How Welsh people celebrate Christmas and New Year

Introduction

It`s just my own little article about Welsh method to celebrate Christmas  and New Year

This text have 2 parts: about Christmas and New Year, basically.

In each part included at minimum 3 Welsh traditions.

I tried so hard to find them, so hope article will be usefully and interesting for you.

Good luck!

Task

Task that I`ve prepared for you is next: Find as much as possible Welsh words, and translate them into English, also you have to remember all dates and then choose correct answer from A), B), C)

Remember, that to pass this test, you have to reach 60% of answer rigth, as In University !!!

P.s: That`s all joke) 

I would not call this quest as test, It is more like quiz, just to check how you remembered all matterial from this article. 

This test could not affect on your Welsh grade for semester) 

Good luck and Have Fun! / Pob Iwc and Hwyl!

Process

                                                                                           Christmas / Nadolig

Because Welsh are catholics, they celebrates Christmas (Nadolig) on December 25th.

Christmas is accompanied by rituals known from immemorial times -  houses should be decorated with candles and holly twigs.

   (Earlier, it even used to be common to hold a competition among women for the best candle decoration) 

Then In the morning of December 25th, people go with the same candles and  holly twigs to church, where all competitions had begun.

 What is also interesting, It is one of the truly Welsh-specific features - choral singing.

Each year, so-called eisteddfods, Choir Singing Festivals, are organized among residents.

The result is the selection of the best author and performer of the ballad -  bard*

 *The bard - Welsh trational ballad.

 

 The following day, December 26th -  Boxing Day, which is also called - Gŵyl San Steffan.

They celebrate It as people do in Poland and England, also in other Catholics countries, nothing special 

 

Nos Galan i Dydd Calan -  race on New Year`s Eve

This races takes place  in the Cynon Valley, a 5 km New Year race.

One of the athletes hides his face and is called «secret runner».

Usually it is a local sports celebrity, opened only after the race.

 

That`s all was about Christmas, now let`s move on to New Year celebration

 

                                                                                  “Who is Boss of this gym?”

Before I would tell you more about Welsh New Year traditions, I have to say something else.

Historically happened next situation: because of the way how England affect on Welsh, the significance of winter holidays varies from region to region.

For the Northerners, the main holiday is Christmas, for the Southerners - New Year, so in the South it is celebrated with more greatest scale.

But anyway, for Welsh people, the ritual of «allowing» into the new year’s dwelling is still sacred: on the night of 31 December to 1 January, the owner opens the back door of the house, to get out of it all bad that has been in the family for the last 365 days. After which, through the open front door of the house unleashes love, health, luck and well-being. 

 Hymns are sung in the houses and in the streets, and Welsh miners organize a grand procession through the streets of a village or town - also with hymns and holiday lights.

                                                                                The following day -  January 1st 

Carrols / Kalennig - word of Welsh origin, meaning essentially the same carols as In Poland, Ukraine, The Uk, TheUSA and other Christianity countries.

On 1 January, children carrying spruces and jugs of water go door-to-door, spraying water on their hosts and receiving sweets or coins in return.

Evaluation
Conclusion

In conclusion, I want to say that Welsh method to celebrate New Year and Christmas, Is pretty similiar not only to England traditions, but also to our East Slavic nations (Ukraine, Poland, etc.), and also to other countries who in Christianity too. The main differense is date of celebration and beliefs.

But in general they are based on Christianity bible.

Many Welsh traditions were lost, forbidden, then adopted and replaced from England and Catholic church, but that`s didn`t brake Welsh spirit, in opposite way, It only supplemented Welsh spirit.

Tha`s still wonder, how many Welsh traditions we could know right now, If they wouldn`t be lost.

But anyway, Welsh culture still exist and blooming, even through this all British attempts to destroy them, that`s commands respect

Credits