The Welsh National Eisteddfod

The Eisteddfod (plural, Eisteddfodau) is an ancient Celtic tradition centered on honoring the Bard. From the earliest times the Bard was always welcome amongst King and commoner alike. The Bard brought news from other places, legends from other times and song and poetry to entertain and teach.

In 1176 CE the Lord Rhys, ruler of all Wales called together the Bards from around Wales to gather together in competition to find the best. The winner received a Gorsedd. Gorsedd means “High seat” usually translated as Throne. This was the enthroning of the Bard, or making him King for the day. From this we get the word for this type of contest, Eisteddfod, literally “Be Seated” Every year since that time the best of the Bards have gathered together to find the one deserving of the Chair.

Famous Welsh Druids

This is the National Eisteddfod of Wales, Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymry.

The National Eisteddfod of Wales is held every year on the first week of August, corresponding to the Pagan festival of Lughnasadh. Each year the Eisteddfod is held in a different town in Wales, one year in the South and the next in the North. This ensures that the finest of Welsh culture makes its way into every part of Wales. A year and a day before the eisteddfod opens in a town, an announcement is made heralding the event. This ceremony is performed by the Welsh Druidic order, Gorsedd y Beirdd Ynys Prydain, “The Gorsedd of the bards of the Island of Britain.”

The association of the Welsh Druidic order with the Eisteddfod dates in modern times from 1819. It is composed of people from all walks of life who have made a significant contribution to Welsh life. Musicians, artists, religious and political leaders, to be initiated into the order it is required that you be a Welsh speaker. The Gorsedd conducts all the major ceremonies associated with the Eisteddfod.

Other Eisteddfodau

The Nobles of Wales would regularly sponsor gatherings of musicians, singers and storytellers in their provinces for news as well as entertainment. This is a tradition continuing in the many regional and societal Eisteddfodau all over Wales. Welsh youth regularly compete at Eisteddfodau organized by the Welsh youth league Urdd Gobaith Cymry” One historic Eisteddfod was held in1952 when the American singer and civil rights activist, Paul Robeson, was invited to the Welsh Coal Miner’s Eisteddfod. The McCarthy era government had taken his passport away so Paul sat in a studio in New York and joined the festival over the telephone through the newly constructed trans-Atlantic cable.

Paul Robeson and the Miner's Eisteddfod

The Druid's Prayer

Honoring the Bard

The Field and the Pavilion

All ceremonies, as well as songs contests and speeches within the main pavilion of the Eisteddfod are conducted through the medium of the Welsh language. This has caused some controversy in the past but it is argued that for the language to have validity some things must be available solely through Welsh. A compromise is made for non Welsh speakers in the provision of translation equipment that can be rented and will provide instantaneous translation of what is being said.

As well as the main Pavilion there is the Maes the Field. Here are various booths set up by corporate sponsors, religious organizations and political parties. Debate and even protest around these tents is often a lively and vibrant part of the Eisteddfod. Also on the Maes you will find a Learner’s Tent Pabell y Disgwyr, Literature tent Pabell len, Dance Hall Neuadd Dawns and the Science Pavilion Pabell Wyddoniaeth. There is also a live music tent though only songs in Welsh can be performed there. When the Eisteddfod was held in Swansea some years ago the music tent was named “Jacs yn Joio” That’s an ‘in’ joke. There officially is no ‘J’ in the Welsh alphabet and “Joio” isn’t really a word, it’s a slang expression but you would have to be Welsh to get the joke.

There are three main ceremonies that take place within the main pavilion

These are; the Crowning of the bard, the awarding of the Prose medal and the Chairing of the Bard. The contest for the Chair is highly competitive, an extremely high standard is set and it is not too unusual for the chair not to be awarded if, in the opinion of the adjudicators, the standard is not deserving of the award. All contestants must enter under an alias. This way the adjudicators cannot form a bias. Only the secretary to the Eisteddfod knows the true names of the contestants.

During the ceremony, the Gorsedd enters and take the stage. The white robed Druids Derwyddion, the blue robed Bards Beirdd and the green robed Ovates Ofydd. The ceremony is begun with the prayer that unites all Druids Gweddi’r Derwyddion, the Druid’s Prayer. When the winner is summoned to the stage a large sword, the Sword of Peace is raised over his head. The ArchDruid calls out to the audience three phrases; after each phrase he asks “A oes heddwch” (Is there Peace.) to which the audience respond “Heddwch” (Peace) The three phrases are;

“Y Gwir yn erbyn y Byd” (The Truth against the World)

“Calon wrth Galon” (Heart to Heart)

“Gwaedd uwch Adwaedd” (Shout with responding shout)

The call for peace does not refer to war or battle. It is asking the audience if they are at peace with the decision to honor the bard.

After this the Bard is seated ‘In the peace of the Eisteddfod” A floral dance is performed by young girls from a local school. The dance symbolizes the gathering of flowers from local fields. A young married woman presents to him the “Corn Hirlas” (The Horn of Plenty) Then another young woman comes forward with a basket of flowers “Blodeugedd” representing the bounty of the land. It is a beautiful ceremony, charming in its simplicity and its timelessness.

