Culture of Wales

Part of a series on the
Culture of Wales
Cuisine
Bara brith · Bara Lafwr · Cawl · Cawl Cennin · Crempog · Gower cuisine · Selsig Morgannwg · Tatws Pum Munud · Welsh breakfast · Welsh cake · Welsh rarebit
Dress
Traditional Welsh costume
Festivals
Calennig · Dydd Santes Dwynwen · Gŵyl Fair y Canhwyllau · Saint David's Day · Calan Mai · Calan Awst · Calan Gaeaf · Gŵyl Mabsant · Gŵyl San Steffan · Eisteddfod
Land division
Commote · Cantref · Historic counties
Language
Welsh (Cymraeg) · Welsh English · History of the Welsh language · Welsh placenames · Welsh surnames · Welsh medium education · Y Fro Gymraeg
Law
Welsh law · Contemporary Welsh law
Literature
Welsh-language literature · English-language literature · Medieval Welsh literature · Welsh-language authors · Welsh-language poets
Music
Cerdd Dant · Crwth · Cymanfa Ganu · Cynghanedd · Noson Lawen · Pibgorn · Tabwrdd · Telyn Deires · Twmpath · Welsh bagpipes
Mythology
Welsh mythology · Matter of Britain · Arthurian legend
Sport
Bando  · Boxing  · Cnapan · Cricket  · Football  · Horse racing  · Rugby league  · Rugby union
Symbols
Flag of Wales · Flag of Saint David · List of Welsh flags · Welsh Dragon · Welsh heraldry · Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
Visual arts
Art · Cinema · Media
Wales Portal v · 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. Festivals See also: Welsh Holidays 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 the Last). The traditional seasonal festivals in Wales are: 1) Calan Gaeaf (a Hallowe'en or Samhain-type holiday on the first day of winter) 2) Gwyl Fair y Canhwyllau (literally Mary’s Festival of the Candles, but equivalent to Candlemas and Imbolc) 3) Calan Mai (May Day, and similar to Beltane) 4) Calan Awst (or Midsummer, equivalent to Lughnasa). Additionally, each parish celebrated a Gŵyl Mabsant in commemoration of its native saint. 5)Dydd Santes Dwynwen, a welsh equivalent to Valentines day. Additionally, Calennig is a Welsh New Year celebration. Music Main article: Music of Wales Wales is often referred to as "the land of song",[1] 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 a myriad of societies. The Welsh Folk Song Society has published a number of collections of songs and tunes. Traditional instruments of Wales include telyn deires (triple harp), fiddle, crwth, pibgorn (hornpipe) and other instruments.[2][3][4][5] 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.[6] Wales has a tradition for producing notable 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 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. 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. The emergence of male voice choirs in the 19th century, has remained a lasting tradition in Wales. Originally these choirs where formed as the tenor and bass sections of chapel choirs, and embraced the popular secular hymns of the day.[7] Many of the historic choirs continue to survive in modern Wales singing a mixture of traditional and popular songs. Visual arts Main article: Welsh art Many works of Celtic art have been found in Wales.[8] 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.[9] The Bard, 1774, by Thomas Jones (1742–1803) 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.[10] 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. South Wales had several notable potteries in the late 18th and 19th centuries, an early exponent being the Cambrian Pottery (1764–1870, also known as "Swansea pottery") and including Nantgarw Pottery near Cardiff, which was in operation from 1813 to 1822 making fine porcelain, and then utilitarian pottery until 1920. Portmeirion Pottery (from 1961) has never in fact been made in Wales. Cuisine Main article: Welsh cuisine Wales is traditionally seen as an agrarian country and the traditional cuisines of Wales represent this heritage. Indeed, traditional foods tend to be simple, utilising readily-available ingredients and those cuts of meat that were not readily saleable. Baking is also a large part of the country's culinary culture and these dishes (such as Bara Brith [speckled bread]) tend to be fruitcakes that will keep for many days and were often served as a workman's tea. Traditional recipes such as lob scows (a lamb-based stew), Welsh rarebit, laver bread, brithyll abermeurig (Abermeurig trout) and Penclawdd cockles tend to be regional, reflecting the foods available in that region. Of late, however, there has been a growing trend for many chefs to re-interpret these dishes in a more modern, fusion context.