#De Cymru

[thechemistryset]

Valerius de Saedeleer, A Farm in a Valley, 1916

[crwbannwen]

So like we all know high fantasy relies heavily on ‘Welsh’ (supposedly Celtic really) cultures for a lot of world building. There are bad and good things that come from this, but a bad element I just realised is how that effects low fantasy.

So like very few low fantasy books include wales or welsh characters but presumably wales still exists in them right? So what’s with all the Welsh inspired fantasy elements? Are there two Welsh cultures in this world? Did Wales cease to exist so the elves could? I can think of far more low fantasy elves whose names end in ‘-wyn’ despite having black hair than I can think of genuinely Welsh characters in low fantasy (in fact I can only name two of those).

Low fantasy authors know we’re a real culture right? They know we still exist right? Right? Rydyn ni’n yma o hyd! There’s literally a song about that!

[chelseajackarmy]

Cardiff Devils are the 2025 IIHF Continental Cup Champions 🏆 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[westeroswisdom]

Welsh actor Rhys Ifans is a lot more than Otto Hightower. Off camera he's one of the funniest people on the House of the Dragon set.

He's a passionate supporter of Wales. He recently gave an impromptu patriotic pep talk to the Welsh team before a Euro 2024 play-off.

As for Wales, House Hightower may not be blood of the dragon, but the flag of Wales does include a dragon.

[creatrixcymraes]

for the very few of you who are in Cymru Hardd, here are my opening hours at the Creative Plug gallery in Cardiff this week!

[wittylittle]

Silly boy on a cliff

[egbdc]

Libanus Guided Ride 28/02/2024

[fumblingmusings]

Interesting how assorted royal/national mottos relating to the three GB brothers are A - In different languages (most of them not being the 'right' ones either) and B - Great encapsulations of their characterisations (to me)

England - God and My Right (FR: Dieu et mon droit)

Scotland - No One Provokes Me with Impunity (LA: Nemo me impune lacessit) or In My Defens God Me Defend (...self explanatory)

Wales - I Serve (DE: Ich dien) or Long Live Wales (CY: Cymru am byth)

Like arrogant, entitled, confident, secure vs defensive, guarded, threatening vs self-sacrificing, plain spoken and straightforward.

[followingtheladyofthesacredflame]

Hi I’m a new follower of Brigid, what things are sacred to her - animals, crystals, plants ect

Wikipedia came up with the birch tree being sacred to her but other sources have the oak

If you also have any books/info sources where I can learn more about her I’d love to hear your reccomendations

Hello, welcome to the hearth! So, what I know about Brigid, I've learned from books, blogs, videos, and historical sources. I'll list some of those first so you can do some deep diving yourself:

Brigid: History, Mystery, and Magick of the Celtic Goddess by Courtney Weber (available through Hoopla via the public library system if you're in the US, available through her Etsy shop as well) - this was written by a self-appointed priestess of Brigid practicing in Ireland and the US.

The House Witch by Arin Hiscock-Murphy and The Kitchen Witch by Skye Alexander (both also available through Hoopla I believe and most places books are sold) both have brief bios of Brigid and some tips for working with her as a hearth goddess - take these with a slight grain of salt as they have some Wiccan influence.

Lots of books of Irish folklore include some stories of the Tuatha de Danann, which are the gods of Ireland. There's also some great stories in Scottish and Welsh folklore that you can look into - try The Mabinogion for more information about her Welsh pantheon.

Brigid's Wiki has some great sources at the bottom to jump to.

A profile of the Lady from Druidry.org - take this with a mild grain of salt.

History Cooperative's entry on Brigid - this focuses a lot on her Spring goddess aspect.

Encyclopedia Britannica's entry about Brigid (using the Scottish spelling, Brigit) has some solid base info.

A quick and easy video overview

A look at the Welsh pantheon of which Brigid (in Cymru, Braid) is a part

I don't have a specific source for this, but you might also look into St. Brigid of Kildare, an Irish saint who led a convent centered on a site holy to the goddess Brigid and is popularly interpreted as either a priestess of Brigid who carried her practice in secret through the conversion of Ireland or a version of the goddess herself accepted as a folk saint by practitioners who "converted" to save themselves from Christian "missionaries."

Obviously this isn't everything I've read/looked at, but it's a pretty good starter set of information if you're just starting working with her and not sure what aspects of Brigid you'd like to work with. So now, I'll share what I interpret as her symbols and associations, then what working with her looks like for me. Your experience will probably be different, and that's good! Deity relationships are personal and up to what you need them to be. Hope this helps!

