“To be born in Wales, not with a silver spoon in your mouth, but with music in your blood and with poetry in your soul, is a privilege indeed.” Brian Harris
Welcome to this week's CST 'Saint David's Day' activities page, celebrating all things Welsh.
To begin, ask members what they like or love about Wales and the Welsh.
Who was born and bred here?
Are there any stories about growing up in Wales?
Has anyone a favourite place in Wales they would recommend others to visit?
What is Wales most famous for? It's mountains, countryside, castles, beaches, it's food or language?
Has anyone got a favourite Welsh celebrity? Why do they like them so much?
How would people try and explain what Wales is like to let's say an American?
A favourite saying on St David's Day is 'Gwnewch y pethau bychain' - "Do the little things." These were apparently St David's last words.
DAFFODILS
After Welcome and Introductions, hand each member a daffodil. Use it as a short Mindfulness practice. Ask members to examine the daffodil, it's shape, colour, texture, smell and so on. As they do so, read the following poem by Wordsworth. (Be aware of any risk that a member might taste or ingest their daffodil and observe more closely.)
"I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils."
– William Wordsworth (1815)
SYMBOLS OF WALES
Discuss these symbols of Wales. Are there any more to add?
IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Next, ask members to complete the following Welsh themed phrases ...
Land of - MY FATHERS / SONG
Severn - BRIDGE (Now 'King Charles 111 Bridge)
The green green grass - OF HOME
Black sheep of - THE FAMILY
How green was - MY VALLEY
Under Milk - WOOD
Bread of - HEAVEN
Six - NATIONS
Grand - SLAM
Wooden - SPOON
Brecon - BEACONS
Prince of - WALES
Men of - HARLECH
Welsh - DRESSER
Love - SPOON
Welsh Border - COLLIE
Welsh - CORGI
Spitting - FEATHERS
HARP - on about something
Take a - LEEK
Red - DRAGON
Oggy Oggy Oggy - OI OI OI
And for fun ...
Whose coat is that - JACKET?
I'll be there now in a - MINUTE
How's it going - BUTT?
I'm not being funny - RIGHT
Where you - TO?
I'm not gonna lie - TO YOU
That is absolutely - BUZZING, HUMMING, MINGING
She's under the - DOCTOR
Poor - DAB
Tidy - LIKE
Cheers - DRIVE
This is cowing - LUSH
"Oh, what's - OCCURRING?"
SOME WELSH PHRASES AND THEIR MEANINGS
Ask members to guess at the meanings of these common Welsh phrases and words ...
Croeso I Gymru - WELCOME TO WALES
Cymru am byth - WALES FOR EVER
Bore da - GOOD MORNING
Diolch yn fawr - THANK YOU VERY MUCH
Chwarae teg - FAIR PLAY
Iechyd da - GOOD HEALTH
Eglwys - CHURCH
Traeth - BEACH
Ysgol - SCHOOL
Heddlu - POLICE
Ysbyty - HOSPITAL
Dwr - WATER
Bara - BREAD
Drws - DOOR
Ty bach - TOILET
Ych a fi - DISGUSTING
Cwtch - CUDDLE
Hiraeth - HOMESICKNESS
Cariad - LOVE AFFECTION
Song break (lyric video) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl-kCW9O3xI
How old is Tom Jones?
MUSIC & PICTURE QUIZ
Round 1. Moments In Welsh History
Discuss the importance of these moments in Welsh history & any reminiscences ...
1906 - It was at the Cardiff Coal Exchange that the first ever £1,000,000 deal was agreed in 1904. The money was used to buy 2,500 tonnes of Welsh coal for export to France.
1947 - In September 1947, the Fifth Marquess of Bute handed over the keys of Cardiff Castle to Lord Mayor, Alderman George Ferguson, in what was described as “a gesture of truly royal nature”. The castle, along with its parkland, was presented as a gift to the people of the city. Here is a video clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFZGTLyGTfc&t=31s
1948 - On 5th July 1948, Aneurin Bevan's 'National Health Service Act 1946' came into force. Nye Bevan attended a ceremony at the Park Hospital, Trafford (now Trafford General), at which he symbolically received the keys to the first NHS hospital.
