centre for artists, and its artist's colony helped form the Royal Cambrian Academy of Art in 1881.[9] The sculptor Sir William Goscombe John made many works for Welsh commissions, although he had settled in London. Christopher Williams, whose subjects were mostly resolutely Welsh, was also based in London. Thomas E. Stephens and Andrew Vicari had very successful careers as portraitists based respectively in the United States and France. Sir Frank Brangwyn was Welsh by origin, but spent little time in Wales.
Perhaps the most famous Welsh painters, Augustus John and his sister Gwen John, mostly lived in London and Paris; however the landscapists Sir Kyffin Williams and Peter Prendergast remained living in Wales for most of their lives, though well in touch with the wider art world. Ceri Richards was very engaged in the Welsh art scene as a teacher in Cardiff, and even after moving to London; he was a figurative painter in international styles including Surrealism. Various artists have moved to Wales, including Eric Gill, the London-born Welshman David Jones, and the sculptor Jonah Jones. The Kardomah Gang was an intellectual circle centred on the poet Dylan Thomas and poet and artist Vernon Watkins in Swansea, which also included the painter Alfred Janes. Today much art is produced in Wales, as elsewhere in a great diversity of styles.
Ceramics
Historically, there were three main areas of pottery production in Wales; south-west Wales, northern Monmouthshire and the Vale of Glamorgan. Several further sites can be identified through their place names, for example Pwllcrochan in Pembrokshire, which translates to Crock Pool, and archeology has also revealed former kiln sites across the country.[10] These were often located near clay beds, for ease of resource gathering.[11] Buckley and Ewenny became leading areas of pottery production in Wales during the 17th and 18th centuries; these are applied as generic terms to different potters within those areas during this period.[12] South Wales had several notable potteries during that same period, an early exponent being the Cambrian Pottery (1764–1870, also known as "Swansea pottery"). The works from Cambrian attempted to imitate those of Wedgwood. Nantgarw Pottery near Cardiff, was in operation from 1813 to 1823 making fine porcelain. Llanelly Pottery was the last surviving major pottery works in South Wales when it closed in 1922.[13]
Literature
Theatre
Theatrical performances are first thought to have begun following the Roman invasion of Britain.[14] There are remains of a Roman amphitheatre at Caerleon, which would have served the nearby fortress of Isca Augusta.[15] Between Roman and modern times, the theatre in Wales was limited to travelling performances of players, sometimes performed in temporary structures. Welsh theatrical groups also performed in England, as did English groups in Wales. The rise of the Puritans in the 17th century and Methodism during the 18th century caused a decline in Welsh theatre as performances were seen as immoral.[14]
Despite this, performances continued on showgrounds, and with a handful of travelling groups of actors.[14] The Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, the oldest theatre still in operation in Wales,[16] was built during the 19th century and originally operated as the Assembly Rooms.[17] Other theatres opened over the following decades, with Cardiff's Theatre Royal opening in 1827. After a fire, a replacement Theatre Royal opened in 1878.[18][19] Competition for theatres led to further buildings being constructed, such as with the New Theatre, Cardiff, which opened on 10 December 1906.[20][21]
Television
Film
Music
Wales is often referred to as "the land of song",[22] and is notable for its harpists, male choirs, and solo artists. The principal Welsh festival of music and poetry is the annual National Eisteddfod. The Llangollen International Eisteddfod echoes the National Eisteddfod but provides an opportunity for the singers and musicians of the world to perform. Traditional music and dance in Wales is supported by myriad societies. The Welsh Folk Song Society has published a number of collections of songs and tunes.
The emergence of male choirs (sometimes called male voice choirs) in the 19th century has remained a lasting tradition in Wales. Originally these choirs were formed as the tenor and bass sections of chapel choirs, and embraced the popular secular hymns of the day.[23] Many of the historic choirs continue to survive in modern Wales singing a mixture of traditional and popular songs.[citation needed] Traditional instruments of Wales include telyn deires (triple harp),[24] fiddle,[25] crwth,[26] pibgorn (hornpipe) and other instruments.[27] The Cerdd Dant Society promotes its specific singing art primarily through an annual one-day festival.
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales performs in Wales and internationally. The Welsh National Opera is based at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay, while the National Youth Orchestra of Wales was the first of its type in the world.[28]
Wales has a range of successful singing artists including Sir Geraint Evans, Dame Gwyneth Jones, Dame Anne Evans, Dame Margaret Price, Sir Tom Jones, Bonnie Tyler, Bryn Terfel, Mary Hopkin, Charlotte Church, Katherine Jenkins, Meic Stevens, Dame Shirley Bassey and Duffy.
