nPostednon August 3, 2013
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Hundredsnof tents, pavilions, and stands have been put up in several grassynfields in Wales.
Hundredsnof tents, pavilions, and stands have been put up in several grassynfields in Wales. n
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nParking lots of sorts have been created in othernfields.
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nPeople have been arriving, and many of them have set up theirnown tents to live in for the week.
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nA stone circle has been created.
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nAndnnow the contests begin!
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nThenNational Eisteddfod is a festival of Welsh literature, music, andnperformance. The most important part of the week, arguably, is thencrowning of the winning poet, the chairing of the winning bard, andnthe awarding of a medal for the winning prose.
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nInnaddition to these three awards, there are concerts and shows andnplays and a dance hall. There are shops and stalls devoted to variousnorganizations and charities.
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Inread that the festival has a druidic flavor, with bards in long,nflowing white or blue or green robes, dancing “maidens,” and trumpet fanfares.nThere is a symbolic Horn of Plenty from which the winners drinknbefore they accept their crowns or medals, along with baskets ofnflowers.
Inread that the festival has a druidic flavor, with bards in long,nflowing white or blue or green robes, dancing “maidens,” and trumpet fanfares.nThere is a symbolic Horn of Plenty from which the winners drinknbefore they accept their crowns or medals, along with baskets ofnflowers.n
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nBynthe way, you probably know that Wales is part of the United Kingdomnand that almost all people who live there know English. What sets thenEisteddfod apart from most other festivals in the U.K. is that itncelebrates the Welsh language. The competing poetry and prose are innWelsh, and the award ceremony is in Welsh, and all the other contestsn and activities are held in Welsh, as well.
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nFornmore on the Welsh language (including its seeming shortage of vowels), check out this earlier post.
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nWhat – or who – were druids?
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Thenancient people who lived in Britain, Ireland, and Gual (now Francenand bits of other modern European nations) were the Celts, and thenwise men of the Celts were the druids. Druids acted as doctors,npriests, and judges, and they basically were also the professors andnacademics of their society, as well.
Thenancient people who lived in Britain, Ireland, and Gual (now Francenand bits of other modern European nations) were the Celts, and thenwise men of the Celts were the druids. Druids acted as doctors,npriests, and judges, and they basically were also the professors andnacademics of their society, as well.n
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nTonlearn more about druids, check out Mr. Donn‘s description andnlinks.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nWatermelon Day
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nBones,nBones, and More Bones Day
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nAnniversarynof the first watercraft to reach the North Pole
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nPlannahead:
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nHerenare my Pinterest pages on Augustnholidays, historicalnanniversaries in August,nand Augustnbirthdays.
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