1960 - Six Bells Colliery was a coal mine situated in Abertillery. On 28th June 1960 it was the site of an underground explosion which killed 45 of the 48 miners working in that part of the mine. It is now the site of the artistically acclaimed 'Guardian' memorial dedicated to those events and all mining communities wherever they may be.
1966 - The Aberfan disaster was the catastrophic collapse of a colliery spoil tip on 21st October 1966. The tip had been created on a mountain slope above the Welsh village of Aberfan, near Merthyr Tydfil, and overlaid a natural spring. Heavy rain led to a build-up of water within the tip which caused it to suddenly slide downhill as a slurry, killing 116 children and 28 adults as it engulfed Pantglas Junior School and a row of houses.
The Aberfan clock, recovered from the school, showed the time the landslip hit.
1969 - The investiture of Charles, Prince of Wales (later King Charles III), took place in Caernarfon Castle, north Wales, on 1st July 1969. The ceremony formally presented the title of Prince of Wales to the 20-year-old Charles, eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II.
The ball on the top of the crown (which replaced a long lost jewel), was a ping pong ball spray painted gold.
Most schoolchildren were given one of these mugs.
1984 - The miners' strike of 1984-85 was a defining moment in the history of British coal mining and the biggest industrial dispute in post-war Britain. It pitted thousands of miners and their trade unions against then prime minister Margaret Thatcher and her Conservative government, which supported plans to shut 20 coal pits. The miners' strike was led by Arthur Scargill and signalled the end of the deep mining industry in Wales.
1999 - The 'Government of Wales Act 1998' provided for the establishment of the National Assembly for Wales following the affirmative devolution referendum in September 1997. The Act also provided for the transfer of all the powers of the Secretary of State for Wales to the new Welsh Assembly.
In tribute to those lost in the above disasters ...
VIDEO BREAK. Read by Michael Sheen - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-sM-t1KI_Y
(A Dylan Thomas read version is in the playlist.)
Which other country in the world has had a Welsh speaking community since 1865?
How many people in Wales speak Welsh?
Round 2. Tourist Attractions
How many of these tourist attractions can you name & how many have you visited?
Here are some accompanying questions ...
What is the mountain called now?
What lamp is he holding?
Which TV show was filmed here?
Which monastic island is situated just off the coast?
Which go up and which go down, stalagmites or stalactites?
Which seaside town is below?
Which pub has just been rebuilt here?
What is the name of the ship?
What is the name of the opera house and what do locals call it?
Which holiday camp used to be here?
Name the Welsh comedian?
Name the Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty?
Which convention is held here every September?
Who wrote his best works here?
Which children's author was christened here?
Which ship sits on top of the lighthouse?
Name the canal?
What does the sign above translate into in English (a point for each correct word guessed)?
Can anyone say the name correctly, for a bonus point?
Name the 7 cities of Wales, this being the smallest city in the British Isles?
Here is a lovely video about Saint David and Saint David's Day - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsVTf29JsvQ
Round 3. Food & Drink
Name this Welsh sausage & what is the main vegetable ingredient?
Name the crumbly Welsh cheese?
Name this Welsh delicacy (some call it "Welsh caviar") & what substance is it made from?
Name this Welsh meat balls & what meats are they made with?
What does 'S.A.' stand for?
Name this Welsh savoury snack & what two English ingredients are required (one is a condiment, the other is a sauce)?
Name this Welsh soup & what meat is used to make it?
Name this cake & what is it spiced with?
Name this bread & what is its English translation?
Name this roast dinner & what sauce would you traditionally have with it?
Name this shellfish & where would you find them?
Name this soup?
Hands up if yo've had a tray of curry and chips from 'Dorothy's' on chippy alley in Cardiff.
Round 4. TV & Movies
Name this 1941 movie starring Maureen O'Hara and a young Roddy McDowall?
Name this 1959 movie starring John & Hayley Mills?
Name this TV thriller & what number was he?
Name this 1956 war movie starring Stanley Baker & Michael Caine?