Popular bands to have emerged from Wales have included the Beatles-nurtured power pop group Badfinger in the 1960s, Man and Budgie in the 1970s and The Alarm in the 1980s. Wales experienced a strong emergence of groups during the 1990s led by the Manic Street Preachers, followed by the likes of the Stereophonics and Feeder; notable during this period were Catatonia, Super Furry Animals, and Gorky's Zygotic Mynci who gained popular success as dual-language artists.[29] Recently successful Welsh bands include Lostprophets, Bullet for My Valentine, Funeral for a Friend and Kids in Glass Houses. The Welsh traditional and folk music scene is in resurgence with performers and bands such as Crasdant, Carreg Lafar, Fernhill, Siân James and The Hennessys.
Media
Sport
Over fifty national governing bodies regulate and organise their sports in Wales.[30] Most of those involved in competitive sports select, organise and manage individuals or teams to represent their country at international events or fixtures against other countries. Wales is represented at major world sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup,[31] Rugby World Cup and the Commonwealth Games.[32][33] At the Olympics Games, Welsh athletes compete alongside those of Scotland, England and Northern Ireland as part of a Great Britain team.[34]
Although association football has traditionally been the more popular sport in North Wales, rugby union is seen as a symbol of Welsh identity and an expression of national consciousness.[35] The Welsh national rugby union team takes part in the annual Six Nations Championship and has also competed in every Rugby World Cup,[36] hosting the tournament in 1999.[37] The five professional sides that replaced the traditional club sides in major competitions in 2003 were replaced in 2004 by the four regions: Scarlets; Cardiff Blues; Newport Gwent Dragons; and the Ospreys.[38][39] The Welsh regional teams play in the Pro12 league,[40] the Anglo-Welsh Cup (LV Cup),[41] the European Heineken Cup and the European (Amlin) Challenge Cup.[42][43]
Wales has had its own association football league since 1992.[44] For historical reasons, two Welsh clubs (Cardiff City, and Swansea City) play in the English Football League.[45] Another four Welsh clubs play in English football's feeder leagues: Wrexham, Newport County, Merthyr Town and Colwyn Bay.[46] This also qualifies those team to compete for England's domestic trophies. On 23 April 1927, Cardiff City became the only team outside of England to win the FA Cup,[47] considered to be the premier association football tournament in the country.[48] For European football competitions, only teams playing in the Welsh leagues are eligible to play for Wales. The six teams in the English leagues are eligible to represent England only, and as such they are not allowed to compete for domestic Welsh trophies.[46]
In international cricket, Wales and England field a single representative team, administered by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), called the England cricket team, or simply 'England'.[49] Occasionally, a separate Wales national cricket team play limited-overs competitions.[50] Glamorgan County Cricket Club is the only Welsh participant in the England and Wales County Championship.[51]
Wales has produced several world-class participants of individual sports including snooker players Ray Reardon, Terry Griffiths, Mark Williams and Matthew Stevens.[52] Track athletes who have made a mark on the world stage include the 110-metre hurdler Colin Jackson who is a former world record holder and the winner of numerous Olympic, World and European medals,[53] and Tanni Grey-Thompson who has won 11 Paralympic gold medals.[54] Wales also has also produced a number of world-class boxers. Joe Calzaghe was WBO World Super-Middleweight Champion who then won the WBA, WBC and Ring Magazine super middleweight and Ring Magazine Light-Heavyweight titles.[55] Other former boxing world champions include Enzo Maccarinelli, Freddie Welsh, Howard Winstone, Percy Jones, Jimmy Wilde, Steve Robinson and Robbie Regan.[56]
Cuisine
Wales is not considered to have a strong food identity, with some people considering that there is "no such thing as Welsh food".[57] The cookery of the country is said to be similar to English Cuisine in style.[58] However, there are regional variations in the food seen across Wales, which can be traced historical to the availability of certain crops and produce in specific areas of the country.[59] The cuisine of Gower is particularly different to the rest of Wales, due to the isolated location. It was strongly influenced by Somerset and Devon, and developed dishes such as whitepot while ingredients such as pumpkin were used, despite being unusual in the rest of Wales.[60]
Cattle farming produces the majority of Wales' agricultural output. Welsh beef is protected under European Union law, meaning that it must be produced and slaughtered in Wales.[61] Pig farming is also common, with the Welsh pig being frequently. The mountainous areas of Wales are suited to sheep farming and this has led to an association with the country.[62] The mutton of Wales has been popular in the rest of the United Kingdom since the 16th century,[63] and by the end of the 20th century there were more than 11 million sheep in Wales.[62]
