National symbols of Wales explained

The national symbols of Wales include various official and unofficial images and other symbols.

Flags

See main article: List of Welsh flags.

Welsh heraldry

See main article: Welsh heraldry.

British (formerly English) monarchy heraldry

The badge represents the Duke of Cornwall or Heir Apparent of the British monarchy (commonly known as the Prince of Wales's feathers).[11] It consists of three white feathers emerging from a gold coronet and the German motto Ich dien (I serve). Several Welsh representative teams, including the Welsh rugby union, and Welsh regiments in the British Army (the Royal Welsh, for example) use the badge or a stylised version of it. There have been attempts made to curtail the use of the emblem for commercial purposes and restrict its use to those authorised by the Prince of Wales.[12] The use of the emblem to symbolise Wales is controversial, such as its use by the Welsh rugby union.[13] [14] [15] [16]

Plants and animals

See also: Biodiversity of Wales.

Welsh Language

The Welsh language is considered a symbol and icon of Wales and considered a "cornerstone of Welsh identity". Spoken throughout Wales by around 750,000 people, it is present on television, radio, road signs and road markings.[22]

Welsh mottos

Music

See also: Music of Wales. Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau is the traditional national anthem of Wales.[30] The words were written by Evan James and the tune was composed by his son, James James, both residents of Pontypridd, Glamorgan, in January 1856.[31] The earliest written copy survives and is part of the collections of the National Library of Wales.

Male voice choirs are considered a Welsh symbol. Traditional members of the movement include the Treorchy choir and the Morriston choir. More recently, the success Only Men Aloud has also played a part in continuing this tradition.

The Welsh harp, also known as the triple harp is considered to be the national instrument of Wales.[32]

Art

See also: Welsh art. The earliest known dated lovespoon from Wales, displayed in the St Fagans National History Museum near Cardiff, is from 1667, although the tradition is believed to date back long before that.[33]

Costume

See main article: Traditional Welsh costume. The unique Welsh hat, which first made its appearance in the 1830s, was used as an icon of Wales from the 1840s.[34]

From the 1880s, when the traditional costume had gone out of general use, selected elements of it became adopted as a national costume. From then on it was worn by women at events such as Royal visits, by choirs, at church and chapel, for photographs and occasionally at eisteddfodau. It was first worn by girls as a celebration on Saint David's Day just before the First World War. The costume is now recognised as the national dress of Wales.[35]

See also

Notes and References

  1. The arms and flag have four squares alternating in gold and red (representing the Royal House of Aberffraw and iron, or Mars the god of War). Each square has a lion of the opposite colour. The lion is looking at the observer and has 3 paws on the ground and one raised high in the air ("passant guardant"); the tongue is stuck-out ("langued") and the claws outstretched claws ("armed"). Both are blue ("Azur". This represents primacy in Wales).
  2. Web site: WalesOnline . 2004-09-15 . Flying the flag to remember Glyndwr . 2022-08-12 . WalesOnline . en.
  3. Web site: BBC Wales - History - Themes - Welsh flag: Banner of Owain Glyndwr . 2022-07-29 . www.bbc.co.uk.
  4. Web site: BBC - Wales - History - Themes - Flag of St David . 2022-09-06 . www.bbc.co.uk.
  5. Web site: Red Dragon of Wales . 2022-08-12 . www.maryjones.us.
  6. s-GWRT-HEY-0400. Williams. Ifor. 1959. Gwrtheyrn (Vortigern).
  7. News: 2019-07-06 . Wales history: Why is the red dragon on the Welsh flag? . en-GB . BBC News . 2022-09-06.
  8. Depicted in Cambridge Corpus Christi College Parker Library MS 16 II, fol. 170r (Chronica Majora, c. 1250).
  9. Web site: Medieval copper alloy armorial mount . 2022-09-06 . Museum Wales . en.
  10. News: 2008-07-09 . First Welsh law's royal approval . en-GB . 2022-09-06.
  11. Web site: Williams . Nino . 2018-11-25 . The uncomfortable truth about the three feathers symbol embraced by Wales . 2022-08-12 . WalesOnline . en.
  12. News: Burson . Sam . 2 March 2007 . Stop using my Three Feathers . . . Cardiff . 11 November 2010.
  13. Web site: Daffodils, leeks and ruffled feathers: do national symbols matter? . 2022-09-06 . The National Wales . en.
  14. Web site: David . Corrie . 2021-11-02 . Thousands sign petition for WRU to change emblem to a dragon . 2022-02-18 . WalesOnline . en.
  15. Web site: Williams . Nino . 2018-11-25 . The uncomfortable truth about the three feathers symbol embraced by Wales . 2022-02-19 . WalesOnline . en.
  16. Web site: 2021-10-30 . Yes Cymru propose alternative crests for WRU that ditch the three feathers . 2022-02-19 . Nation.Cymru . en-GB.
  17. Web site: The Leek - National emblem of the Welsh. Historic UK. 2017-03-03. Ben Johnson.
  18. Web site: 2019-07-03 . National symbols of Wales . 2022-09-06 . Wales . en.
  19. Web site: 2019-07-03 . National symbols of Wales . 2022-09-06 . Wales . en.
  20. News: 2004-07-23 . Tree trail with worldwide flavour . en-GB . 2022-09-06.
  21. http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/details.asp?view=print&id=tcm:9-176206 The RSPB: Red kite voted Wales' Favourite Bird
  22. Web site: 2019-07-03 . National symbols of Wales . 2022-09-06 . Wales . en.
  23. News: 6 February 2015 . Cymru am byth! The meaning behind the Welsh motto . . 22 March 2016.
  24. Web site: December 2008 Newsletter (No. 19) . www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/ . . 3 October 2022.
  25. News: 9 July 2008 . First Welsh law's royal approval . . 3 October 2022.
  26. News: Signed, sealed, delivered: Queen approves Welsh seal . 3 October 2022 . . 15 December 2011.
  27. Web site: The £1 Coin - The United Kingdom £1 Coin . www.royalmint.com/ . . 3 October 2022.
  28. Web site: NATO Summit Wales 2014 logo unveiled . 2022-09-06 . GOV.UK . en.
  29. News: Welsh Flag: An official emblem . 3 October 2022 . . 8 August 2008.
  30. Web site: 2014 . Welsh National Anthem . 24 May 2014 . wales.com . . Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau gradually became accepted as Wales' national anthem – though to this day, it has no official status as such..
  31. Web site: 1 December 2008 . Welsh anthem – The background to Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau . 3 December 2010 . Wales history . BBC Cymru Wales.
  32. Web site: 2022-08-02 . Celebrating the Welsh harp and our traditional Celtic folk roots . 2022-09-06 . Wales . en.
  33. Book: The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales . University of Wales Press . 2008 . 978-0-7083-1953-6 . Davies . John . John Davies (historian) . Cardiff . 523 . Jenkins . Nigel . Nigel Jenkins . Menna . Baines . Lynch . Peredur I..
  34. Christine Stevens, 'Welsh Peasant Dress – Workwear or National Costume', Textile History 33, 63–78 (2002)
  35. Book: Davies, John . The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales . Jenkins, Nigel . University of Wales Press . 2008 . 978-0-7083-1953-6 . Cardiff . 931–932.

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