#and i think he said shwmae

[gingersnaptaff]

Shwmae pawb! (That's 'hi everyone!' in Welsh. :3)

So, GIANTS. Giants are stock characters in both Arthurian AND Celtic legends. Wales has many giants and almost all of them are absolute BASTARDS. Fun. Also, some are connected to mountains. Also fun!

Anyways, I thought I'd do a quick lil thing about them cuz honest we have so many you can - and somebody probably will - do a book about them.

So, just a quick thing about Welsh. 'Fawr,' which is an appellation means 'the Great. It can also mean big. It's why when people swear in Welsh and say 'Iesu Fawr' what they're saying is, "BIG JESUS!"

Two diddy things:

I enjoy the fact that 'Giant' is doing double duty. Can be bastard, can be nice. Spin the cauldron and see which u get.

Now, I was gonna do your biggies like Arthur, Gwenhwyfar, Cai, Gwalchmai, Uthyr, etc, etc. But, honestly, you probably know that they were, at one point or another, seen to be giants in Welsh mythology. (And Arthur was probably on the Bastard side more than good if you believe Gildas. But he is biased cuz Arthur killed his brother so 🤷🏻‍♀️)

So, a lot of the giants are connected to places like Cader Idris - who is probably the most famous giant lad after Bendigeidfran - or Y Cath Palug who prowled around Môn (modern-day Anglesey.)

I kinda debated on whether or not to cover Ysbaddaden Pencawr but I decided to because he is probably a giant you've all heard of and weaves into the 'giants associated with places' because his fort is supposed to be in their Preseli Hills which are in western Wales, mainly in the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. They also have really pretty bluestone and slate too!

Now, you all know the story in Culhwch and Olwen but I just kinda like the fact that Ysbaddaden means 'Hawthorn,' because it supposedly symbolised love and protection in Celtic mythology which, if u think about it, Ysbaddaden kinda loves Olwen in his own way. (I mean he'll die if she marries but, y'know. Doesn't mean he doesn't love her.)

Next up, IDRIS GAWR.

Yes, he of chair fame. If you go up it then supposedly you'll either come back down mad or a poet. I would seriously pray to become a poet. The walk down would make me mad enough. It's STEEP!

Now, before Arthur killed him and buried him up there, he was a king - who may have been a real-life dude. UNCLEAR! - and it was said that he could sit on the mountain and survey his whole kingdom which is COOL AS FUCK. Apparently, his motley band of giants: Yscydion, Ophrom, and Ysbryn also have mountains named after them in the vicinity of Cader Idris.

Next: Rhitta Gawr.

I distinctly remember him being one of my first brush-ins with Welsh Arthurian legends cuz I read about him on the back of a leaflet about Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). If I recall, the detail that got me the most was the fact that Arthur supposedly defeated him by tricking him and pretending to eat a large amount of food but secretly depositing it into a sack and when Rhitta Gawr asked Arthur told him that he'd 'cut a hole in his stomach.' Rhitta, trusting this dude, who he LITERALLY WANTED TO FUCKIN KILL EARLIER, chopped a hole in his stomach and promptly died. 👌🏻👏🏻 Da iawn Rhitta. Now, also, I want to say that one of the various spellings of his name, 'Ricca' also pops up in 'Culhwch and Olwen' as Arthur's half-brother, the King of Cornwall. Idk if they are supposed to be the same person or not but, like, Arthur was a giant. It's possible.

Now, onto some little lads.

You'll notice that most of these lads were slain by Gwalchmai. I fear he was That Lad. For the Gawain Girlies, how does it feel to have Wales' best Giant fighter for your character?

(Also, NO LAUGHING AT PYSCOC. IT'S PRONOUNCED PEE-SCOC. Don't say, as my friend did, 'Castell Cock' when you mean Castell Coch. I will murder.)

Now, for the Cath Palug, tumblr with NOT let me add an image (boo!) So, I will write it up for you and then YAP.

'Palug (legendary)

Cath Palug is mentioned in a triad (YTP n. 26) where we are told that sow, Hen Wen (white head), while being followed by the magician Coll ap Collfrewy, brought forth a kitten at Maen Du in Llanfair in Arfon. Coll threw the kitten into the Menai (pls don't. The Swellies, man. THE SWELLIES.) and she was afterwards Cath Palug. Another version, (26 W) adds that the sons of Palug fostered it to their own harm. And that was Cath Palug and it was one of 'The Three Great Oppressions' nurtured therein.

The latter version treats Palug as a personal name but it's been also suggested that it could mean 'Scratching Cat.' (Very apt if u ask me.)

The only other mention of it is in 'Who is the Porter?' in the Black Book of Carmarthen:

'Cai the Fair went to Môn

To destroy hosts [or lions]

His shield was a fragment

Against Cath Palug

Nine score fierce [warriors]

Would fall as her food.'

The poem breaks off at this point but it's assumed Cai was the slayer.'