Several Welsh dishes are thought of because their ingredients are associated with Wales, whereas others have been developed there. Cawl is regarded as the Welsh national dish,[64] which is a slow cooked meat and vegetable broth. Traditionally it was a vegetable heavy dish,[65] whereas now it is more likely to contain beef or lamb.[66] Welsh rarebit is thought to date from the 18th century, although the original term of Welsh rabbit may have been intended as a slur against the Welsh.[67][68][69] Another use of cheese in a traditional Welsh dish, is seen in Glamorgan sausage, which is a skinless sausage made of cheese and either leek or spring onion,[70] which is then rolled into a sausage shape before frying.[71][72] Laverbread is made using a puree of seaweed, and is traditionally served with a Welsh breakfast.[73] Welsh cakes are made on a bakestone, and are small round spiced cakes containing raisins, sultanas and occasionally currants.[74] Bara brith contains similar ingredients to Welsh cakes, but is similar to a tea bread.[75]
Beer is the national drink of Wales, despite the influence of the temperance movement in Wales.[76] The Wrexham Lager Beer Company was the first lager producer in Britain when it opened in 1881, and the Felinfoel Brewery was the first brewery in Europe to put beer in cans.[76] Whisky production in Wales was historically a niche industry, and completely shut down in 1910 when the last distillery was bought out by a Scottish firm. However, the Penderyn distillery became the first Wales created whisky in a century to go on sale when it was launched in 2004.[77] There are 20 Welsh vineyards producing 100,000 bottles of wine a year in total.[78][79]
Outside views
See also
- Architecture of Wales
- Culture of Gwynedd during the High Middle Ages
- Cultural relationship between the Welsh and the English
- Welsh mythology
- List of Welsh people
Notes
- ^ "Prehistoric Wales (part two)". BBC Wales History. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ "5: Early Christianity in Wales". BBC Wales History. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ a b "Census 2011: One third in Wales have no religion". BBC News. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ "Our History". The Presbyterian Church of Wales. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ a b Williamson, David (24 April 2014). "Wales is no longer a nation of churchgoers but faith is alive". Wales Online. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ Bates, Stephen (8 December 2000). "Unpicking church and state raises tangled questions". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ Celtic Art in Iron Age Wales, NMOW
- ^ NMOW, Welsh Artists of the 18th Century
- ^ Royal Cambrian Academy
- ^ Bebb 1997, p. 4.
- ^ Bebb 1997, p. 5.
- ^ Bebb 1997, p. 6.
- ^ "Welsh Pottery and Porcelain". National Museum Cardiff. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ a b c "Theatre History". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ "Caerleon Amphitheatre". Cadw. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ "Monmouth theatre gets £6k boost". Free Press. 10 January 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ Kissack 2003, pp. 142-144.
- ^ "Destruction Of The Cardiff Theatre". The Era. 16 December 1877. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required (help)).
- ^ "The New Theatre Royal, Cardiff". Western Mail. 1 October 1878. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required (help)).
- ^ "New Theatre history". New Theatre. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
- ^ "Cardiff's New Theatre". London Daily News (18950). 11 December 1906. p. 12. Retrieved 4 April 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required (help)).
- ^ "Wales: Cultural life: Music, literature and film". Britannica (Online ed.). 2006.
- ^ Davies & Jenkins 2008, p. 532.
- ^ Davies & Jenkins 2008, p. 179.
- ^ Davies & Jenkins 2008, p. 281.
- ^ Davies & Jenkins 2008, p. 353.
- ^ Davies & Jenkins 2008, p. 677.
- ^ "Music Preview: National Youth Orchestra of Wales". WalesOnline website (Media Wales Ltd). 3 August 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- ^ Owens 2000, p. 1.
- ^ "Members A-Z List". Welsh Sports Association. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ "Wales". FIFA. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ "Rugby World Cup 2015". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ "Our Team". Team Wales. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ "London 2012: Welsh athletes qualified for the 2012 Olympics". BBC Sport Wales. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ Davies & Jenkins 2008, p. 782.
- ^ "A Brief History of the Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 31 August 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ "World Cup kicks off in style". BBC News. 1 October 1999. Archived from the original on 19 September 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- ^ "Questions facing Wales' regional plans". BBC Sport. 3 April 2003. Archived from the original on 4 January 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
- ^ "WRU axe falls on Warriors". BBC Sport. 1 June 2004. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
- ^ "Guinness Pro12". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ "The LV= Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ "Regions Results & Fixtures: Heineken Cup". Wales Rugby Union. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ Jones, Gwyn (14 January 2016). "Gwyn Jones' European rugby lowdown: Gutsy Welsh Regions face make-or-break weekend". Wales Online. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ Evans, Alun. "A Brief History of the League". Welsh Premier League. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
- ^ "The Cardiff and Swansea Derby". BBC Cymru Wales. 5 November 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
- ^ a b "Uefa give Swansea and Cardiff European assurance". BBC Sport. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ "The Association Cup". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer (24894). 25 April 1927. p. 3. Retrieved 6 April 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required (help)).
