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Wales country is part of the United Kingdom, bordering England to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west.
It is also an elective region of the European Union. Originally (and traditionally) a Celtic land and one of the Celtic
Nations. A distinct Welsh National Identity emerged in the early fifth
century, after the Roman Withdrawal from British.
The 13th-century defeat of Llewelyn by Edward I completed the Anglo-Norman conquest of Wales and brought about centuries of English occupation.
Wales was subsequently incorporated into England with the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 - 1542, creating the legal entity known today as England and Wales.
Distinctive Welsh Politics developed in the 19th century, and the Welsh Church Act 1914 applied solely to Wales.
In 1955 Cardiff was proclaimed as national Capital. In 1999 the National Assembly for Wales was created, which
holds responsibility for a range of developed matters.
Capital Cardiff
National Languages
Welsh & English
Total Area20,779 km2
8,022 sq m
Population 2008 estimate: 3,004,6001
Currency Pound Sterling (GBP)
National Emblem
Leek & Daffodil
Religion Christianity
National Instrument
Harp
Highest maximum temperature: 35.2 oC (95.4 oF) at Hawarden Bridge, Flintshire on 2 August 1990.
Lowest minimum temperature: -23.3 °C (-10 °F) at Rhayander, Radnorshire on 21 January 1940.
Maximum number of hours of sunshine in a month: 354.3 hours at Dale Fort, Pembrokeshire in July 1955.
Minimum number of hours of sunshine in a month: 2.7 hours at Llwynon, Brecknockshire in January 1962.
Maximum rainfall in a day (0900 UTC - 0900 UTC): 211 mm (8.30 inches) at Rhondda, Glamorgan, on 11 November 1929.
St. David's Day celebrates the life of the Patron Saint of Wales on March 1 - the Welsh patriotic festival recognised the world over has been the national day of Wales since the 12th Century. Saint David's "Feast Day" dates further back to the 8th C. Wales' Patron Saint was a Celtic monk, abbot and archbishop, and was the founder of Christian worship in Wales and western parts of Great Britain. Included among the ten monasteries St. David established was Glastonbury and the site of worship he founded at his native Menevia, west Wales, was later consecrated as the U.K.'s first Cathedral in 1131.
St. David Statue, St. David's Cathedral, Pembrokeshire, Wales
There are many great traditions of Wales, but three stand out that make it culturally distinct from its neighboring countries are :
The Eisteddfod (A Cultural Competition)The Eisteddfod (A Cultural Competition)
The Cymanfa GanuThe Cymanfa Ganu (Hymn Singing)(Hymn Singing)
The Noson Lawen (Merry Night)The Noson Lawen (Merry Night)
Of these, the EisteddfodEisteddfod is probably the most ancient and certainly the most popular. Most towns and
villages conduct an annual Eisteddfod in one way or another. It is simply a competition, but the word translates as a
"Chairing," with the winner being awarded a chair upon which he is ceremoniously crowned to great acclaim. Winners of local
eisteddfodau (pl) go on to compete on a county or regional level, eventually reaching the
Royal National Eisteddfod of WalesRoyal National Eisteddfod of Wales in which they compete with others from all parts of the country.
The next Welsh cultural tradition of importance is that of the Cymanfa GanuCymanfa Ganu. Cymanfa Ganu with its emphasis on hymn singing in parts grew out of the Temperance MovementTemperance Movement in the mid-nineteenth century. On Christmas Christmas Day, 1837Day, 1837, a temperance procession marched through the streets of DowlaisDowlais, joined by choirs from neighboring towns. Inspired by the success of the day's events, the Gwent and Glamorgan Temperance Movement decided to hold an annual festival of choirs for four days.
The third great Welsh tradition, the Noson Noson LawenLawen. The event was held to celebrate the successful bringing in of the hay harvest, always a big event because of the uncertainty of the Welsh weather. Noson LawenNoson Lawen gave everyone a chance to show his or her talents; in modern days, an MC takes charge of the evening and introduces the performers, sometimes professional entertainers. Noson Lawen yn
Harlech 3 Mawrth 2007
Pistyll Rhaeadr (Spring of the (Spring of the Waterfall) Waterfall)
The impressive cascade, at 240 ft (74 metres) is the highest in Wales. It is also the most difficult of the seven wonders to
reach.
Wrexham steeple It is a short distance by modern super highway from the English city of Chester to the Welsh market and industrial center of Wrexham, by far the largest town in North Wales. The richly-decorated tower, 135-feet high, with its four striking hexagonal turrets, was begun in 1506. It is graced by many medieval carvings including those of an arrow and a deer, the attributes of St. Giles. The interior of the church also contains many late medieval carvings and monuments.
Snowdon's mountain (Without its (Without its people)people)Snowdon gets its English name from the Saxon Snow Dun, the snow hill or fortress; it is but one mountain inside the largest of the three national parks of Wales (845 sq. miles). Within the park there are several mountain ranges, with 15 peaks over 3,000 feet.