My interpretation of Brigid's symbology:

Basic domain/"Goddess of":

Fire, inspiration, creative works (poetry especially)

Healing, wells, flowing/healing water

The forge, handicrafts (weaving, knitting, crochet, etc.)

Springtime, fertility, rebirth

Associated holidays:

Imbolc (February 1-2)

Associated colors:

Yellow

Orange

Gold

White

Associated animals:

Cows

Sheep

Domesticated animals/livestock generally

Associated herbs/gems:

Marigolds

Sunflowers

Oaks/acorns

Citrine

Red Jasper

Associated food/drinks:

Bread

Wheat

Water

Mead

Milk

Honey

Spiced things - apple cider, cinnamon rolls, etc.

What working with Brigid looks like for me:

Brigid is a motherly figure to work with, but in a more "tough love" sense than some other mother figures. She's willing to work with you and help you grow, but boy will she tell you when you fuck up! I've found working with her to be comforting and encouraging; she makes me feel confident in myself and my abilities and she pushes me to be a better witch, a better mother, and a better person generally.

You don't have to worship Brigid as the only deity in your work, either. In my practice, I've found she gets along well with the Virgin Mary and is cordial with Lady Minerva. She also seems to get on well with Jesus and the Abrahamic God, though she doesn't really get involved with those outside her pantheon.

I've found that the best ways of communicating with Brigid are through tarot, ogham, and astragalomancy (dice). She likes offerings of things you've made - bread you baked, spice mixes you put together, things you've crocheted or knitted or woven or sewn. She also loves tea - making a cup and sharing it with her is a great way to venerate her! I feel her presence as a warmth, like a fire in my chest and a warm blanket over my shoulders. She likes working with me in kitchen witchery and workings related to creativity, inspiration, luck, and healing. I keep space for her in my main altar and my kitchen altar, though I think if she had to choose, she'd prefer to be venerated in a kitchen altar.

[speedbird1987]

So far so good. I added some details to all characters with their Uniforms prior to their appearance in the series. The latest one that I did was earlier prior to my summer holiday break. I also fixed up the Fire Axe, Flashlight (Torch), and Fire Hose. In case anyone forgot, The list of each character with their Respective Uniform is here.

Station Officer Norris Steele: Pontypandy Fire Service (1987-1994)

Firefighter Elvis Cridlington: Pontypandy Fire Service (2003-2007)

Fireman Sam: Pontypandy Fire Service (2008-2015)

Firefighter Penny Morris: Pontypandy Fire Service (2015-2022)

Pilot Officer Tom Thomas: Royal Australian Air Force (Flight Suit)

Petty Officer 1st Class Ben Hooper: United States Coast Guard (Rescue Swimmer Dry Suit)

Firefighter Arnold McKinley: Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (Ballyclare EN469 Turnout)

Firefighter Ellie Phillips: London Fire Brigade (Ergotech Action) (2010-2018)

Police Constable Malcolm Williams: Metropolitan Police (Motorbike Patrol)

Sergeant Rose Ravani: South Wales Police/Heddlu de Cymru (Mounted Police Unit)

Pilot Krystyna Kaminski: Pontypandy Fire Service (Air Rescue/Air Support) (2022-present)

[queerwelsh]

Bywyd Cwiar Cranogwen

Ganed ‘Cranogwen’ (9 Ionawr 1839 – 27 Mehefin 1916), neu Sarah Jane Rees, yn Llangrannog, i Frances Rees a’r morwr John Rees. Yn anarferol am y cyfnod, addysgwyd Cranogwen yn yr ysgol leol ynghyd â’i brodyr hyd at bymtheg oed. Mae’n hefyd yn aml yn cael ei ystyried yn anarferol oedd Cranogwen yn morwr yn ymuno â’i thad ar y môr yn masnachu ar hyd yr arfordir ac weithiau i Ewrop. Fodd bynnag, nid oedd yn anghyffredin i ferched fynd gydag aelodau gwrywaidd o'u teulu i weithio. Roedd gwragedd a phlant y morwyr yn mynd gyda nhw, er na chaniatawyd hyn ar longau’r Llynges Frenhinol ar ôl 1869. Mae rhai morwyr benywaidd eraill yn cael eu hystyried yn cwiar heddiw, a rhai morwyr hefyd yn cael eu hystyried yn ddynion traws. Dychwelodd Cranogwen i addysg ar ôl tair blynedd ar y môr, i ysgolion mordwyo yn y Cei Newydd a Llundain, ac yn 1859 sefydlodd un ei hun yn Llangrannog. Er bod tystiolaeth o feirniadaeth ar ferched yn rhedeg ysgolion mordwyo, o eglwysi a’r ‘Llyfrau Gleision’, nid oes cofnod o feirniadaeth o’r fath tuag at Cranogwen.