- ^ "Does the FA Cup still matter?". The Daily Telegraph. 3 January 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ "What we do at the ECB". England and Wales Cricket Board. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
- ^ Shipton, Martin (23 October 2013). "Should Wales have its own international cricket team, ask Assembly Members". Wales Online. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ "History of Welsh county cricket". Glamorgan County Cricket Club. Archived from the original on 28 March 2009. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
- ^ "Snooker". BBC Wales. Archived from the original on 11 February 2009. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
- ^ "Born to Run". BBC Press Office. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ "Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson becomes people's peer". BBC News. 29 March 2010. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
- ^ Davies, Sean. "1=. Joe Calzaghe". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ Davies, Sean (25 March 2008). "Wales' boxing world champions". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
- ^ Freeman 1996, p. 8.
- ^ Freeman 1996, p. 14.
- ^ Freeman 1996, p. 18.
- ^ Freeman 1996, p. 22.
- ^ Davies, John; Jenkins, Nigel; Baines, M. Cattle (Online ed.). The Welsh Academy encyclopedia of Wales.
- ^ a b Davies, John; Jenkins, Nigel; Baines, M. Sheep (Online ed.). The Welsh Academy encyclopedia of Wales.
- ^ Freeman 1998, pp. 37-38.
- ^ Webb 2012, p. 68.
- ^ Freeman 1996, p. 20.
- ^ Davidson 2014, p. 154.
- ^ Grumley-Grennan, Tony (2009). The Fat Man's Food & Drink Compendium. ISBN 9780953892235.
- ^ Breverton, Terry (2012). "Food". Wales: A Historical Companion. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 9781445609904.
- ^ Imholtz, August; Tannenbaum, Alison; Carr, A. E. K (2009). Alice Eats Wonderland (Illustrated, annotated ed.). Applewood Books. p. 17. ISBN 9781429091060.
- ^ Ayto, John (2012). The Diner's Dictionary: Word Origins of Food and Drink (illustrated ed.). OUP Oxford. p. 153. ISBN 9780199640249.
- ^ Minahan, James (2009). The Complete Guide to National Symbols and Emblems [2 Volumes] (illustrated ed.). ABC-CLIO. p. 572. ISBN 9780313344978.
- ^ Allen, Gary (2015). Sausage: A Global History. Reaktion Books. ISBN 9781780235554.
- ^ O'Connor, Kaori (December 2009). "THE SECRET HISTORY OF 'THE WEED OF HIRAETH': LAVERBREAD, IDENTITY, AND MUSEUMS IN WALES". Journal of Museum Ethnography (Museum Ethnographers Group) (22): 83. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ Roufs, Timothy G.; Roufs, Kathleen Smyth (2014). Sweet Treats around the World: An Encyclopedia of Food and Culture: An Encyclopedia of Food and Culture. ABC-CLIO. p. 375. ISBN 9781610692212.
- ^ Bain, Andrew (2009). Lonely Planet's 1000 Ultimate Experiences (Illustrated ed.). Lonely Planet. p. 291. ISBN 9781741799453. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ^ a b Davies 2008, p. 57.
- ^ "Rebirth of Welsh whisky spirit". BBC News. 8 May 2008.
- ^ Davies, John; Jenkins, Nigel; Baines, M. Vineyards (Online ed.). The Welsh Academy encyclopedia of Wales.
- ^ Freeman 1996, p. 19.
References
- Bebb, Lynne (2008). Welsh Pottery. Princes Risborough: Shire Publications. ISBN 978-0-747-80339-3.
- Davidson, Alan (2014). Jaine, Tom, ed. The Oxford Companion to Food (Illustrated ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199677337. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- Davies, John; Jenkins, Nigel (2008). The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6.
- Freeman, Bobby (1996). First catch your peacock : her classic guide to Welsh food (Rev. paperback ed. ed.). Talybont, Ceredigion: Y Lolfa. ISBN 0862433150.
- Kissack, Keith (2003). Monmouth and its Buildings. Almeley: Logaston Press. ISBN 1-904396-01-1.
- Owens, David (2000). Cerys, Catatonia and the Rise of Welsh Pop. London: Ebury Publishing. ISBN 978-0-0918-7412-4.
External links
- Traditions & History of Wales via VisitWales.com
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