And then in Arthurian Legend: 'in the Vulgate either Arthur slayed the cat or was slayed by it. The Welsh version, which says Cai was the slayer, was also known to John Fordun who, in his Scotichromincon writes: 'But we have heard old hags tell some such fable - that it so happened that one of Arthur's soldiers - Kayus - had to fight an enormous tom-cat; which, seeing the soldier prepared to fight obstinately, climbed to the top of a great rock, and coming down, after having made its claws wondrous sharp for the fight, it gashed the rock with sundry clefts and winding paths beyond belief. Kayus, however, they say killed the cat.'

It's interesting that in the different versions of the triads the reason how Y Palug got her name is different. I'd argue that, perhaps, the Scratching Cat is the more likely reason for the name, as it has the common root 'pal' which might mean cut, lop, scratch claw, or dig pierce. It also shares the same root as palu (dig) and paladr (spear shaft.)

Also, the fragmentary poem says that Cai's shield is 'mynud' against the cat which can plausibly mean polished or mirrored. So he's a bit like Perseus against Medusa! Also, Cai as a giant is probably the perfect combative against a giant cat considering his powers. Like, I would NOT wish to fuck with Cai or Cath.

Anyways, that it for today! Hope u all enjoyed!! Also, I do absolutely think that Gwalchmai was justified in killing all those giants. He needed enrichment. The Giants probs pissed him or Gwenhwyfar off. I think she probably even helped him with some cuz I would.

Hwyl fawr!

(Also, if u have any suggestions as to what u wanna read about next lmk! Marriage laws will be up this Sunday!).

[meddwlyngymraeg]

I'd love to hear some more happy sounding Welsh songs! can be any genre. also any songs about the sea! diolch!!

Shwmae! Amazingly, you are the literal target audience for Ynys' first album ('Ynys', 2022). Dylan Hughes is from Aberystwyth and spent many years in Cardiff and found himself longing for the seaside he grew up in, and when he finally started writing music as Ynys (he used to be in a cool indie psychedelic band called Race Horses too, if that's your thing), he put together a whole album only to realise how much of it is about the sea. I mean, his band is literally called Ynys (Island)!

Also, he has that wonderful, lush psychedelic pop sound, which I think sounds pretty happy musically, though there are definitely some themes of longing, being lost, culture and language, all that good stuff thrown in too. It's complex, but I still feel it's quite a happy listen!

So some songs from the album I'd recommend - Môr Du (Black Sea), Welcome to the Island (now technically this is an instrumental, don't know where that sits!), There's Nothing The Sea Doesn't Know.

My personal favourite off the album is Caneuon (‘Songs’, references the Gorky's Zygotic Mynci song 'Gegin Nos'—more on them in a sec—and also a pretty happy/reminiscing/wistful song), but the whole album is quite good, and their recent second album Dosbarth Nos also has some lovely songs that lift my mood at least— Aros Amdanat Ti, Gyda Ni, Dosbarth Nos. Also the sea references continue!

I'm linking their Bandcamp page rather than a Spotify because Dylan makes sure to include lyrics and translations on there (and in physical liner notes), if you or anyone else reading this was interested in going into the lyrics! (Also I usually feel like I should give people the option to directly support musicians if they feel inclined, where Spotify pays not even cents for most music.) But these two albums are on streaming if you'd like too!

I've also gotta recommend some Gorky's! Their 1997 album's called Barafundle, named after Barafundle Beach, and while I don't think any of the songs are directly about the sea itself (except like The Barafundle Bumbler, which uh. Your mileage may vary. It’s about a voyeur bloke that sits by the seaside on said beach), but there's Diamond Dew which is such a lovely tune, and while not about the sea, Patio Song (i.e. everyone's favourite Gorky's song) has that lovely outro of 'it is raining, so take my hand, the winter's so long, it takes so much of the earth'. ☔️🌧🌈 Happy music, some of Gorky's work! (Personal fave off the album: Starmoonsun <3)

(Also this song's in English but since we're talking about Gorky's I can't not recommend Spanish Dance Troupe. Gorgeous song.)

There's also the super cool Adwaith, who wrote the song Lan Y Môr. This song is actually a lot older than the album it ended up on, 2022's Welsh Music Prize winning Bato Mato, Adwaith are still the only musicians to win the Prize twice. They wrote the song and released it as a single back in early 2020 and it was following a run of really cool punky Cymraeg singles. Love Adwaith, they're quite cool.

Edit: HOW COULD I HAVE FORGOTTEN. The queen of the beaches. Gwenno herself. I guess I hadn’t included her because this isn’t technically a Welsh language album (save for one song, N.Y.C.A.W. (Nid Yw Cymru Ar Werth)). Gwenno is half-Welsh, half-Cornish, and this album was basically written down at St. Ives. This does sound like it, and I love this song Anima!

Hope you like these! People can totally feel free to add on in the notes if I’ve missed something!

