Folk-Lore of West and Mid-WalesDavies, Jonathan Ceredig
History
Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales
Davies, Jonathan Ceredig
Folklore -- Wales; Wales -- Social life and customs
When the ceremony at the church and the horse racing which followed
were over, the guests proceeded to the young married couple's house
to partake of some food, and in the afternoon and the evening
they paid their "pwython" to the newly married couple, that is
those of the guests who had not paid already. Others again gave
fresh presents. There was much consumption of beer and cakes on such
occasions always, and the sale of which was a further source of income
to the young couple, so that between everything they were provided
with the means for a good start in their married life. Very often
such a large crowd attended the Neithior, that the house was often
too small to accommodate them all; so a party of the men resorted to
the barn or any other convenient place to drink beer.
It was also customary for the young men to treat the young maidens
with cakes; so there was a good deal of love-making, and often of
rivalry, especially should there be a very pretty girl among the merry
company. Those young maids who were fortunate enough as to be in favour
with the young men had their aprons full of cakes and biscuits, etc.,
to take home with them in the evening. Such festivities as a rule were
very merry and kept up till a late hour, and there was a good deal of
singing, harp-playing and dancing, for the Welsh were expert dancers
in former times; but at the present day dancing is almost unknown,
at least in country places.
On such occasions, it was customary, as a rule, to secure the presence
of a harper, for the harp was from time immemorial a favourite musical
instrument among the Welsh people; for Giraldus Cambrensis writing
700 years ago, says:--"Those who arrive in the morning are entertained
till evening with the conversation of young women and the music of the
harp; for each house has its young women and harps allotted to this
purpose ... and in each family the art of playing on the harp is held
preferable to any other learning." During the last three generations,
however, the dear old instrument with its sweet and melodious sounds
gradually declined in popular favour in Wales, and at the present,
there are but very few who can play on the harp at all, indeed,
in many districts the instrument has entirely disappeared, giving
place to the modern piano. This is to be greatly regretted, and every
patriotic Welshman should do his best to encourage playing on the harp.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account