Welsh folk - I need your help!

[Duke]

My Girl Scout troops are participating in a Thinking Day activity to celebrate the GS/GG founder's birthday. They are part of a group doing International Night, and they need to put together an informative presentation about WALES.

I've got about 20% Welsh blood in me, but I'm ashamed to admit I don't know much about the country. I was in southern Wales for a day or two about 8 years ago, and I've got some good pictures we can print out.

The format is open: so what would you Welsh folk like a bunch of 11-15 year old girl scouts to know about your country?

• Any good (easy and tasty) foods we can make?
• Anybody have MP3s of recent (or traditional) Welsh music?
• Any quaint peasant costumes we could make? (I think central Europe has us beat on that score.)
• Is there a good Welsh language primer we could show/play?

Please, everybody, let's keep the sheep-plonking discussion out of here, since it's actually a serious question and I'd like serious input.

Thanks!

 

[YSSMAN]

Well, your best bet as an American is going to be the Wiki page on Wales, but I'm not completely sure if that will have everything necessary for what you are looking for.

I believe that my Great Grandmother was Welsh, but most of my British ancestry comes next door in England. I too find it disappointing how little I know about the country, guess I better read-up...

 

[Duke]

Yeah, they're looking up at the usual places, but I wanted to get some actual citizens' input. Of course, they're all asleep at the moment, or should be.

 

[Duke]

C'mon, my Welsh friends! I know you're out there. Give us some Welsh input, please!

[edit] YES, I know, it's a double post / bump / TTT. But I really could use information in the spirit of international friendship.

 

[Dave A]

It might be worth sending a PM to Bee or ExigeExcel, they'd probably be more than happy to help. I can tell you about Welsh Rabbit, it's basically cheese on toast, with butter. Don't ask why they call it Welsh Rabbit, we just call it cheese on toast, with butter.

As for traditional Welsh music, this site might help you, but no MP3's I'm afraid.
http://www.newi.ac.uk/buckleyc/welshmidi/welshmusic.htm

 

[Keef]

Where the heck is ExigeExcel? I'd like to see some of the Welsh language. I didn't realize that it was totally different from English.

 

[Scaff]

Duke

I don't know if these will help out at all, but you could do a small piece on the longest place name in the UK.

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch



Its a small village on the Welsh island of Anglesey, and would allow a look at the Welsh language and it should be fun seeing if anyone can actually say it.

Here's some Wiki info and a .wav file on how the name should sound.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

http://www.llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.co.uk/soundfiles/llandad4.wav

Regards

Scaff

 

[Lee]

[*] Any quaint peasant costumes we could make? (I think central Europe has us beat on that score.)

Dress as sheep, it's about all Wales is famous for.

Failing that, rugby players.

 

[Roo]

Could you plant daffodils? They're the national flower of Wales. Or maybe you could try leek seeds - St. Davids personal symbol.

There's a few ideas in the Wikipedia article on St. David's Day, the patron saint of Wales.

The younger girls usually wear their Welsh costumes to school. This costume consists of a long woollen skirt, white blouse, woollen shawl and a Welsh hat.

Edit: this might help.

 

[Danny]

Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Richard Nixon were of Welsh descent.
The welsh national motto is Cymru am byth (I believe that means "Wales for ever").
Canada was explored and mapped by a Welshman.
Welsh gypsies were the last speak Romani in Europe.

Maybe teach a little bit of Welsh?
Cymru Wales
Cymry Welsh people
Hylô Hello
Sut mae? (North Welsh) How are you?
Shw mae? (South Welsh) How are you?
Hwyl am nawr Bye for now
Dw i’n dy garu di I love you
Anws Anus
Pob lwc Good luck

 

[ExigeEvan]

Wow, how did I miss this!?

I could be really mean now and just disappear and never return again, but you've got me.

I've got about 20% Welsh blood in me, but I'm ashamed to admit I don't know much about the country. I was in southern Wales for a day or two about 8 years ago, and I've got some good pictures we can print out.

Southern Wales eh? Does Cardiff, Newport, Swansea or Pembrokshire ring a bell?

The format is open: so what would you Welsh folk like a bunch of 11-15 year old girl scouts to know about your country?

* Any good (easy and tasty) foods we can make?

Welsh Cakes!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/welshcakes_67264.shtml
In the age old fashion, every Gran has her own secret recipe, however, they all have one thing in common. Lots of Sugar on top!

* Anybody have MP3s of recent (or traditional) Welsh music?

For the youth... LostProphets. There's no swearing (as far as I remember) and they pretty much sound American. Gits. There's also The Automatic (local boys, y'know but neither of these two are very traditional.

Max Boyce is our idea of folk. Not a fan myself but I can get you MP3s if you need them. He sings loads of patriotic stuff and such.

Welsh rugby songs
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/scrumv/fun/songs/list.shtml

"Hen wlad fy nhadau" is the national anthem, you can attempt it if you dare. I could probably give you some help with the phonetics but it's probably better to listen to a recording.

Two songs you could do in English are "Men of Harlech" (Battle song, perhaps abit strong) or you could sing 'Bread of Heaven' which is the 'second' anthem of Wales and the crowd usually sing it a few times in an international rugby game.

* Any quaint peasant costumes we could make? (I think central Europe has us beat on that score.)

Traditional women's dress for St David's (Patron Saint) day

(They usually only wear it 'till their 10/11 She must have thought it was cool)

* Is there a good Welsh language primer we could show/play?

Like a short play? Going to be difficult with the language issues but I can have a look if you need one.

If you need me to go into more detail on anything just ask.

Oh and I do have an A* in short course Welsh, but it's been 6 months since I spoke much so my grammar and vocabulary has gone to pot.

[EDIT]
And Welsh mythology is great.

The story of how the Dragon became the national symbol.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y_Ddraig_Goch
The second one is best, very anti-English

The story of Gelert, the dog.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelert

 

[ceiling_fan]

Anws Anus

I like how you listed that with other essential phrases.

 

[Duke]

Man, thanks, you guys! This stuff is great. The Welsh Cakes recipe sounds good.

And yes, we crossed the river (Severn...?) at Bristol and went through Newport to Cardiff. We spent a few hours in Cardiff and then headed up to Caerphilly to wlak through the castle and surrounding town. On the way back to Malmsbury we also spent a few hours in Castle Coch.

Thanks again for all those references!

 

[CDailey]

Bullet For My Valentine are also Welsh, but I don't think you want your little troops listening to metal.

 

[MagpieRacer]

...spent a few hours in Castle Coch.

How is that one pronounced?

 

[Sureboss]

Probably nothing like how you imagine.

 

[Duke]

How is that one pronounced?

Kind of like "Coke" with a little throaty ch sound at the end.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Bullet For My Valentine are also Welsh, but I don't think you want your little troops listening to metal.

Another band fairly local to me, but lets never speak of them again.

How is that one pronounced?

Caslte as you'd usually say it, and coch is umm, okay, this'll take some explaining for a foreigner.

So it's cor....and...
Have you seen Borat? When he describes testicles he says 'Jrum' in that throaty way. Well it's basically that without the 'rum'.

Kind of like "Coke" with a little phlegmy ch sound at the end.

A much simpler way but I hate it when people use the 'phlegmy' description (no matter how true it is ).

Oh and 'coch' means red.