Name this 1963 movie starring Richard Burton & Elizabeth Taylor?
Name the children's TV show & name the driver?
Name the superhero and his friend?
Name the TV sitcom & the actor?
Name the TV sitcom & the actor?
Name this 2006 movie & what part did Michael Sheen play?
Name this 1991 movie & what part did Anthony Hopkins play?
Name this Dr. Who & his two arch enemies (most of the recent series are filmed in and around Cardiff)?
Name this 1967 rugby based movie?
Name this TV sitcom & the other two characters?
Name the TV sitcom & the character?
Song break.
What was Shirley Bassey's nickname?
Round 5. Sporting Heroes
Name this former Welsh rugby union player who played scrum-half and has been described by the BBC as "arguably the greatest player ever to don a Welsh jersey"?
Name this former Welsh track and field athlete who specialised in the long jump. He was the 1964 Olympic champion in the event (His nickname was "Lynn The Leap".)?
Name this former Welsh rugby union player of the 'Golden Era', whose nickname was "The Prince Of Centres".)?
Name this former Welsh professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2008. He held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including unified and lineal titles at super-middleweight, and the Ring magazine light-heavyweight title. (His nickname was "The Pride Of Wales.")?
Name this former Welsh football player turned coach and co-owner of 'Salford City'. Regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation, he spent his entire professional career at Manchester United, where he also served as the club's interim player-manager and assistant manager?
Name this Welsh professional golfer, who was one of the "Big Five" generation of European golfers, all of whom have won majors, and made Europe competitive in the 'Ryder Cup'?
Name this former Welsh rugby union fly-half who played during the amateur era of the sport, in the 1960s and early 1970s. He began his rugby career as a schoolboy playing for his local team 'Cefneithin RFC' before switching to the first-class west Wales team 'Llanelli RFC' in 1964. He earned the nickname "The King" in the 1971 'Lions Tour'?
Name this former Welsh professional snooker player who turned professional in 1967 and dominated the sport in the 1970s, winning the 'World Snooker Championship' six times and more than a dozen other tournaments. (His nickname was "Dracula".)?
Name this Welsh cyclist, who won the 'Tour de France' in 2018 & what colour shirt does the winner of this race wear?
Name this former Welsh Paralympian and Dame? How many 'Paralympic Games' did she compete in?
Name this former Welsh Olympian? True or False. He remains the '60m Hurdles World Record Holder' (7.30 seconds / 1994)?
Name this Welsh football player and the 'Premier League' team he currently plays for?
What is the nickname of Cardiff City football club? (Can anyone make his sign?)
Name this former international rugby union referee, who retired in December 2020 after a 17-year career. He is now a diversity and mental health ambassador?
Name this Welsh Rugby Union player and until recently captain? What is the home of Welsh rugby?
Name this former Welsh Rugby Union player whose nickname is "Alfie". He currently hosts the 'Six Nations Sin Bin' TV show with Gabby Logan?
Song break. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0RDadPheNQ
Round 6. Other Famous Welsh People
Name the First Minister of Wales?
Name the choirboy, now middle aged man, who had a hit single in 1985 with 'Walking IN The Air'?
Name the 'Weatherman Walking'?
Name the 'Voice Of An Angel'?
Name 'The One Show' presenter?
Name the actress married to Michael Douglas?
Name the BBC News anchor?
Name the comedian?
Name the presenter of 'Would I Lie To You'?
Name the mathematical genius who featured on 'Countdown'?
Name the weatherman come drummer who raised £4m who 'Children In Need'?
Name the Prince Of Wales?
Here's a comedy sketch, but first name the Welsh dogs ...
Round 7. Music
Pick a couple of songs to play from the Spotify playlist below ...
