The Symbols and Emblems of Wales

Vitalia

Murashchuk

Helen Guchok

Wales

is one of the countries that make up the United Kingdom. Rich in history and natural beauty, Wales has a living Celtic culture distinct to the rest of the UK. Travelers are attracted to Wales because of its beautiful landscape, including the mountains and coast of its stunning national parks, the wealth of history and large number of imposing castles.

Lying on a mountainous western peninsula of the island of Great Britain, Wales is bordered to the east by England, while the Republic of Ireland sits to the west across the Irish Sea. Only two hours from London but with less than a third of that city's population, to enter Wales from its crowded eastern neighbour is most certainly to enter another country. Wales is a country of lakes and mountains. Its about the half the size of Switzerland, and it has a population of two and three quarter million. On the north of Wales is some of the most beautiful scenery in the British islands, the Snowdon mountain. Snowdon is Britain’s second highest mountain.

Wales is an not independent nation. In 1292, the English king, Edward, invaded Wales and built fourteen huge castles to control the Welsh people. His son, Edward, became the first prince of Wales, since then all the kings and queens of England have given their eldest sons the title, Prince of Wales. Prince Charles became the twenty-first Prince of Wales. Although the English have ruled Wales for many centuries, Wales still has its own flag, culture, and, above all, its own language. In the towns and villages of North Wales, many people speak English only as a second language. Their first language is Welsh. In Llanberis, a small town at the foot of Snowdon, eighty-six per cent people speak Welsh as their first language. At the local primary school children have nearly all their lessons in Welsh. The children should be bilingual by the time that they are eleven years old. It is not a problem for children to learn two languages at the same time. Children have insight into two cultures, so have all the folk tales of two languages. Children like Welsh because in Welsh you spell things just how you say them, in English there are more silent letters.

Welsh is one of the oldest languages in Europe. Its a Celtic language, like Breton in France, Gaelic in Ireland, or Gaelic in Scotland. Two and a half thousand years before these languages were spoken in many parts of Europe. They died out when the Romans invaded these areas, but some of them survived in the northwest corner of Europe. But over the last hundred years the number of Welsh-speaker has fallen very quickly. Now only twenty per cent of Welsh people speak Welsh. Here are some of the reasons for the decline.

The Symbols and Emblems of Wales

The Symbols and Emblems of Wales. Part of the culture of people in a certain place are their national emblems and symbols. it is what make or tie them as a nation. Wales as a nation is an example of a place with lots of this symbols and emblems.

Wales is located in United Kingdom and it is a part of it and bordered by the England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish sea to the east.

Iit is amusing to look at national emblems and symbols of different people in a place. it is their pride and they are very proud of their legacy as well. Welsh people are said to have the one of the most patriotic people in the world. They have their national emblems and symbols like Red Dragon, St. Davids Flag, their national flag, leeks, daffodils, Celtic knots, cawl and lots of other things.

Every March ist of the year Wales celebrate St. Davids day and this is considered a big celebration and national in preparation and character. It is then interesting to look at the symbols and emblem of Wales to have a good look at their culture.

Join me in looking at some of Welsh peoples symbols and emblems, it is an interesting look and appreciation of a true Welsh spirit.

Cardiff

Cardiff is the capital and largest city in Wales and the tenth largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most l cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for Wales. Cardiff is part of the Eurocities network of the largest European citiesCardiff was made a city in 1905, and proclaimed the capital of Wales in 1955. Since the 1990s Cardiff has seen significant development with a new waterfront area at Cardiff Bay which contains the Senedd building, home to the Welsh Assembly and the Wales Millennium Centre arts complexCardiff has many cultural sites varying from the historical Cardiff Castle and out of town Castell Coch to the more modern Wales Millennium Centre and Cardiff Bay. Cardiff was a finalist in the European Capital of Culture 2008.In recent years Cardiff has grown in stature as a tourist destination, with recent accolades including Cardiff being voted the eighth favourite UK city by readers of the Guardian.The city was also listed as one of the top 10 destinations in the UK on the official British tourist boards website Visit Britain,and US travel guide Frommers have listed Cardiff as one of 13 top destinations worldwide for 2008. Annual events in Cardiff that have become regular appearances in Cardiff's calendar include Sparks in the Park, The Great British Cheese Festival, Cardiff Mardi Gras, Cardiff Winter Wonderland and Cardiff Festival.

Castles in Wales

Wales had about 400 castles, of which over 100 are still standing, either as ruins or as restored buildings. The rest have returned to nature, and today consist of ditches, mounds and earthworks, often in commanding positions.

Caernarfon Castle is one of four castles in Wales that makes up the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd World Heritage Site.

Caernarfon Castle is one of four castles in Wales that makes up the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd World Heritage Site.

Caerphilly Castle

Welsh Culture & Traditions
There are many great traditions of Wales, but three stand out that make it culturally distinct from its neighbors: the Eisteddfod, the Noson Lawen and the Cymanfa Ganu. Of these, the Eisteddfod is probably the most ancient and certainly the most popular. Most towns and villages conduct an annual Eisteddfod in one way or another. It is simply a competition, but the word translates as a "Chairing," with the winner being awarded a chair upon which he is ceremoniously crowned to great acclaim. Winners of local eisteddfodau (pl) go on to compete on a county or regional level, eventually reaching the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales (Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru) in which they compete with others from all parts of the country. The "National" is the largest folk festival in Europe: held in a different town the first week in August each year. Alternating between a venue in South Wales one year and North Wales the next, it draws vast crowds to enjoy its week-long activities.

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