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WHO ARE THE WELSH ? by Coral Job
Where does the word Wales come from?
Wales and Cymru are two different names for the same country.
The origin of the word Wales is a strange one. It is a variation on a
common word used hundreds of years ago by the Anglo Saxons to mean foreigners
or outsiders and Cymru is a word used by the celtic population which means
friends/companions .
When did Wales come into existence?
As a country, Wales began with Henry VIII's Act of Union in 1536. Before that time Wales had been a loose collection of independent kingdoms and lordships with influxes and incursions from Europe. It's believed that Wales, as an area of land, has been inhabited since 250,000 BC.
Where is Wales?
On the west of the island called Great Britain, Wales is a member of the United Kingdom. It's to the west of England. The capital is Cardiff .
What's the geography of Wales?
Wales is just over 20,000 square kilometres in size. At its widest it's 200 kilometres East to west, and 250 Kilometres north to south.
Wales has a varied geography with contrasts. In thesouth, flat coastal plains gives way to valleys, then to ranges of hills and mountains in mid and north Wales.
There are three national parks and five areas of outstanding natural beauty, which cover a quarter of the landmass of Wales. 80% of the land is dedicated to agriculture, ranking from crops to livestock.
The largest mountains in the north are part of the Snowdoniarange, with the largest mountain being Snowdon at 1,085 metres. There are over 1300 kilometres of coast line ranking from long flat Sandy beaches to towering cliffs
On the west of the island called Great Britain, Wales is a member of the United Kingdom. It's to the west of England. The capital is Cardiff .
What's the geography of Wales?
Wales is just over 20,000 square kilometres in size. At its widest it's 200 kilometres East to west, and 250 Kilometres north to south.
Wales has a varied geography with contrasts. In thesouth, flat coastal plains gives way to valleys, then to ranges of hills and mountains in mid and north Wales.
There are three national parks and five areas of outstanding natural beauty, which cover a quarter of the landmass of Wales. 80% of the land is dedicated to agriculture, ranking from crops to livestock.
The largest mountains in the north are part of the Snowdoniarange, with the largest mountain being Snowdon at 1,085 metres. There are over 1300 kilometres of coast line ranking from long flat Sandy beaches to towering cliffs
FORM OF GOVERNMENT
Since 1999, the way the United Kingdom is run has been transformed by devolution - a process designed to decentralise government and give more powers to the three nations which, together with England, make up the UK.
Devolution essentially means the transfer of powers from the UK parliament in London to assemblies in Cardiff and Belfast, and the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.
Devolution in Wales
The Government of Wales Act of 2006 gives the Welsh assembly powers to make its own laws, but limits its scope to defined "fields"; a broad subject area such as education or health.Within these fields, the assembly is able to enact its own laws, known as measures.
In addition, the assembly can make laws relating to ancient monuments and historic buildings, public administration, sport and recreation, tourism, town and country planning, flood defences, the assembly itself, and the Welsh language.
By omission, anything not contained in the current list of measures remains under the control of the Parliament in Westminster.
The assembly is split into executive and legislative branches: the Welsh assembly government controls day-to-day running of devolved policy areas within the country, while the National Assembly for Walesscrutinises and debates the assembly government's work.
The assembly could increase its powers in the future and may one day evolve into a body similar to the Scottish Parliament.
In February 2010, assembly members voted in favour of holding a referendum on devolving further powers from Westminster. This motion must now gain approval from both Houses of Parliament.
What's the population of Wales?
The people of Wales are descended from many ethnic groups, including the original Britons and other population groups including the Celts, Romans and Scandinavians. Around three quarters of the 2.94 million population are concentrated around the large cities and mining valleys of the south east of the country.
In the last 100 years, Wales has welcomed many diverse new groups to settle and be part of its population.
The people of Wales are descended from many ethnic groups, including the original Britons and other population groups including the Celts, Romans and Scandinavians. Around three quarters of the 2.94 million population are concentrated around the large cities and mining valleys of the south east of the country.
In the last 100 years, Wales has welcomed many diverse new groups to settle and be part of its population.
According to the last census of 2010 is of 3,064,000 inhabitants .
The Welsh today are descended from many people. Celtic tribes from Europe came to settle the whole of the British isles around 500-100 BC, alongside the original Iron Age population.
It was their language which sowed the seeds of the modern Welsh language. Roman and Saxon invasions pushed the original Britons into the land area of Wales, where they became the Welsh people. Inward and outward migration has added diverse new layers of population across history.
National symbols of Wales
The Leek
There is a legend that says King Cadwaladr of Gwynedd once ordered his men to put leeks on their helmets to identify themselves in a battle against the Saxons which apparently, took place in a field full of leeks. But as the same story is also credited to St David it is highly likely that this tale is just an interesting and attractive story that probably came from the flowing pen of the writer Michael Drayton.
The Daffodil
The Welsh for leek (the original national emblem) is Cenhinen, while the Welsh for daffodil is CenhinenPedr. Over the years they became confused until the daffodil was adopted as a second emblem of Wales.
