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The National
Eisteddfod is the largest and oldest celebration of Welsh culture,
unique throughout Europe as each year it visits a different area of
Wales. Eisteddfod literally means a sitting (eistedd =
to sit), perhaps 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 when it is said that
the first Eisteddfod was held. 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.
Following 1176, many
eisteddfodau were held throughout Wales, under the patronage of
Welsh gentry and noblemen. Soon the Eisteddfod developed into a huge
folk festival on a grand scale. After declining in popularity in the
18th century, it was revived in the early years of the 19th. In 1880
the National Eisteddfod Association was formed and since then the
Eisteddfod has been held every year, except for 1914 and 1940.
 The Gorsedd of Bards
(Gorsedd y Beirdd) made its first appearance at the Eisteddfod at
the Ivy Bush Inn in Carmarthen in 1819, and its close association
with the Festival has remained. It is an association of poets,
writers, musicians, artists and individuals who have made a
significant and distinguished contribution to Welsh language,
literature, and culture. Its members are known as Druids, and the
colour of their costumes - white, blue or green - is indicative of
their various ranks.
The head of the Gorsedd of Bards is
the Archdruid, who is elected for a term of three years, and is
responsible for conducting the Gorsedd ceremonies during Eisteddfod
week. These Ceremonies are held to honour literary achievements
amongst Welsh poets and prose writers.
Three Gorsedd ceremonies are held
during the Eisteddfod week:
- the Crowning (Coroni)
of the Bard (awarded to the poet judged best in the competitions in
free meter)
- the Awarding of the Prose
Medal ( for the winner of the Prose competitions )
- the Chairing (Cadeirio)
of the Bard ( for the best long poem) .
During these
ceremonies the Archdruid and the members of the Gorsedd of Bards
gather on the Eisteddfod stage in their ceremonial robes. When the
Archdruid reveals the identity of the winning poet, the 'Corn Gwlad'
(a trumpet) calls the people together and the Gorsedd Prayer is
chanted. The Archdruid withdraws a sword from its sheath three
times. He cries 'Is there peace?', to which the assembly reply
'Peace'.
Then the Horn of
Plenty is presented to the Archdruid by a young local married woman,
who urges him to drink the 'wine of welcome'. A young girl presents
him with a basket of 'flowers from the land and soil of Wales' and a
floral dance is performed, based on a pattern of
flower gathering from the fields. The Gorsedd ceremonies are unique
to Wales and the National Eisteddfod.
As well as the
traditional ceremonies there is another side to the Eisteddfod:
maes yr Eisteddfod, the Eisteddfod Field. Here you find lots of
stalls associated mainly with crafts, music, books and food. Music
competitions and radio shows take place in the Theatr y Maes( the
theatre on the field). There is also a societies tent, a
literature tent and the very popular live music tent - only songs in
Welsh can be performed. The learners tent is for teachers and
students of the Welsh language.
Each year, Welsh
people from all over the world return to Wales to take part in a
special welcoming ceremony staged during Eisteddfod week. The
ceremony is organised by Wales International, an association of ex-patriates
from all over the world. The Wales International ceremony is held
within the Eisteddfod Pavilion on the Thursday of Eisteddfod week.
There is also an
Eisteddfod held twice a year in the Chubut province of Patagonia,
South America, in the towns of Gaiman and Trelew. This Eisteddfod
started in the 1880's and includes competitions in music, poetry and
recitation in Welsh, Spanish and English. The winner of the best
poem in Spanish receives a silver crown. The ceremony to honour the
best poet in Welsh, the Bard, involves a religious ceremony asking
for peace and health and involves the Chairing of the Bard in an
ornate carved wooden chair. The main Eisteddfod at Trelew is a very
big gathering with visitors from all over the world.
The National Eisteddfod Of Wales
Meirion and District 2009
Date: August
1st – August 8th 2009
Useful Information:
Eisteddfod website:
http://www.eisteddfod.org.uk/english
©
Historic UK
Useful links:
Heritage Accommodation in Wales
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