Ym 1865 enillodd Cranogwen yn Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Aberystwyth gyda ‘Y Fodrwy Briodasol’, yn mynegi beirniadaeth o’r disgwyliad ar ferched i briodi, trwy safbwyntiau pedair priodferch, gan gynnwys un yn dioddef o gam-drin domestig. Curodd hi feirdd gwrywaidd enwog fel Islwyn. Yr oedd ei henw barddol yn cynnwys yr enwau Sant Caranog, yr enwyd Llangrannog ar ei gyfer, a'r afon Hawen gerllaw. Gyda llwyddiant parhaus mewn Eisteddfodau, cyhoeddwyd Caniadau Cranogwen yn 1870 a bu Cranogwen yn siarad ledled Cymru, a theithio fel pregethwr lleyg Methodistaidd, gan gynnwys dwy daith Americanaidd.

Ym 1874, bu farw Fanny Rees o Langrannog o'r diciâu ym mreichiau Cranogwen, ar ol symud i fyw yn ei chartref teuluol. Disgrifir galar Cranogwen ar ddiwedd trasig ei pherthynas mewn ysgrifeniadau hunangofiannol. Yn ogystal, ystyrir ei barddoniaeth i fel ei hysgrifennu mwyaf angerddol, megis ‘Fy Ffrynd’. (Ceir cerdd angerddol iddi hefyd gan Buddug, sy’n disgrifio sut y bu bron iddi addoli ac edmygu Cranogwen ‘anfarwol’.) Wrth i Cranogwen barhau i fyw gyda’i rhieni, roedd Jane Thomas yn byw yn agos, fel ei phartner cefnogol ac ymroddedig. Pan fu farw rhieni Cranogwen, gwerthodd y tŷ a bu’n byw gyda Jane am ugain mlynedd olaf ei bywyd.

Ym 1878, daeth Cranogwen yn olygydd 'Y Frythones' - nid y cylchgrawn cyntaf i ferched Cymru ond y cyntaf a olygwyd gan fenyw - a oedd â mwy o negeseuon proto-ffeministaidd a hyd yn oed cwiar na'i ragflaenydd, er yn dal i gynnwys gwersi ar fod yn merched a menywod dosbarth canol parchus a chrefyddol. Ond o fewn y gwersi hyn, roedd Cranogwen yn hyrwyddo ysgrifennu merched Cymru, gan sicrhau bod 'Y Frythones' yn cael ei ysgrifennu ar gyfer merched gan ferched, wrth ddweud i'w darllenwyr nad oedd angen iddynt i gyd briodi, fel ‘merch fan yma ar ein pwys’ (Jane Thomas) a byddai’n rhoi atebion, yn y golofn 'Cwestiynau ac Atebion', y gellir bellach eu dadansoddi fel queer. Ym 1887, pan ysgrifennodd darllenydd wrth gwestiynu steiliau gwallt byr bob ar ferched, gan ddweud na allai ddweud ai merched neu fechgyn oedd y rhai â'r steiliau gwallt hyn, atebodd Cranogwen: “Yn gyntaf peth gan hyny, felly, gofynnwch i'r person pa un fydd, ai bachgen ai merch? Yna ewch yn mlaen a'ch neges." Pan holodd darllenwyr am ferched yn dod yn bregethwyr, fel Cranogwen ei hun, daeth hi i’r casgliad, “Nid yw gwahaniaeth rhyw yn ddim byd yn y byd.”

Roedd Cranogwen yn forwr, athrawes, bardd, llenor, golygydd, ymgyrchydd dirwest a llawer mwy. Etifeddiaeth ffeministaidd yw ei hetifeddiaeth – sefydlwyd ‘Llety Cranogwen’, lloches i ferched a menywod digartref yn y Rhondda gan Undeb Dirwestol De Cymru. Mae hi’n parhau i fod yn ysbrydoliaeth, i’r grŵp Cymraeg ‘Cywion Cranogwen’ ac i gylchgronau Cymraeg modern gan ac ar gyfer merched Cymru, fel ‘Codi Pais.’ Mae ei hetifeddiaeth hefyd yn un cwiar, yn ysbrydoli merched a phobl cwiar, ac oedd Cranogwen yn agored am ei pherthynasau yn ei hoes ei hun (er fel 'cyfeillgarwch rhamantus' pryd hynny), sydd bellach yn cael eu dileu yn rhy aml yn hanes y fenyw 'anfarwol' hon. Dylai Fanny Rees a Jane Thomas, a oedd yn caru ac yn cefnogi Cranogwen, a’r themâu cwiar mewn barddoniaeth gan ac i Cranogwen, bellach gael eu cynnwys yn barhaol yn ei hanes. Ni ddylid dileu eu hanes nac arwyddocâd etifeddiaeth Cranogwen i bobl LHDTC+, ac yn enwedig menywod cwiar Cymru.

