Croeso i Gymru! – Welcome to Wales!

 

A small country with a big personality, It is only 274 km (170 miles) from north to south and 97 km (60 miles) east to west with a population of around 3 million. Shaped by the last Ice Age, some 10,000 years ago, the landscape is mountainous, particularly in north and mid Wales.

 

The dragon and the flag

Y Ddraig Goch - 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.

 

 

 

 

Flag of St David

St David (Dewi Sant) is the patron saint of Wales. His flag is a gold cross on a black background. It is most likely to be flown on 1 March, St David's Day.

 

 

 

 

 

Banner of Owain Glyndwr

The lion on red and gold was carried into battle during Owain Glyndwr's rebellion against the English. It has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in recent years and is often seen at major sporting events, and has become a potent symbol of protest.

A variant of the design is still used as the Prince of Wales'

 

 

 

 

The Leek and the Daffodil

According to legend, Saint David ordered his Welsh soldiers to identify themselves by wearing leeks on their helmets in an ancient battle against the Saxons that took place in a leek field. This may be a myth, but the vegetable certainly has enjoyed a lengthy association with the country. Shakespeare, in Henry V tells Fluellen he is wearing a leek, "for I am Welsh, you know, good countryman". Possibly the reason why the daffodil is used as an emblem is that the words for daffodil and for leek are the same in Welsh (Cenhinen = Leek, Cenhinen Pedr = Daffodil). This confusion means that both have been adopted as national emblems.

 

The National Eisteddfod

The National Eisteddfod is the largest cultural festival in Europe and the oldest celebration of Welsh culture. Eisteddfod literally means a sitting (eistedd = to sit), the reason for this is thought to be a reference to the hand-carved chair traditionally awarded to the best poet in the ceremony 'The Crowning of the Bard'. The National Eisteddfod of Wales dates back to 1176. Lord Rhys invited poets and musicians from all over Wales to a grand gathering at his castle in Cardigan. A chair at the Lord's table was awarded to the best poet and musician, a tradition that continues today in the modern Eisteddfod. Each year the Eisteddfod is hosted in a different Welsh town or city.

 

The Welsh Language

Cymraeg (Welsh) is the oldest language in Britain. Its roots go back at least 2,500 and possibly 4,000 years. You will see lots of place names beginning ‘LLAN’ which is Welsh for ‘church’ Welsh is spoken by around 20% of the population. Although the north west has the highest ratio of Welsh to English speakers, a greater number of Welsh speakers live in the more populous south. There are several dialects of Welsh, most audibly north and south. The road signs are bilingual, giving both the Welsh and English versions of the text and place names. Cymraeg continues to flourish within Wales thanks to Welsh-medium education, a lively media industry and the enthusiasm of people living in Wales. The rights of the language have also been helped by bilingual and language policies made law by the Government.

 

Wales Cymru [“CUMree”]

Welsh [the people] Cymry [“CUMree”]

Welsh [the language] Cymraeg [“cumRYGE”]

England Lloegr [“HLOYgr”]

English [the people] Saeson [“SYSSE-on”]

English [the language] Saesneg [“SYSSE-neg”]

Good morning Bore da [“BORreh da”]

Good afternoon Prynhawn da [“pnaown da”]

Good evening Noswaith dda [“NOSSwythe dha”]

Goodnight Nos da [“nos da”]

Thank you Diolch [“dee olc”]

Hello Helo [“heLO”]

Hi!, How are you? Shw mae? [“shoo mye”] (South Welsh)

Welcome Croeso [“CROY-so”]

Goodbye Hwyl [“hooil”]

Bye Hwyl [“hooil”]

Cheers Iechyd da [“yacky da”]

Merry Christmas Nadolig Llawen [“naDOLLig HLAwen”

Happy New Year Blwyddwyn Newydd Dda [“BLOOdhin NEHwidh dha”]

Happy Birthday Penblwydd Hapus [“PENblwidh HAPiss”]

Good luck Pob lwc [“pawb look”]

Best wishes Pob dymuniad da [“pawb duhMINyad da”]

Congratulations Llongyfarchiadau [“hlong-guhvarkhYADeye”]

I love you Dw i’n dy garu di [“doo een duh GARee dee”]

Land of My Fathers (Hen Wlad fy Nhadau [“hen wlad vuhn HAD-eye”]