Cymanfa Ganu

The third Welsh cultural tradition of importance is that of the Cymanfa Ganu. The Cymanfa Ganu with its emphasis on hymn singing is not an ancient event at all, for it grew out of the Temperance Movement in the mid-nineteenth century. In South Wales Choral societies were founded as one solution to the grave problem of drinking. Because of the unsanitary conditions in the rapidly-growing and hurriedly-thrown together housing developments, water was unsafe to drink and beer was drunk in large quantities. To help the workers occupy their time and keep them away from the taverns, the choral movement reflected the social aspirations of the supporters of temperance. Temperance Movement decided to hold an annual festival of choirs and at the Eisteddfod of 1846, choral competition was added to the list of events. It has remained ever since as one of the most popular and best attended events. Many towns in Wales no longer hold the annual Cymanfa, but the tradition has experienced a great revival in North America, where, in a different city each year, thousands of Welsh Americans and Canadians get together to sing their beloved hymns in what has now become a four-day festival.

Halloween

Wales also shares some other old Celtic traditions. Many are connected with the old New Year's Eve of Celtic tradition, transformed into the rites connected with the Christian celebration of All Hallow's Eve, or Halloween. In Wales, this night is called Nos Galan Gaeaf. Before dawn, huge bonfires were lit on the hillsides, often two or three within sight of each other. While apples and potatoes were thrown into the fires for roasting, the watchers would dance around or leap through the flames for good luck. Stones were thrown into the fire; then, when the flames died down, everyone would run for home. The next morning, at daybreak, searchers would try to find their stones. Those who succeeded would be guaranteed good luck for the coming year. If you could not find your stone, then bad luck or even death would follow. Apples always played a large part in Halloween festivities (they are the one fruit that grows prolifically in the Welsh climate and can be preserved throughout much of the early winter). The most popular game was apple bobbing, with six or eight perfectly round fruit placed in a large bowl of water set on the floor. Then, with both hands tied behind their backs, the young lads and lasses would try to pick up an apple with only their teeth. Usually they received a nose and mouth full of water for their pains, but no apple!! In some houses, the apples were tied on one end of a stick suspended from the ceiling with a candle tied to the other end. The stick was then rotated and the participants, again with their hands tied behind them, tried to catch the apple with their teeth as it spun around. They usually ended up with a mouth full of candle!

Task 5. Look through the subtitles in the following text and think what you already know about the traditions named. Then read the text and discuss it with a partner.