Welsh Trivia for Christmas

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Welsh Book

Dylan Thomas was a famous Welsh writer and poet who described Wales in a nostalgic, lyrical way. His most famous work is ‘Under Milk Wood’, but coming into Christmas, it is worth delving into ‘A Child’s Christmas in Wales’. The book is full of wonderful memories of all sorts of things, which created memories of Wales for Thomas in the early 1900’s. Some of the imagery is quirky: ‘when I was a boy, when there were wolves in Wales, and birds the colour of red-flannel petticoats whisked past the harp-shaped hills’. I love the book because it is full of metaphors and similes that touch the soul.  

Welsh Film

A Child’s Christmases in Wales

This movie takes us back to Wales in the 1980s, with a family full of characters and the comedy of a family surviving Christmas in their own way! There are so many scenes where people whose worst traits surface at Christmas remind us of our own memories. Everyone has characters like these somewhere in their past. It's well worth watching!

Welsh Disney Character

Is there a Welsh Disney character?

We all turn to Disney at Christmas and you might enjoy Disney’s 1985 animated film ‘The Black Cauldron’ features Princess Eilonwy from Lloyd Alexander’s ‘Chronicles of Prydain’.

Welsh Christmas Tradition

My grandfather used to tell me about a lovely Welsh tradition called Noson Gyflaith, or Toffee Evening. People would invite their family, neighbours and friends to their homes to make Christmas Toffee. Meanwhile, they would eat, drink, tell good stories, play games and sing.

Wassailing

Mischief goes hand in hand with Christmas. An ancient way of celebrating was to go from house to house with a giant horse skull called a Mari Lwyd. The person carrying the skull, which was decorated with ribbons and festive regalia, was hidden under a cloak. The group knocked on doors and sang to the occupants, and then the householders were expected to let them in, feed them and sing back. Before they left, they did something wicked but funny just to make sure they were not forgotten!

What is the name of Father Christmas in Wales?

The tradition of Father Christmas or Santa coming down the chimney with his sack is reflected in the Welsh name Sion Corn or John Chimneypot. Make sure you leave something out for Sion Corn to eat!

How do you say Happy Christmas in Welsh?

The Welsh greeting is Nadolig Llawen. Nadolig means Christmas, and Llawen means joyful.

Nadolig Llawen!

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Living in a North Welsh Frontier in the Middle Ages

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Some innovations which came to the Welsh as a result of the Crusades