and weighs ten kilos. The competitor is not allowed to run, he stands still
and sweeps it round and round his head several times.
For all events, except races, the kilt must be worn. For highland
dances, of which there are many varieties, the competitors wear full
highland dress. This includes a smart jacket worn with coloured buttons and
a “sporran” or purse made of fur, which hangs at the waist. The mast
difficult and intricate of the dances is the sword-dance, performed over a
pair of crossed swords which must not be touched by the dancer’s feet.
Wales
Wales is the country in the west of Great Britain. It is mainly a
mountainous land with a chiefly agricultural economy and an industrial and
coal-mining area in the south. The landscape is beautiful. Many English
people move to Wales when they retire.
Cardiff, a large city in the south, was chosen as the capital of Wales
in 1955, mainly because of its size. Since 1536, Wales has been governed by
England and the heir to the throne of England has the title of Prince of
Wales, but Welsh people have strong sense of identity. There is a Welsh
National party which wants independence from the United Kingdom and the
Welsh language is still used in certain parts of the country.
Welsh is an ancient Celtic language, similar to Breton, spoken in
Brittany, France. In the 60’s Welsh was given equal status with English as
an official language and is used in the law courts. It is taught in school
and some TV program is broadcast in Welsh. However, only about 20% of the
population speaks Welsh.
St. David’s Day (1st March)
Dewi (“David” in English), was the son of a Welsh chieftain. He was
brought up as a Christian and went abroad to learn more about the life of a
monk. Then he returned to Wales and founded many monasteries which became
centers of religion and learning in the Welsh countryside. The monks lived
a simple life of player, growing their own herbs and vegetables and
offering generous hospitality to anyone in need. Because David’s holiness
and his inspiring teaching, he was made a bishop. The center of his
bishopric was in the settlement we now know as St. David’s on the Western
tip of the country of Dyfed.
David is thought to have died on 1st march, AD 589, and his shrine at
St. David’s was a place of pilgrimage in the Middle Ages. Later, when
people of North and South Wales became one nation, he was chosen as the
patron saint of Wales.
A legend tells how David suggested that his people should wear a leek
in their bonnets during battles so that they could be easily recognized;
Welsh Guards are still distinguished by a green and white plume in their
black bearskins. At Windsor, on the Sunday nearest St. David’s day, it is
now a tradition that every member of the Brigade of Welsh Guards is given a
leek by a member of the Royal Family. However, as St. David’ Day is
celebrated at the beginning of Spring when daffodils, are blooming, this
flower has become a second, more graceful emblem of Wales. David’s own
emblem is a dove.
It is said that David had a sweet singing voice. He encouraged his
monks to sing as well as possible for the glory of God, and perhaps this
was the beginning of the Welsh tradition of fine made-voice choirs.
Many churches are dedicated to David in southwest Wales, and if you are
traveling there, you might visit the cathedral at St. David’s. Other places
too are called after the saint, and you may visit Llandewi or Capel Dewi or
Ffynor Dewi
The Welsh "national" costume
Seen on the dolls and postcards is largely a myth created for tourism.
Certainly, the seventeenth-century country women wore long coloured skirts,
a white apron and a tall black hat, but so did English women at that time.
In the nineteenth century, the idea of a national costume was born and this
pleased both tourists and locals, although there is no evidence at all of a
long-lost costume.
The Welsh Eisteddfodau
No country in the world has a greater love of music and poetry than the
people of Wales. Today, Eisteddfodau are held at scores of places
throughout Wales, particularly from May to early November. The habit of
holding similar events dates back to early history, and there are records
of competitions for Welsh poets and musicians in the twelfth century. The
Eisteddfod sprang from the National Assembly of Bards. It was held
occasionally up to 1B19, but since then has become an annual event for the
encouragement of Welsh literature and music and the preservation of the
Welsh language and ancient national customs.
The Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales is held annually early in
August, its actual venue varying from year to year. It attracts Welsh
people from all over the world. The programme Includes male and mixed
choirs, brass-band concerts, many children's events, drama, arts and crafts
and, of course, the ceremony of the Crowning of the Bard.
