The Rich Beauty Of
Wales
Wales is one of the most beautiful countries
you will ever visit. If you are lucky enough to live there then
you are as close to heaven as an living earthling can be! Take
a splendid journey into this wonderful land and you can
admire the absolute haunting brilliance of its mountain
ranges.
Map of Wales Compliments of Travel
UK
The country has its own language - said to be
one of the oldest living languages in Europe. This language can
only be described as a song of angels, radiating out of the
valleys below whilst you journey its paths of wonder.
As you travel down the mountain
roads you see before you a stunning coastline which is
handsomely protected by its many historic castles and
fortresses that stand steadfast in your gaze. Wales stands out
proudly on the western side of Britain on the edge of the
Celtic sea.
In his writings of "Gorchestion Beirdd
Cymru"(The Exploits of the Bards of Wales, 1773), Rhys Jones,
said the following:
“God has shown more love and
favour to the Welsh than to almost any other nation under
the sun.... Although we were conquered by the Romans, and
driven by the Saxons from the lowlands of England to the
Welsh highlands, and later conquered by the Normans; and
although laws were passed specifically to delete our
language totally from the face of the earth; yet the Most
High has given us strength and resilience to withstand all
the incursions of our enemies, however frequent they have
been, and to retain our language and some of our
possessions, also, despite them all; and let us hope that
we shall remain so forever more.”
Ron says his fondest
memories of the country are of the island of
Anglesey. His parents fell so much in love with Anglesey
they decided to retire there and settle along side his
sister Jackie, who owns a farm on the island.
The island of Anglesey was and
is an important part, of Welsh and Celtic culture. If we look
back along the timeline, we see that, Anglesey was in fact a
center for Celtic wisdom and the training of the Druids.
Anglesey in the Welsh
language is: Mon Mam Cwmru (Mona, Mother of
Wales).
The country and its people, like
all the Celtic tribes, have placed particular emphasis on the
passing of its culture through word of mouth. One of the worlds
most famous tales of Wales is the Mabinogion.
The Eleven Tales
Of Wales
These tales are known as the Mabinogion and
were written in the Welsh language around the 11th to 13th
century. It was said by Professors Gwyn and Thomas Jones, as
being “among the finest flowerings of the Celtic genius and,
taken together, a masterpiece of our medieval European
literature.”
People in the academic field
advise us that there is now no traditional style storytellers
in Wales. Ron tells me he personally disagrees and since
he lives there he should know!
For example, he has a
fantastic book called rare Welsh bits by John Williams. (Who is
also a native welsh speaker and writer). This book hooks you in
as you read. Stories that take you through time in the many
Celtic lands and characters such as the gypsies and those with
a touch of the Celtic supernatural - like the Druids and the Wiccans.
Wales as is all our Celtic lands
is full of stories and tales of magic and enchantment with
legendary and mythological beings. Beings such as fairies and
Magic; some for children; and some filled with humour and
traditions reflecting the history of Wales.
NOTE: Ron has promised to write more on Wales
in the coming months when he gets ot feeling better!
Sometimes it's tough to sort out
all the details related to this subject, but I'm positive
you'll have no trouble making sense of the information
presented above.
Back To The Top
Of The Wales Page
|