Ers 2023, mae cerflun o Cranogwen yn ei phentref, Llangrannog.

Ffynonellau a Darllen Pellach:

Caniadau Cranogwen

Jane Aaron, ‘Gender Difference is Nothing,’ Queer Wales, gol. Huw Osborne & ‘Developing Women’s Welsh-language Print Culture’ Nineteenth Century Women’s Writing in Wales.

Katie Gramich & Catherine Brennan gol. Welsh Women’s Poetry, 1460-2001: An Anthology.

Norena Shopland, Forbidden Lives: LGBT Stories of Wales.

Sian Rhiannon Williams, ‘Y Frythones: Portread Cyfnodolion Merched y Bedwared Ganrif ar Bymtheg o Gymraeg yr Oes,’ Llafur, IV, 1 (1984).

Jane Aaron, Cranogwen, 2023

Llun o Lyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru.

[princesscatherinemiddleton]

The Princess of Wales’ Year in Review: October

October 3rd - The Prince and Princess of Wales visited Cardiff to mark the Seventy Fifth Anniversary of the arrival of HMT EMPIRE WINDRUSH to the United Kingdom, and the start of Black History Month. They visited Race Council Cymru at Grange Pavilion, before visiting Fitzalan High School October 4th - The Princess of Wales visited Vsi Razom Community Hub October 5th - The Princess of Wales, Patron of the Rugby Football League, visited Allam Sports Centre. Afterwards, she was seen at Hymers School October 6th - The Princess of Wales, Joint Patron of the Royal Foundation, held an Early Years Meeting. Photos of Catherine at Leeds West Academy on October 26th appeared October 10th - The Prince and Princess of Wales, Joint Patrons of the Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, attended the Exploring our Emotional Worlds Forum at Factory Works October 11th - The Princess of Wales visited students from the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University at the Allam Sports Centre. Kensington Palace released a statement about the uptake in violence from Israel towards Palestine October 12th - The Prince of Wales and the Princess of Wales, Patron of SportsAid, visited athletes and parents taking part in a mental fitness workshop at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre October 15th - The Princess of Wales, Patron of Rugby Football Union, attended the Rugby World Cup Quarter Final Match between England and Fiji at Stade de Marseille October 21st - Catherine posted two personal tweets on the day of the semi final match between England and South Africa October 31st - The Princess of Wales, Joint Patron of the Royal Foundation, held an Early Years Meeting

[adlamu]

dydd miwsig cymru, you say? dim problem! here's a random selection of personal welsh language(/bilingual) faves!!

rownd a rownd (round and round) -- sage todz (grime, drill)

6.5.99 -- anweledig (twotone, ska punk)

cymru lloegr a llanrwst -- y cyrff (punk, nearest eng. equivalent = the clash)

anrheoli -- yws gwynedd (indie)

llwynog -- 9bach (basically recoil if you imagine that alan was welsh and a woman)

lipstick coch -- adwaith (b0yg3nius but welsh and better/actually good)

creithiau -- ffatri jam (rock)

gwenwyn -- alffa (welsh royal blood - very fucking good)

archfarchnad -- fleur de lys (indie rock)

annwn -- mari mathias (folk)

hope you enjoi, bois bach

[charlotte-of-wales]

princeandprincessofwales: Exciting news! In our second Community Impact Day we're launching a collaboration between The Royal Foundation and Life at No.27, creating allotments and therapy gardens to support mental health and wellbeing in communities across South Wales.

@.lifeatno27_org 🤝 @.recoveryatbrynawel

Newyddion cyffrous! Yn ein hail Ddiwrnod Cyfraniad Cymunedol rydym yn lansio gwaith ar y cyd gyda'r Sefydliad Brenhinol a Life at No.27, gan greu rhandiroedd a gerddi therapi er mwyn cefnogi iechyd meddwl a lles mewn cymunedau ar draws De Cymru.

[westeroswisdom]

Iwan Rheon b. 13 May 1985 Carmarthen, Dyfed, Wales, UK

Hey, even bad guys gotta have birthdays!

It just occurred to me that Iwan would be a good choice to portray Elon Musk in a film or TV series.

[official-wales]

gogledd cymru neu de cymru?

like. which one I'd rather eat? don't make me choose man