The Harp
The harp is regarded as the national instrument of Wales. By the end of the 18th century, the triple harp - so called because it had three rows of strings - was widely known as the Welsh harp on account of its popularity in Wales. The harp has been used through the ages as an accompaniment to folk-singing and dancing and as a solo instrument. HRH Prince Charles appoints a Welsh Royal Harpist on a scholarship programme annually. Past Royal harpists include Catrin Finch.
The Coat of Arms of the Principality of Wales
It is a coat of arms used by the Prince of Wales. It is based onthe arms borne by Llewelynthe Great, the famous 13th-century Welsh prince. It has not been frequently used in Wales as a national symbol of the past, however it is still used some in modern times, but without the crested crown
An official emblemYDdraigGoch
The Welsh flag mixes two major
influences, namely that of the Red Dragon of Cadwallader , the king of Gwynedd from around ad
655 to 682, and the colours green and white, taken from the heraldry of the
Tudor family. The dragon ,a mythological
creature , was one of the most
prominent symbols of the Roman military.
Although the dragon has been used in Wales for many years, it wasn't until the 20th century that it became an official symbol.
In 1284 Edward I incorporated Wales into England under the Statute of Rhuddlan. In 1301, Edward made his eldest son - also called Edward - Prince of Wales. Since then the eldest son of each English monarch has been given the title.
The Laws in Wales Acts, passed in 1536 and 1543 during the reign of Henry VIII from the Welsh Tudor dynasty, created a single state and legal jurisdiction, effectively annexing Wales to England.
Largely because of the Laws in Wales Acts and the Statute of Rhuddlan, Wales is not represented on the Union Jack, other than through the cross of St George (Wales and England being, according to the acts, one country). Although proposals to incorporate it have been made, they have been met with muted enthusiasm.
In 1959, after successful lobbying by the Gorsedd of Bards and others, Queen Elizabeth II made the red dragon on a green and white background the official flag for Wales.
The Welsh kings of Aberffraw used the emblem to symbolise their authority in the early fifth century. The name Pendragon, or Pen Draig, has its origins in these battle standards.
The flag of saint David
St David is the patron saint of Wales. His flag is a gold cross on a Black background.It has been used on occasion as an alternative toWales' oficial flag, although it enjoys no such similar status and appears less frequently.
David was a Celtic monk, abbot and archbishop and is the only one of the British patron Saints to have worked and died in his country of birth.
He is said To have lived for over 100 years. He died on 1st of March of 589 and is buried within the grounds of St Davids’ Cathedral.
March 1st is now a day of national celebration of Welsh culture, with a growing movement to turn it into a national Holiday.
Welsh national costume
Traditional Welsh dress was worn by women in rural areas of Wales. The distinctive dress was based on a form of bedgown made from wool, of a style dating from the 18th century, worn over a corset. This was teamed with a printed neckerchief, a petticoat, apron and knitted stockings. The dress was completed by a high crowned hat reminiscent of 17th century fashion.
Prior to the late 18th / early 19th century there was no such thing as a Welsh national costume. During the 1830s, Lady Llanover, the wife of an ironmaster in Gwent, was very influential in encouraging the wearing of a 'national' dress. She considered it important to establish a Welsh national identity as at this time many felt their national identity was under threat. She encouraged the use of the Welsh language and the wearing of an identifiable Welsh costume, based on the rural women’s traditional dress.
The adoption of the costume also coincided with the growth of Welsh Nationalism, as the rise of industrialisation was seen as a threat to the traditional agricultural way of life.And as most of the costume was made from wool, this also boosted the Welsh woollen industry.
The Welsh Language
Welsh is the oldest language in Britain dating back possibly 4,000 years and was one of the earliest written languages in Europe.
The majority of European languages, including Welsh, evolved from a language now called Indo-European.
The historical context of the welsh language
In the sixth century Welsh was spoken in most of Britain, including Strathclyde in Scotland, which is derived from its former Welsh name.
In 1536 the passing of the ‘Act of Union’ of Henry VIII prohibited the use of Welsh in public administration and the legal system.
This act had a disastrous impact on the Welsh language.
The speaking of Welsh in schools may not have been prevented by law, but nor was it given any government support or recognition. The long-term effects of the Language Clause in the 1536 Act of Union Act of Union were still playing out. Welsh was not an institutionalised or official language, and simply wasn't considered a suitable medium for education during the Victorian heyday of the British Empire.
The speaking of Welsh in schools may not have been prevented by law, but nor was it given any government support or recognition. The long-term effects of the Language Clause in the 1536 Act of Union Act of Union were still playing out. Welsh was not an institutionalised or official language, and simply wasn't considered a suitable medium for education during the Victorian heyday of the British Empire.
But in the 1970s and early 80s started a campaign for the establishment of the Welsh language although English is the official language in Wales .
The Welsh Language Act 1967 granted the right to testify in Welsh in Court, and the right to have official forms in Welsh. .
Radio Cymru was established in 1977.
The first S4C, Language television channel, broadcast went out on 1st November 1982.
In 2003, IaithPawb, the Welsh Assembly Government’s National Plan for a Bilingual Wales was published, receiving cross party support in the National Assembly.