Hedd Wyn

One of the most memorable and moving occasions in the Eisteddfod’s history took place in 1917, the Prime minister, Lloyd George, was in attendance when the winner was declared to be the author of the Poem “Yr Arwr” (The Hero) The name the winner used was “Fleur de Lis” No one came forward to take the chair. Then it was revealed that the winner was Ellis H. Evans. A young man with the Bardic name of “Hedd Wyn” (Blessed Peace) who had been killed at the battle of Passchendaele six weeks earlier. The empty chair was draped with a black sheet in a moment described by the ArchDruid as ‘The festival in tears and the poet in his grave.”

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Welcome to the National Eisteddfod

If ever you visit Wales in the first week of August, visit the Eisteddfod. Although Eisteddfodau are held in other places such as the Chubut province in Argentina where poetry and song are performed in Spanish and Welsh and in the other Celtic nations of Cornwall and Brittany, the Welsh National Eisteddfod is a unique experience and one unlike anything you may find anywhere else in the world.

© 2010 Peter Freeman

Comments

Peter Freeman (author) from Pen-Bre, Cymru/Wales on February 08, 2011:

Freecampingaussie; I read a little about your adventures in Western Australia, great stuff. Thank you for reading and commenting, if you do go to Wales in August be sure to visit the Eisteddfod and try and get in one of the evening concerts. You'll have a wonderful time I'm sure.

freecampingaussie from Southern Spain on February 08, 2011:

I was born in Newport Wales 1965 - went to NZ 1970 but showed my kids Wales 1997 -- hope to visit soon with mt new husband as its a beautiful country...

Peter Freeman (author) from Pen-Bre, Cymru/Wales on September 01, 2010:

Diolch yn fawr iawn am dy sylwad Eiddwen. Thank you very much for reading and commenting. I agree there should be a Museum dedicated to the Eisteddfod. It has a rich and varied history that should be visually recorded, Where better than in Aberteifi.

Eiddwen from Wales on September 01, 2010:

Hello ianto and once again I am here to tell you how much I enjoy your hubs. The first Eisteddfod in 1176 was held in Cardigan Castle west Wales. I live 4 miles from there and thought you'd be interested to know. The castle was knocked down and a tudor house built in it's place. Even so there is promise of restoration work to the castle grounds even though only parts of a couple of turrets remain. It's a shame they don't turn it into a museum in memory of the first Eisteddfod! Diolch yn fawr iawn i ti unwaith eto ianto.

James A Watkins from Chicago on March 29, 2010:

I have been once and would love to go again. If I am able to do so, I'll let you know.

Peter Freeman (author) from Pen-Bre, Cymru/Wales on March 26, 2010:

Hello James; I am glad you enjoyed it. Yes, Watkins is a very popular name back home as I'm sure you know. I hope you get the opportunity to be over there the same time as me there are so many things I would enjoy showing you.

James A Watkins from Chicago on March 26, 2010:

Very interesting report on the Welsh festival and the Bard. My family name, Watkins, is Welsh, and thus I have many ancestors from that land. Thanks for the fine read.

Peter Freeman (author) from Pen-Bre, Cymru/Wales on March 24, 2010:

Hi Nomoretrucks; good name and thank you for reading my hubs. They do help with the Hiraeth.

Congratulations on the book I'm sure it will be a success you're life is certainly something to write about. Please let me know when it gets published, I'll be looking for a copy.

yes my boys have an interesting heritage. Apache and Welsh, they'll grow up to be drinkers and fighters if I'm not careful LOL.

nomoretrucks from scotland on March 24, 2010:

Sut mae ianto, da iawn hubs. This is a 'gog welshman speaking to you from the cold north of yr Alban. its like living in a stretched out Wales up here only their mountains are a bit bigger! I get a lump in my throat when ever i chat to another taff. Gypsy willow is another cymro who makes me feel homesick- and im not far from home, compared to you two! I will give your hubs a good read. You mention writing a book, i have just sent the final edited manuscript for a book i wrote last year(it needed a lot of editing as it was written by a mechanic with no Engish qualifications)The publisher seems to be raving about it. Im trying to get it translated in to Cymraeg next. Ps i had a stint driving for Crosville Cymru in the '90's, only for a year or so.

My 3rd daughter Ceridwen is named after Taliesins mam, i took her to his birthplace marked by a celtic cross on the shore of Llyn Gerionydd nr Betws-y-coed (look on Google earth), with her sister Seren- they are obsessed with welsh culture and legend now. its like the spirit of Taliesin visited them both on that day! They still live in Wales. The more the cultural imperialism of the English invades Wales the more our inbuilt Cymru heritage lives through our children.

Your children have an incredible heritage-welsh and apache, now that's something else!

Peter Freeman (author) from Pen-Bre, Cymru/Wales on March 23, 2010:

Hey there scarytaff;

Yes, I was surprised myself. Also very surprised at how many people have never even heard of Wales. I remember when my son was quits small and I took him for a haircut. The guy doing the cutting asked me where I was from. because I've met so few who now about Wales I replied that I was British. The guy asked "When he grows up are you going to teach him English or British?"

Now how do you answer that?

Derek James from South Wales on March 22, 2010:

Great hub, Ianto. There is a huge following of Welsh culture in the USA, I found out some years ago.