Final songs (lyric video). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rHnuCNyFlE
'Bread Of Heaven', sung by Michael Ball - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rshc59H-iKM
'Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau' (Welsh National Anthem) - Sung by Katherine Jenkins, Aled Jones & Bryn Terfel
PRACTICAL ACTIVITY
Have a go at making paper daffodils ... Here is an instructive video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8HX-O-vUuU
ANSWERS
How old is Tom Jones? - 83 years (7 June 1940)
Which other country in the world has had a Welsh speaking community since 1865? - Patagonia
How many people in Wales speak Welsh? - 538,300 (17.8% of the population of Wales in 2021, including both as a first and second language)
Snowdon Mountain Railway - What is the mountain called now? - Yr Wyddfa
'Big Pit National Coal Museum' - What lamp is he holding? - Davy Lamp
Port Meirion - Which TV show was filmed here? - 'Prisoner'
Tenby - Which monastic island is situated just off the coast? Caldey Island
'Dan Yr Ogof Caves' - Which go up and which go down, stalagmites or stalactites? - Stalactites hang down
Great Ormer - Which seaside town is below? - Llandudno
'St Fagan's National Museum Of History' - Which pub has just been rebuilt here? - 'The Vulcan'
Penarth Pier - What is the name of the ship? - 'PS Waverely'
Cardiff Bay - What is the name of the opera house and what do locals call it? - 'Wales Millennium Centre' ("The Armadillo")
Barry Island - Which holiday camp used to be here? - 'Butlin's'
Caerphilly Castle - Name the Welsh comedian? - Tommy Cooper
Three Cliffs Bay - Name the Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty? - The Gower
Porthcawl - Which convention is held here every September? - Elvis Convention
BoatHouse, Laugharne - Who wrote his best works here? - Dylan Thomas
'Norwegian Church' - Which children's author was christened here? - Roald Dahl
Roath Park Lake - Which ship sits on top of the lighthouse? - 'Terra Nova' (Captain Falcon Scott's ship)
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct - Name the canal? Llangollen Canal
What does the sign above translate into in English (a point for each correct word guessed)?
"St Mary's Church in the Hollow of the White Hazel near a Rapid Whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio near the Red Cave"
Name the 7 cities of Wales, this being the smallest city in the British Isles? - Bangor, Cardiff, Newport, St Asaph, St Davids, Swansea, and Wrexham
Name this Welsh sausage & what is the main vegetable ingredient? - Glamorgan Sausage / Leek
Name the crumbly Welsh cheese? - Caerphilly
Name this Welsh delicacy (some call it "Welsh caviar") & what substance is it made from? - Laverbread / Seaweed
Name this Welsh meat balls & what meats are they made with? - Faggots / Lamb's liver & kidneys
What does 'S.A.' stand for? - 'Brain's Beer' / Special Ale or "Skull Attack"
Name this Welsh savoury snack & what two English ingredients are required (one is a condiment, the other is a sauce)? - Welsh Rarebit / English mustard & Worcestershire Sauce
Name this Welsh soup & what meat is used to make it? - Cawl / Lamb
Name this cake & what is it spiced with? - Welsh Cakes / Mixed spice (which is cinnamon, coriander, caraway, nutmeg, ground ginger and cloves)
Name this bread & what is its English translation? - Bara Brith / Speckled bread
Name this roast dinner & what sauce would you traditionally have with it? - Roast lamb & mint sauce
Name this shellfish & where would you find them? - Cockles / Penclawdd
Name this soup? - Leek & potato
Name this 1941 movie starring Maureen O'Hara and a young Roddy McDowall? - How Green Was My Valley'
Name this 1959 movie starring John & Hayley Mills? - 'Tiger Bay'
Name this TV thriller & what number was he? - 'Prisoner' / 6
Name this 1956 war movie starring Stanley Baker & Michael Caine? - 'Zulu'
Name this 1963 movie starring Richard Burton & Elizabeth Taylor? - 'Cleopatra'
Name the children's TV show & name the driver? - 'Ivor The Engine' / Jones The Steam
Name the superhero and his friend? - 'Superted' & Spotty
Name the TV sitcom & the actor? - 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum' / Windsor Davies
Name the TV sitcom & the actor? - 'Hi Di Hi' / Ruth