Who speaks Welsh today?
According to the 2001 Census, 20.8% of people in Wales can speak Welsh . Also , there is a important community of descendants of Welsh settlers who live in Chubut , Argentina that keeps the Welsh language alive .
The Welsh community in Argentina
In 1865,a group of intrepid Welsh settlers headed to Patagonia in Argentina . Over 150 Welsh people sailed from Liverpool to establish a Welsh settlement in the Chubut Valley inspired by the minister Michael D Jones, a man of strong religious and political convictions who encouraged the welsh to keep their language and customs. They called the settlement ‘Y Wladfa’, the Colony.
The Welsh settlers didn't have it easy in their first years in the Chubut valley , Argentine Patagonia .
At first , they had to survive in caves , living from fishing and hunting .Their first two harvests failed. But they found a way to divert the waters of the Chubut River via irrigation channels to grow food ,this one of the keys why the settlers could survive the hostile environment . The irrigation method that created the Welsh is one of the most important legacies of this community to Argentina . It was copied in other parts of Patagonia making farming possible and helping the region to prosper.
In Chubut ,the Welsh community also inherited the building of many towns which they built with the Welsh style architecture like :
Trevelin ,“Mill-Town”in Welsh, owes its name to John Daniel Evans, who established the mill, recently turned into an airy, modern museum.
Trelew , “Tre” in Welsh means town, and “Lew” is short for Lewis, so Trelew is Lewis Town or, as the local museum has it in its title, the “Pueblo de Luís”.
Dolavon ,Meadow by the river in Welsh , from the words dôl Meadow and afon river.
Porth Madryn in honour of Sir Love Jones-Parry barón de Madryn, whose estate in Wales was named "Madryn".
Despite the very difficult start, by the end of the 19th Century the Welsh settlement in Chubut was experiencing a golden age, both economically and culturally especially in the cities of Rawson , Trelew, Trevelin , Gaiman, Porth Madryn and Dolavon .
The descendants of the original settlers kept the welsh language and traditions alive , becoming since then a very important tourist attraction of Patagonia .
The proud community survives to this day serving bara brith , the Black Cake , an Argentine - Welsh creation, in Welsh tea houses, and celebrating their heritage at the Eisteddfodau Festival and the First landing Festival .
Eisteddfodau means "to be sit" in Welsh is a typical Welsh cultural festival whose earliest records date back to 1717 in Aberteifi in central-west Wales. The festival's name refers to a tradition of the ancient Celts, as they gathered and listened respectfully to the Druids and poets who recited their poems.
The festival was born in Rawson in 1865 and since then it has been developed in Trevelin , Dolavon , Trelew and Gaiman by a group of people supported by the local municipalities and the Ministry of Culture of the Province of Chubut .
The eisteddfod Featival has a large number of competitions that include different cultural activities: singing, ensembles, soloists, recitation, dance, literature, photography and more. But without a doubt one of the most important event is the coronation of Bardic ceremony (winning poet in Welsh). This activity is performed as the Eisteddfod end when each of the poets sits in their bardic chair, made of wood typical of the area, to crown the winners of the Welsh and Castillan language in literature.
The Festival of the First Landing of the first settlers in Chubut, the celebration of Gŵyl y Glaniad , is held every 28th of july . It starts with a Welsh tea party in the afternoon and a concert in the evening.
And although Spanish is the official language of Chubut , there are perhaps as many as 5,000 people in Chubut today who still speak Welsh.
Since the celebrations of the centenary of the welsh settlement in Chubut in 1965 there has been an increased contact with Wales and a successful exchange teachers programme between Wales and Chubut to recover the welsh language.
CONCLUSION
I have chosen the Welsh because their descendants have contributed a lot to the development of the Argentinian region of Patagonia .
The Welsh culture in Patagonia has survived into the twenty-first century despite the various adversities that the settlement faced from their arrival in 1865.
Their legacy is represented in the names and architecture of towns , the irrigation method they brought that made farming possible in Chubut , their language and culture that is still alive and the lesson of courage and bravery of the Welsh settlers who survived in an adverse environment .
The Welsh settlers chose Patagonia. They contributed to its progress and development and they became Argentines , without losing their Celtic roots. And they were able to prove it during year 1902 when Argentina and Chile had a conflict for the Valley 16 de Octubre: when asked for their preferences, the Welsh said: “We have lived under the protection and sovereignty of Argentina; we are loyal to this land, native for many of us”.
The Welsh settlers chose Patagonia. They contributed to its progress and development and they became Argentines , without losing their Celtic roots. And they were able to prove it during year 1902 when Argentina and Chile had a conflict for the Valley 16 de Octubre: when asked for their preferences, the Welsh said: “We have lived under the protection and sovereignty of Argentina; we are loyal to this land, native for many of us”.
Nowadays there are 50. 000 people who are descendants of the original Welsh settlers in Patagonia . To represent their legacy they have a quote“Glaniasant yma y aros” which means "The Welsh landed in Chubut to stay".
Bibliography
http://www.patagonia.com.ar/
http://www.welshpatagonia.com/english/thewelshexperience.html
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