Overton Yew-treesAt Overton, St. Mary's Church dates only to the 13th century. One of the oldest features of the church is a Norman circle cross built into the western pillar of the Nave. Some of the 21 famous yew trees in the churchyard date back at least to the 12th century, when the first stone church was erected.
St. Winifred wellsIt is but a short journey by road from Chester to Holywell, in Flintshire and the next wonder of Wales. The massive Dungeon is completely separate from the rest of the castle; with its own water supply, it could serve as an independent, easily defended stronghold.
Llangollen BridgeLlangollen Bridge is truly a wonder, because for one week in July, it is crowded with dancers, singers, musicians and merrymakers from different nations,resplendent in their national costumes.
Gresford bellsNot only are the peal of bells of note, listed it is said for the purity of their tone, but the Church itself is remarkable for its size, its beauty, its interior monuments, and its yew-filled churchyard. The earliest record of the peal of Gresford bells dates back only to 1714. An apparatus was installed in the belfry in 1877 so that all eight bells could be chimed by one person. The tenor bell is 1.2 tonnes.
1. Welshmen may have settled America before Columbus.2. Canada was explored and mapped by a Welshman.3. America may have taken its name from a Welshman.4. Pennsylvania is not named after William Penn.5. St. Patrick was not an Irishman.6. Wales is not represented on the British Flag.7. A pungent vegetable is the national emblem of Wales.8. The Welsh language is not Gaelic.9. The modern Olympics did not begin in Athens.10. A Welshman invented Lawn Tennis in Wales.11. Welsh Immigrants began The Mormon Tabernacle Choir.12. The Prince of Wales is not Welsh.13. Golf's Stableford System was invented in Wales.14. A Welshman was responsible for the mid-19th century US industrial might.15. The Holy Grail is found in Wales.
16. A Welshman founded The New York Times.17. A Welsh-American invented the automobile.18. The world's biggest second-hand bookshop is in Wales.19. Thanks to a Welshman hanged for murder, Britain has no Death Penalty.20. The names of three geological divisions are derived from Wales.21. Tre'r Ceiri is the largest Iron-Age Fort in northwestern Europe.22. A Welshman translated the first English account of the New World.23. The world's longest railroad station name is in Wales.24. Welshmen invented two important mathematical symbols.25.Three leading universities owe their founding to Welshmen.26. Wales is the most important sheep raising area in Europe.27. The world's first mail-order shopping began in Newtown, Wales.28. The last Britain to die in WW I was a Welshman.29. Welsh gypsies were the last speak Romani in Europe.30. A Welshman composed the music for the 1998 Academy Awards.
31. A Welshman discovered the link between Asian and European Languages.32. One of the world's greatest botanic gardens is taking shape in Wales.33. The earth’s highest mountain is named after a Welshman.34. The world's first wireless transmission took place in Wales.35. A Welsh amputee conquered Everest.36. Welshman Overdosed on Valium.37. Public Enemy Number One was a Welshman.38. Welsh Prison was Training Ground for IRA.39. America's Oldest Ethnic Society is Welsh.40. Cardiff is Home to World’s Largest Retractable-Roof Arena.41. The "Ugly House" was built and inhabited in one day.42. A Welsh coracle crossed the English Channel in 1974.43. The Mumbles Swansea Railroad was the first to accept paying passengers. 44. A Welshman was the first to transmit and receive radio waves.
About 80% of the land surface of Wales is given over to agricultural use. Some traditional dishes include laverbread (made from seaweed), bara brith (fruit bread), Cawl a lamb stew and cawl cennin (leek soup), Welsh cakes, Welsh rarebit, and Welsh lamb. Cockles are sometimes served with breakfast bacon
Welsh rarebit
The land of my fathers is dear to me, A land of poets and minstrels, famed men. Her brave warriors, patriots much blessed,
It was for freedom that they lost their blood.
Homeland! I am devoted to my country; So long as the sea is a wall to this fair beautiful land,
May the ancient language remain.
By Evan JamesJanuary 1856
The typical female costume, as designed and made popular by Lady Llanover, was made up of the following:
Tall hat, made out of hard board with thin beaver fabric glued on to it White cap, worn under the hat, made of cotton or muslin with long
frilled lappets extending down the shoulders
Bedgown White blouse Petticoat Small red flannel shawl Cloak Skirt,full and made of wool with a black and white check pattern. White starched apron Black woollen stockings and black shoes A basket, made from willow withies would often be carried.
There are two major variants:Touch rugby, in which 'tackles' are made simply by touching an opponent. Rugby sevens, in which there are only 7 players per side, and each half is normally 7 minutes
It is the national sport and national obsession of Wales is Rugby Union and Football.
