Hello Friends!
I am putting this up a day early to give you a chance to read it before tomorrow.
It seems that Pembrokeshire is becoming quite the place to celebrate Christmas and the New Year. According to Tripadvisor, St David's is one of the best places in the whole of the United Kingdom for Father Christmas to come and visit for we have some of the best proper working chimneys in the country, which means Father Christmas doesn't encounter problems over access as he does his parcel dropping rounds on Christmas Eve.
Several places in Pembrokeshire host New Year's Day charity swims, which attract many people to don their peculiar fancy dress swimming costumes and take a quick dip in the chilly sea to raise funds for different charities. Two particularly famous ones now are held in Saundersfoot and Tenby, with lots of smaller ones dotted around the coastline.
Fishguard is in the top 20 places in the United Kingdom to celebrate New Year's Eve with their mahoosive street party on the square.
And the celebrations don't stop until the middle of January when one small village celebrates Welsh New Year's Day, or as it is known, Hen Galan, on the thirteenth day of January.
Cwm Gwaun is a beautiful, picturesque, small valley to the east of Fishguard in north Pembrokeshire and they celebrate New Year's Day on January 13th, two weeks after everyone else. They aren't two weeks late, they just celebrate on the old Julian calendar which was abolished in 1752 when it was replaced by the Gregorian calendar {still in use today}. However, the people of Cwm Gwaun resisted the change which is why to this day the children of Cwm Gwaun get the day off school to go from door to door singing in exchange for sweets and money.
A traditional verse such as this is sung at each door:
Blwyddyn Newydd dda i chi / A happy new year to you
Ac i bawb sydd yn y tŷ / And to everyone in the house
Dyma fy nymuniad i / This is my wish
Blwyddyn Newydd dda i chi / A happy new year to you
Another seasonal tradition which occurs between Christmas and Twelfth Night is the Mari Llwyd or Grey Mare. A horse's skull on a pole is decorated with greenery and ribbons, and paraded around the village, this time by adults, going in and out of houses, accompanied by singers or wassailers who traditionally exchange "pwnco" or rude rhymes with the residents. If successful entry is gained, the household is guaranteed to have good luck in the coming year.
You can read a lot more about the history and possible origins of the Mari Llwyd HERE
Debbie
These traditions are in my Folklore books but I didn't include mention of them when writing tomorrows post as I wasn't sure if they were real or still happening so I'm glad you have found all the information to share. Thank you
ReplyDeletestill very much alive and will probably be on one or more of the Welsh news channels, although as far as I know only in Cwm Gwaun!
DeleteThose old photographs are wonderful ...
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for sharing details of this tradition which is new to me.
All the best Jan
Thank you Jan, they're ancient traditions that are only observed in Cwm Gwaun these days.
DeleteTake care! Debbie
My mum is in this photograph, she’s sadly died but I love seeing it year after year
DeleteI love reading about the traditions of New Year's in Wales Deb! What a grand day it must be for everyone. Do you have children come to your door for sweets? Take care and enjoy the holiday friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you Martha Ellen. Sadly, no one comes around on NYD, maybe it's because I don't live on the main street? We always gave money and had a bag of change ready to hand out.
DeleteTake care, Debbie
I love hearing about these traditions, Deb. They are all new to me and they all sound like great fun. I love that these still continue all these MANY years after they first originated. Very different from here -- and I like yours better.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, thanks for the museum recommendations in your comment. I hope to get back at least one more time, so I'm keeping a list!
It seems to me that in past days, the traditions people held were so much fun and kept community alive and fun for everyone. I remembering caroling in my neighborhood with other children and how much fun it was. It seems like no one does things like that anymore...how sad. But I was glad to read about your old traditions, very interesting.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to stop by and say ... keep warm and safe as Storm Eowyn approaches, the wind gusts look to be very strong.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
So very kind of you, thank you. Our region has the dreaded black wind speed circles on the forecast right through until next Weds/Thurs, with tomorrow and Friday the worst of it. What can we do? I hope you are out of the worst of it, but on the news this evening they said it was UK wide again!
DeleteBatten the hatches and stay safe! Debbie