[11] Though leeks and onions are commonly used during the year they tend to feature even more prominently in the recipes for St David's day and that other staple of the Welsh diet, locally produced lamb is also used. These days, however, more trout (especially sea trout, sewin) is also used. Traditionally on St David's day, many Welsh families enjoy cawl, a Welsh stew, containing meat (normally lamb or beef), potatoes, swede, leeks and a vaiety of other root vegetables.[citation needed] Religion The Welsh Dragon depicted on the Welsh flag. The Flag of Saint David. The largest religion in Wales is Christianity, with almost 72% of the population declaring to be Christian in the 2001 census. 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; it had 34,819 members in 2004. The Church in Wales is now the largest with an average Sunday attendance of 41,500 in 2004. It forms part of the Anglican Communion, and was also part of the Church of England, but was disestablished by the British Government under the Welsh Church Act 1914. The Roman Catholic Church makes up the next largest denomination at 3% of the population. Non Christian religions have relatively few followers in Wales, making up less than 2% of the population. Over 26% of the population in Wales did not note a religion in the 2001 census (18.53% stated 'no religion' and 8.07% are noted as 'Religion not stated').[12] Sport Main article: Sport in Wales Over fifty national governing bodies regulate and organise their sports in Wales.[13] 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, Rugby World Cup and the Commonwealth Games. At the Olympics Games, Welsh athletes compete alongside those of Scotland, England and Northern Ireland as part of a Great Britain team. Although 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.[14] The Welsh national rugby union team takes part in the annual Six Nations Championship and has also competed in every Rugby World Cup, hosting the tournament in 1999. 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.[15][16] The Welsh regional teams play in the Magners League, the Anglo-Welsh Cup (LV Cup), the European Heineken Cup and the European (Amlin) Challenge Cup. Wales has had its own football league since 1992.[17] For historical reasons, two Welsh clubs (Cardiff City, and Swansea City) play in the English Football League.[18] Another four Welsh clubs play in English football's feeder leagues: Wrexham, Newport County, Merthyr Town and Colwyn Bay. 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'.[19] Occasionally, a separate Wales team play limited-overs competitions. Glamorgan County Cricket Club is the only Welsh participant in the England and Wales County Championship.[20] Wales has produced several world-class participants of individual sports including snooker players Ray Reardon, Terry Griffiths, Mark Williams and Matthew Stevens.[21] Track athletes who have made a mark on the world stage, including the 110-metre hurdler Colin Jackson who is a former world record holder and the winner of numerous Olympic, World and European medals as well as Tanni Grey-Thompson who has won 11 Paralympic gold medals.[22][23] Wales also has a tradition of producing 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.[24] Other former boxing World champions include Enzo Maccarinelli, Freddie Welsh, Howard Winstone, Percy Jones, Jimmy Wilde, Steve Robinson and Robbie Regan.[25] See also Welsh language Welsh people Welsh cuisine Welsh-language literature Welsh literature in English Welsh art Welsh films Welsh comics Welsh mythology Welsh placenames Welsh hat Music of Wales Eisteddfod History of Wales Geography of Wales List of Welsh people List of Welsh video games Culture of Gwynedd during the High Middle Ages Cultural relationship between the Welsh and the English References ^ "Wales: Cultural life: Music, literature and film". Britannica (Online ed.). 2006.  ^ Davies (2008) p. 179 ^ Davies (2008) p. 281 ^ Davies (2008) p. 353 ^ Davies (2008) p. 677 ^ "Music Preview: National Youth Orchestra of Wales". WalesOnline website (Media Wales Ltd). 3 August 2010. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/music-in-wales/2010/08/03/music-preview-national-youth-orchestra-of-wales-91466-26982123/. Retrieved 26 September 2010.  ^ Davies (2008), p. 532. ^ Celtic Art in Iron Age Wales, NMOW ^ NMOW, Welsh Artists of the 18th Century ^ Royal Cambrian Academy ^ Celtnet Welsh recipes information page ^ "Key Statistics for Assembly Constituencies and Assembly Electoral Regions for the National Assembly for Wales" (PDF). Selected key statistics for all topics covered by the 2001 Census for England and Wales (Table KS07). Office for National Statistics. 2003. p. 18. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/census2001/KS_for_Welsh_Assembly_English.pdf. Retrieved 30 August 2010.  ^ "NGB websites: About us: Sport Wales - Chwaraeon Cymru". Sport Wales website. Sport Wales. 2010. http://www.sportwales.org.uk/about-us/how-we-can-help/working-in-partnership/national-governing-bodies-of-sport/ngb-websites.aspx?lang=en&. Retrieved 29 November 2010.  ^ Davies (2008) p. 782 ^ "Questions facing Wales' regional plans". BBC Sport website (BBC). 3 April 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/2913753.stm. Retrieved 2 October 2010.  ^ "WRU axe falls on Warriors". BBC Sport website (BBC). 1 June 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/3754959.stm. Retrieved 2 October 2010.  ^ Evans, Alun. "A Brief History of the League". Welsh Premier League. http://www.welshpremier.com/History.ink. Retrieved 23 November 2010.  ^ "The Cardiff and Swansea Derby". BBC Cymru Wales website. BBC. 5 November 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/waleshistory/2010/11/the_cardiff_and_swansea_derby.html. Retrieved 23 November 2010.  ^ "What we do at the ECB". England and Wales Cricket Board. http://www.ecb.co.uk/ecb/. Retrieved 23 November 2010.  ^ "History of Welsh county cricket". Glamorgan Cricket. http://www.glamorgancricket.com/detail-item.php?int_id=54&str_page_name=13. Retrieved 23 November 2010.  ^ "Snooker". BBC Wales south east. BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/sport/community/pages/snooker.shtml. Retrieved 23 November 2010.  ^ "Colin Jackson, Record breaking 110m hurdler". BBC Wales south east (BBC). 2009. http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/halloffame/sport/colin_jackson.shtml. Retrieved 23 November 2010.  ^ "Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson becomes people's peer". BBC News website (BBC). 29 March 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/wales/8593755.stm. Retrieved 23 November 2010.  ^ "Joe Calzaghe, Wales's greatest ever boxer?". BBC Wales south east. BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/halloffame/sport/joe_calzaghe.shtml. Retrieved 23 November 2010.  ^ Davies, Sean (25 March 2008). "Wales' boxing world champions". BBC Sport website (BBC). http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7313653.stm. Retrieved 23 November 2010.  External links Life in Wales Welsh Culture Official site from South West Wales Tourist Board Welsh writers Welsh Customs and Emblems Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную? Trinitron Egon Zakrajšek Look at other dictionaries: Wales — This article is about the country. For other uses, see Wales (disambiguation) …   Wikipedia Wales — /waylz/, n. a division of the United Kingdom, in SW Great Britain. 2,766,800; 8016 sq. mi. (20,760 sq. km). Medieval, Cambria. * * * I Welsh Cymru Principality, constituting an integral part of the United Kingdom. It occupies a peninsula on the… …   Universalium Culture of Australia — Culture of Australia …   Wikipedia Wales Rugby League — Rygbi Cynghrair Cymru Founded 2005 RLIF affiliation Full member[1] RLEF affiliation Ass …   Wikipedia Wales in the Late Middle Ages — covers the period from the death of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd in late 1282 to the incorporation of Wales into England by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 1542. After the death of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, his brother Dafydd ap Gruffydd carried on resistance… …   Wikipedia Culture ecossaise — Culture de l Écosse Statue du poète Robert Burns à Dumfries. La culture de l Écosse forme une synthèse des différentes cultures, celtes, pictes et anglaises principalement, ayant baigné le pays. Les reliefs naturels, délimitant géographiquement… …   Wikipédia en Français Culture Écossaise — Culture de l Écosse Statue du poète Robert Burns à Dumfries. La culture de l Écosse forme une synthèse des différentes cultures, celtes, pictes et anglaises principalement, ayant baigné le pays. Les reliefs naturels, délimitant géographiquement… …   Wikipédia en Français Culture écossaise — Culture de l Écosse Statue du poète Robert Burns à Dumfries. La culture de l Écosse forme une synthèse des différentes cultures, celtes, pictes et anglaises principalement, ayant baigné le pays. Les reliefs naturels, délimitant géographiquement… …   Wikipédia en Français Wales — (wālz) A principality of the United Kingdom west of England on the island of Great Britain. Incorporated with England since the Act of Union (1536), Wales has maintained its own distinct culture and a strong nationalist sentiment. Cardiff is the… …   Word Histories Culture Health & Sexuality — Culture, Health Sexuality   Abbreviated title (ISO) Cult Health Sex Discipline Sexology …   Wikipedia 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”