Eisteddfod
An Eisteddfod in Patagonia, 1880.
Eisteddfod in Welsh translates literally as eistedd, sit down and fod, be. It is a coming together and celebration of the arts. The festival website lists various performances in the upcoming 2025 edition, including the Eisteddfod choir and numerous prizes in the categories of Brass Band, Visual Arts, Cerdd Dant (22), Music, Dance, Maes D (Welsh learners), Folk (music), Science and Technology, Recitation, Literature, and Theatre. The first recorded Eisteddfod was in 1176 and was referred to originally as a ‘bardic tournament’ in the Brut y Tywysogion (Chronicle of the Princes). The word Eisteddfod came later. (24)
Video: History of the National Eisteddfod. National Library of Wales.
The Eisteddfod declined somewhat in the 15th and 16th centuries and was then revived in the 18th century in London by Iolo Morganwg who created ceremonies with the Gorsedd (secret society) of the Bards (25), inspired by Druidry, Christianity and mysticism. (26) This historic bardic competition was regarded as an important foundation of Welshness. It celebrated the Welsh language, music, poetry (in reflection of Taleisin and Aneirin as mentioned above) and the coming together of a community. The Eisteddfod was taken wholesale to Patagonia:
The culmination of literary activity was the annual chair eisteddfod, with its own Gorsedd of Bards, its chaired bard and choirs exactly as in Wales. (27)
In 1965 the Y Wladfa Eisteddfod became bilingual, with Welsh and Spanish language music and poetry. (28)
Festival of the Landing...Patagonians were finally granted the right to vote following the creation of the Chubut Province in 1955… and established Gŵyl y Glaniad (the ‘Festival of the Landing’) on 28 July as the first bank holiday in Chubut. (30)
In 2015 there was a special celebration marking the 150 year anniversary of the settlers arriving which was enjoyed by Wales and contemporary Y Wladfa settlers. Paula Dear’s 2015 BBC article sums up the various activities including; the Welsh and Tehuelche exchanging gifts, a play and a reenactment of the Mimosa ship’s arrival, a cacen ddu (black cake) competition, a Welsh hymn sung in spanish and Welsh, bi-lingual choirs, hikes (one led by Welsh Rugby star Shane Williams) and of course traditional Welsh tea. (29) Black cake is a combination of traditional Welsh cake and Christmas cake which was created by the Welsh settlers.
Video: A virtual celebration of Gŵyl y Glaniad during the pandemic in 2020.
Folklore and Mythology
The Welsh have their own mythology, the Mabinogi/on which was compiled in Middle Welsh in the 12th–13th centuries from earlier oral traditions. (31) Many Welsh stories are rooted firmly in the countryside. A quick glance at the National Trust website and you can see various legends in their landscapes. (32) The Festival of the Landing is an example of how place becomes important; celebrating Puerto Madryn as the port where the first settlers landed.
Another example can be seen in pictures and videos of Y Wladfa’s towns (such as Gaiman) where flags, signs and sculptures depict the red dragon. The red dragon is a famous symbol of Wales and the one depicted on the Welsh flag since 1959 and in battle long before. (33) The story of the dragon carries with it the message of national pride. Briefly, a story from the Mabinogion tells of the red dragon (y ddraig goch) who lives beneath the site of a castle in Eryri (Snowdonia), and fights a stronger white dragon every night yet still continues to win. The red dragon became allegorical with the Welsh, and the white dragon of invading forces. (34) The following video of Gaiman - made by two Welsh tourists in 2016 - shows the Welsh dragon, a harp and Welsh language posters in the town. They mention in the YouTube comments that the Welsh elements of the town appear to be aimed at tourism.
In my first blog, I talk about my recent experience of Welsh culture after childhood holidays spent there. What I noticed about folklore, tradition and culture were similar to what a modern-day inhabitant of Y Wladfa speaks of in a project-hiraeth video. She talks about Welsh being ‘part of [her] daily life’ in the form of singing, speaking the Welsh language, getting involved with the community and helping to organise the Eisteddfod. (35) When I asked the Trip Advisor AI what people think of the town of Gaiman, this was the response:
Gaiman, located in the Chubut Province of Argentina, is a charming town known for its Welsh heritage. Visitors often appreciate its unique cultural blend, historical sites, and the traditional Welsh tea houses. The town offers a peaceful atmosphere, making it a great place for those looking to explore a different side of Argentina. (36)
Whether or not the history, the traditional tea houses or the Welsh language have become more of a tourist attraction than a way of life, there is certainly a Welsh community in existence as shown by the work of project-hiraeth. Schools continue to teach Welsh language and tradition and the red dragon holds strong. In 1982 the connection with Y Wladfa and Wales itself was reestablished and both countries benefit from the exchange. What took a migration across the sea in 1865 is now possible in other ways: joining a Welsh language class online, visiting the London Welsh Centre or Wales itself, or watching S4C for Welsh language entertainment.
And yes... there are sheep in Patagonia.
(22) Cerdd Dant is a whole tradition in itself, broadly described as improvising over a written harp piece.
(23) Eisteddfod. Accessed 30 December 2024. https://eisteddfod.wales/. (24) The National Library of Wales. Accessed 31 December 2024. https://www.library.wales/fileadmin/docs_gwefan/new_structure/discover/education/education_services/learning_resources/Eisteddfod_Gen/English_Eisteddfod_1176.pdf. (25) Ibid. (26) Marcus Tanner, The Last of the Celts (Yale University Press, 2004) 186-218. (27) R. Bryn Williams, Gwladfa Patagonia: The Welsh Colony in Patagonia, 1865-1965 (Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru, 1965) 43. (28) Lublin, Valuable Commodity. (29) Paula Dear, “150th anniversary of Welsh emigration to Patagonia.” BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-33682688. (30) Lublin, Community in Argentina. (31) Sioned Davies. The Mabinogion. Oxford: Oxford University Press UK, 2007. 111-115. (32) “Welsh Myths and Folklore.” National Trust. Accessed 1 January 2025. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/welsh-myths-and-folklore. (33) “Celebrating Welsh Icons.” Wales.com. Accessed 2 January 2025. https://www.wales.com/about/welcome-wales/national-symbols-wales. & Davies, Mabinogion. (34) Mhara Starling, Welsh Witchcraft: A Guide to the Spirits, Lore and Magic of Wales (Llewellyn Publications, 2022) 117-128 & Davies, Mabinogion. (35) Project-Hiraeth: Life in Welsh Patagonia, Nadine. https://vimeo.com/121493034. Bibliography
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