Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE EISTEDDFOD
Nothing encapsulates Welsh culture like the eisteddfod (ey-steth-vot; literally a gathering or session). Infused
with a sense of Celtic history and drawing heavily on the Bardic tradition of verbal storytelling, this uniquely
Welsh celebration is the descendant of ancient tournaments in which poets and musicians competed for a seat of
honour in the households of noblemen.
The first recorded tournament dates from 1176 but the tradition slowly waned following the Tudor Acts of
Union in the mid-16th century. In the late 18th century Edward Williams (better known by his bardic name of
Iolo Morganwg) reinvented the eisteddfod as a modern Welsh festival. Today the
National Eisteddfod
(
www.eisteddfod.org.uk
)
of Wales is one of Europe's largest cultural events and a barometer of contemporary
Welsh culture with aspiring bands and emerging artists often making their debut there. The whole event takes
place in Welsh, but there's loads of help on hand for non-Welsh speakers. The festival is held during the first
week of August, alternately in North and South Wales. Another event to watch out for is the International Musical
Eisteddfod (
Click here
), which is held in Llangollen each July. Acts from over 40 countries compete with folk
tunes, choral harmony and recitals. Competitions take place daily and famous names take to the stage for gala
concerts every night.
