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WALES

Part of the UK and Island of Great Britain

Capital city: Cardiff.

First Minister of Wales: Carwyn Jones.

Population: 3,063,456.

Official language: English, Welsh.

Other important towns/cities: Swansea, Newport, Wrexham.

Welsh food

NATIONAL SYMBOLS

Welsh cheese

The leek

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.

• Caerphilly is probably Wales' best known cheese export but they're also pretty good at soft cheese, blue cheese, flavoured cheese, goats cheese.

• According to legend on the eve of the battle against the Saxons St David advised the Britons to wear leeks in their caps so as to easily distinguish friend from foe
• This helped to secure a great victory
• Today Welsh people around the world wear leeks on St David's Day.
• It is also a surviving tradition that soldiers in the Welsh regiments eat a raw leek on St David's Day.

The Welsh Flag

Welsh meat

• Our national flag - The Red Dragon (or in Welsh Y Ddraig Goch) - was granted official status in 1959, but the dragon itself has been associated with Wales for centuries.
• Some say it’s the oldest national flag still in use, and that it was used by King Arthur and other ancient Celtic leaders.

• They are famous for their Black Beef and Welsh Mountain lamb .

The daffodil

• The Welsh for leek (the original national emblem) is Cenhinen, while the Welsh for daffodil is Cenhinen Pedr.
• Over the years they became confused until the daffodil was adopted as a second emblem of Wales.

The prince of Wales feathers

Welsh fish and seafood

• The Crest of three ostrich plumes and the motto "Ich Dien" (I serve) were adopted by Edward the Black Prince at the Battle of Crecy. Edward became Prince of Wales in 1343, and was a popular leader - so much so that thousands of Welshmen joined him to fight in the French wars.
• The crest is used today in royal heraldry and the feathers still adorn the badge of the National Rugby Union team of Wales.

• The seas surrounding Wales give them a variety of products including cockles, mussels, fresh fish and laverbread.

Wales in movies

• Matthew Rhys filmed The Edge of Love (2008) in several locations around West Wales, most notably New Quay.

• The Shell Cottage in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was built on the edge of Freshwater West’s mile-long beach.

• This town was the inspiration for Dylan Thomas’ classic Under Milk Wood.

• Some scenes from the 2012 fairytale Snow White and the Huntsman were shot nearby Marloes Sands.

• In the 2012 movie The Dark Knight Rises, the Batcave is hidden behind the 88-foot curtain of thundering water known as Henrhyd Falls, the highest of dozens of cascades in the western Brecon Beacons, Wales.

• Margam Park is an 850-acre country park with its own 12th-century abbey and neo-Gothic mansion.

• China in Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003)

• In 1995, Robert Downey Jr went to Caerphilly Castle to film the tragi-comic romp Restoration.

• So spectacular are the mountains of Snowdonia that film-makers often use them to represent other exotic locations.

• The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958)

• It’s also the place where the hit US drama Da Vinci’s Demons was filmed.

• In 2004, Johnny Depp went to Tretower Court to film The Libertine.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS

Mabinogion

Welsh traditions

Traditional music & instruments

Lovespoons

Eisteddfodau

• The Harp is regarded as Wales national instrument, with the triple harp being typically Welsh.

• The giving and receiving of lovespoons between lovers, friends and family is a Welsh custom that dates back to the 17th century.

This is a Welsh festival of music, literature and performance.

• Is a collection of our medieval tales dating back a thousand years
• The tales are set in a magical landscape which corresponds geographically to the western coast of Wales
• The Mabinogion tales are full of white horses, giants, beautiful, intelligent women and heroic men

Urdd National EISTEDDFOD

• The Crwth is one of Wales' oldest instruments. It is a form of stringed lyre which is played with at bow.

• It is a celebration of the Welsh language and culture. There are competitions, live music stages, street theatre, stalls and exhibitions.

• The 2017 (link is external) Eisteddfod will be held in the Bridgend College's Pencoed Campus 29 May - 3 June.

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod

• People from around the world come to the small town of Llangollen in north east Wales each Summer to take part in the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod- six days of music, dance and competitions.

• The Pibgorn is a simple reed instrument made from a wooden pipe and the horns of a bull.

• The Eisteddfod is held every year during the second week of July and it has become one of the world’s most colourful festivals.

The National Eisteddfod of Wales

• The National Eisteddfod tradition dates back to the 12th Century. In this festival we can find all kinds of activities and entertainment for people of all ages and backgrounds.

• The site of the National Eisteddfod alternates between north and south Wales and it takes place for 10 days from the first Saturday in August.

• Today lovespoons are popular. They are used to celebrate many occasions such as births, christenings, weddings, anniversaries and retirement.

• In 2017 the National Eisteddfod will take place on the Isle of Anglesey.

CLIMATE

Mari Lwyd

Nos Galan Races

• There are lots of fun runs taking place in winter, including the Nos Galan Races. The races commemorate the Welsh runner Guto Nyth Bran.

• The Mari Lwyd is a pre-Christian tradition said to bring good luck.

• People made a horse figure from a horse’s skull. They adorned it with colourful reins, bells, and ribbons and wrapped it with a white sheet that is carried around on a pole.

• The 5 km race is held every new year’s eve in Mountain Ash, in the Cynon Valley, South Wales. The Races follow a 5km route around the town.

• This old tradition died out in many parts of Wales, but some parts still act it out.

Sport

Welsh Rugby Union

Calennig

Lady of the lake

• Calennig means New Year celebration/gift.

• In Wales children would call from door to door collection Calennig

King Arthur

• These days children still carry out the tradition of calling door to door in some parts of Wales.

• The most traditional sport in Wales is Rugby.

• The story goes that it was here a young farmer named Gwyn won and then tragically lost the love of his life. He fell in love with a beautiful water fairy and she agreed to marry him but warned him she would leave him forever if he struck her three times. They lived happily and had three sons but when Gwyn struck her playfully for the third time she disappeared into the lake and he never saw her again.

• Appear in Wales’ mythology and folklore
• The County Library at Mold is home to the world’s largest collection of books on Arthur, comprising nearly 2,000 volumes.
• Sites throughout Wales are connected with him and his magician Merlin. Today, they are still a leading source of Arthurian literature

• Wales and rugby are, to many people, synonymous thanks to its proud history in the game.

• Welsh officials are also highly respected in the game; Nigel Owens is one of the best Rugby Union referees in the world.

Moderate

Rather unpredictable

Changable

Similar to the UK.

Short-lived

Autumn

WINTER

summer

Hottest months

Rainfall

Snowfall

(June to August)

(October; January)

6°C

20°C

CASTLES

Concentric castle

There are about 600 castles in Wales

They were based on a ring-within-a-ring structure. Sometimes known as a multiple castle, the buildings were constructed to present a challenge to attackers.

STYLES

•English Castles

Pembroke Castle

• Native Welsh Fortresses

Presents some unique architectual

features.

One of the finest castles in all Wales. There is a large cave under the town of Pembroke, a prehistoric cavern.

To imposed authority of the English power on Wales.

Aberystwyth Castle

It was built in response to the First Welsh War in the late 13th century, replacing earlier fortes. The construction was begun in 1277, and completed in 1289.

CLIMATE

Famous because there were some batlles in which The Celts, The Normans, The Vikings and The Saxons were involved.

Caerphilly Castle

(1268)

RAGLAN

It was the first Britain castle with extensive lakes surrounding it. It is one of the biggest fortresses in Europe, and the second largest in Britain.

It was not built specifically as a defense as the other great castles of Wales. It was designed mainly as a statement of wealth and influence.

WALES