Name this 2006 movie & what part did Michael Sheen play? - 'The Queen' / Tony Blair
Name this 1991 movie & what part did Anthony Hopkins play? - 'Silence Of The Lambs' / Hannibal Lecter
Name this Dr. Who & his two arch enemies (most of the recent series are filmed in and around Cardiff)? - David Tennant / Dalek & Cyberman
Name this 1967 rugby based movie? - 'Grand Slam'
Name this TV sitcom & the other two characters? - 'Gavin And Stacey' / Nessa & Smithy
Name the TV sitcom & the character? - 'Little Britain' / Dafydd "The only gay in the village"
What was Shirley Bassey's nickname? - "The Girl From Tiger Bay"
Name this former Welsh rugby union player who played scrum-half and has been described by the BBC as "arguably the greatest player ever to don a Welsh jersey"? - Gareth Edwards
Name this former Welsh track and field athlete who specialised in the long jump. He was the 1964 Olympic champion in the event (His nickname was "Lynn The Leap".)? - Lynn Davies
Name this former Welsh rugby union player of the 'Golden Era', whose nickname was "The Prince Of Centres".)? - J.P.R. Williams
Name this former Welsh professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2008. He held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including unified and lineal titles at super-middleweight, and the Ring magazine light-heavyweight title. (His nickname was "The Pride Of Wales.")? - Joe Calzaghe
Name this former Welsh football player turned coach and co-owner of 'Salford City'. Regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation, he spent his entire professional career at Manchester United, where he also served as the club's interim player-manager and assistant manager? - Ryan Giggs
Name this Welsh professional golfer, who was one of the "Big Five" generation of European golfers, all of whom have won majors, and made Europe competitive in the 'Ryder Cup'? - Ian Woosnam
Name this former Welsh rugby union fly-half who played during the amateur era of the sport, in the 1960s and early 1970s. He began his rugby career as a schoolboy playing for his local team 'Cefneithin RFC' before switching to the first-class west Wales team 'Llanelli RFC' in 1964. He earned the nickname "The King" in the 1971 'Lions Tour'? - Barry John
Name this former Welsh professional snooker player who turned professional in 1967 and dominated the sport in the 1970s, winning the 'World Snooker Championship' six times and more than a dozen other tournaments. (His nickname was "Dracula".)? - Ray Reardon
Name this Welsh cyclist, who won the 'Tour de France' in 2018 & what colour shirt does the winner of this race wear? - Geraint Thomas
Name this former Welsh Paralympian and Dame? How many 'Paralympic Games' did she compete in? - Tanni Grey-Thompson
Name this former Welsh Olympian? True or False. He remains the '60m Hurdles World Record Holder' (7.30 seconds / 1994)? - Colin Jackson
Name this Welsh football player and the 'Premier League' team he currently plays for?
What is the nickname of Cardiff City football club? (Can anyone make his sign?) - Gareth Bale
Name this former international rugby union referee, who retired in December 2020 after a 17-year career. He is now a diversity and mental health ambassador? - Nigel Owens
Name this Welsh Rugby Union player and until recently captain? What is the home of Welsh rugby? - Alun Wyn Jones
Name this former Welsh Rugby Union player whose nickname is "Alfie". He currently hosts the 'Six Nations Sin Bin' TV show with Gabby Logan? - Gareth Thomas
Name the First Minister of Wales? - Mark Drakeford
Name the choirboy, now middle aged man, who had a hit single in 1985 with 'Walking In The Air'? - Aled Jones
Name the 'Weatherman Walking'? - Derek Brockway
Name the 'Voice Of An Angel'? - Charlotte Church
Name 'The One Show' presenter? - Alex Jones
Name the actress married to Michael Douglas? - Catherine Zeta-Jones
Name the BBC News anchor? - Huw Edwards
Name the comedian? - Rhod Gilbert
Name the presenter of 'Would I Lie To You'? - Rob Brydon
Name the mathematical genius who featured on 'Countdown'? - Carol Vorderman
Name the weatherman come drummer who raised £4m who 'Children In Need'? - Owain Wyn Evans
Name the Prince Of Wales? - Prince William
Name the Welsh dogs? - Welsh Collie, Welsh Corgi, Welsh Springer Spaniel