Next in importance is the great Llangollen International Music
Eisteddfod. held early in July and attended by competitors from many
countries, all wearing their picturesque and often colourful national
costumes. It is an event probably without parallel anywhere in the world.
There are at least twenty-five other major Eisteddfodau from May to
November. In addition to the Eisteddfodau, about thirty major Welsh Singing
festivals are held throughout Wales during the same period of time.
Lovespoons
Lovespoons were given by suitors to their sweethearts in Wales from the
seventeenth to the early nineteenth century. The custom of giving
lovespoons died out in the nineteenth century but they continued to be
carved especially in some country districts. Making lovespoons became
something of an art form and woodwork competitions and Eisteddfoday often
had examples of the genre.
In recent years, interest in lovespoons has reawakened and many people
seek them out as desirable keepsakes. Visitors to Wales, particularly from
overseas, wanting something uniquely Welsh to remind them of their visit
often choose a lovespoon. There is also a growing tendency for Welsh people
themselves to give lovespoons as gifts to commemorate special occasions — a
new baby, a birthday, an impending marriage, a retirement or to celebrate a
success of some kind. Lovespoons also make excellent Christmas presents.
Today, when most people have neither the tine nor the inclination to carve
their own lovespoons, the accepted practice is to buy a ready-made example
of the craft or to commission one of the woodcarver specialists to make
one.
Since pre-history, beautiful, hand-carved objects have had ceremonial,
romantic and religious significance: long incense and cosmetic spoons, for
example, have survived from Egyptian times. In the Middle Ages, a pair of
knives in a sheath was considered a worthy gift and it was common for a
bridegroom to present his bride with one: such sets were known as "wedding
knives".
The history of kitchen utensils and the spoon belongs to Western
culture. The history of the lovespoon belongs to Welsh romantic folklore.
From the mid-seventeenth century, lovespoons were carved from wood in
Wales and there is one dated 1677 in the collection at the Welsh Folk
Museum in Cardiff. It is amazing that it has survived because wooden
objects are not particularly durable.
From the seventeenth century, the custom grew for a young man to give a
spoon to the lady who took his fancy. Thus, particularly attractive young
ladies might be given a number of spoons from aspiring suitors. It may be
that modern word, "spooning" indicating a closer development of a
relationship, is derived from this practice of giving a love token.
Early lovespoons were carved from sycamore which was readily available
in the low-lying country districts of Wales. The main tool used was a
pocket knife. Those who made such spoons were amateurs and it was a way of
passing the time on long winter evenings. Imagine a young man busily
shaping a spoon in a small room lit only by candlelight or the glow of a
fire.
Numerous examples of lovespoons have been found throughout Wales but
the giving and receiving of a spoon did not develop into "a ritual of
betrothal". Indeed, there is strong evidence to suggest that giving a
lovespoon expressed a desire for a relationship and was not an affirmation
that a relationship had already begun.
Some young men did not have the time or the skill to carve their own
spoons and professional lovespoon carters emerged. It was again, a question
of demand and supply. Spoons were bartered for or purchased from these
skilled craftsmen and a tradition of spoons made by the same wood worker
grew in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It was no wonder then,
that the spoon became more decorative and elaborate.
A number of design factors should be mentioned in relation to spoon
carving including size, weight, color and the nature of the completed
artifact. As far as size is concerned, the earliest spoons were little
bigger than the modern teaspoon, their use was limited, and larger spoons
soon came to be carved. This meant that the handles, in particular, could
be more and more elaborate. As they became more decorative, the spoons were
displayed by hanging them on the wall in the living room or parlour. The
weight and type of wood used for such a spoon depended on the setting in
which it was to be displayed. Softwoods were often preferred and the colour
selected so that it would look good against a wall.
A great deal of imagination was used in the creation of lovespoons.
This elaboration was gradual. Two or even three bowls were carved instead
of one to make it more interesting and attractive. Eventually, the bowl
became less important and attention turned first to the handle and then to
embellishments or additions to the handle. Sometimes the handle was
Страницы: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