[harryisntstraight]

i wish harry was doing a cardiff show i want to hear him butcher the welsh language 

[iwanttobeliterate]

One of my favourite things about Welsh is that even those of us not first lanagauge, or living in predominately English areas, use a lot of Welsh in our every day vocab (&even in English areas everyone will understand)

However, it does mean I make a fool of myself and use these Welsh words as soon as I leave Wales, where suddenly no one understands them

So, here's a short list of words that you can either easily slot in to your every day if you're learning, or help you understand Welsh people you may meet (who may be twp, like me!)

(also, this is just MY small area, so I'm sure others can include loads of others phases and words!)

Nain, Taid, Tad ect

Names for Nana, granpa, and Dad! I don't think many use 'tad', however, you can get weird looks and questions for using nain a taid

Bechod

Literally means 'sin', however it is used like 'shame!' or 'oh no!', or it can also be used in for 'cute' or 'heart-touching'. I did have a nursery teacher in nursery who used it as a pet name. So you might use this if a kid had just fallen over, or if you've been watching Undercover Boss and it's the reveal and it's getting you in the feels

Panad

A drink! Think 'a brew' or a 'cuppa'. (Most Welsh people i know, even non-welsh-speaking will over a panad in Welsh, 'ti'n isho panad?' so watch out for that)

Cwtch/cwtsh

Mostly South Walian, however it is becoming more popular up here in the north! Originally a 'cwtch' was the space under the stairs where people in Cardiff hid during the bombings in WW2, however it has since come to mean, most commonly, a big hug or squeeze (and this is important! At least to me, sometimes I've seen cwtch used just for a hug, but to me it means more than that. It's the hug you give to someone that is what is keeping them together as they fall apart, you know? The hug you give to a friend you'd fallen out with for ages but are now back together, or to someone whose just lost a close family member/friend, that kind of thing).

However, my family in Cardiff are divided because some of them say Cwtch can also be used as a pet name (I've personally never heard it used as a pet name, but it's not as popular a word in the north anyway, like I said, so that might be why, if anyone knows more about this let me know!)

Also a weird word because although it is said to be Welsh, the spelling 'cwtch' uses English pronunciation. The Welsh spelling 'cwtsh' does seem to be gaining momentum now though.

Saws coch wyn

So this is used predominately in Coffi welsh that I've heard, however again, it's becoming more widely used! Literally translated it means 'white red sauce', but if you hear this what they're after is Mayo. A lot of my first lanagauge friends will, even in English, ask for 'white red sauce', so if you hear that, it means mayo (or salad cream, they don't seem that bothered)

Shwmae

Means hello! Again, more south I believe, a lot of South Walian Welsh speakers seem to use exclusively 'shwmae' as a greeting.

Bach

If someone use this after your name feel special! Bach literally translates to small, and is kind of added to your name (ie Kate bach, Beth bach, Dafydd bach) to show special affection.

Blods

Blods is short for 'blodyn tatws', literally, 'potato flower'! It's a term of endearment, which by most friends my age is shortened to blods, however some friends shorten it to 'tatws' (potato) which feels less endearing lol

Cariad

In my experience mostly older people will use this, but it literally means 'love', and holds the connotations of 'beloved', 'sweetheart', 'darling'

Cau'r dy geg

Literally 'shut your mouth', a bit rude, only use with people you're good mates with who wouldn't take it personally, or can't understand Welsh!

Dw i ddim yn gwybod

'I don't know'! I use this all the time, I can't remember the last time I actually told someone I didn't know in English, it's one of those words/phrases which to me is just natural in Welsh (if that makes sense!)

Mae e'n cadw draenog yn ei boced

Literally 'he keeps a hedgehog in his pocket', meaning they'ry stingy!

Mae hi'n bwrw hen wragedd a ffyn!

Literally 'it's raining old women and sticks!', Welsh version of its raining cats and dogs (although I believe there is another Welsh version 'mae hi'n bwrw cyfyll a ffyrc', literally translates to 'its raining knives and forks', but I've never heard the expression in natural conversation')

Man a man a mwnci

Means 'might as well!' I'm not entirely sure what the direct translation is, however I've kind of understood it as 'a space and a place and a monkey', or 'a spot and a monkey'. (If anyone knows let me know plis!)

Be/Beth

Literally 'what'.

Diolch/ Diolch o galon/diolch yn fawr

Can't believe I almost for got this! I use diolch, meaning 'thanks', a lot, but if I'm so overwhelmingly grateful that I don't know how to express is, I turn to 'diolch o galon', literally 'thank you from my heart'. Again its on of those things that saying thank you in English just doesn't sound like I'm thankful, or feel like I've actually expressed it

Twp/twpsyn/twpsen

Literally stupid or thickheaded. I call myself this a lot, but I also think it's such a light hearted way to make fun of someone, it's like bubbles, no one can be angry saying 'twp!' (or even better it's mutation 'dwp')

Hyfryd

Literally 'lovely', think the application is obvious lol

Nos da

(ended the post with this and then realised I hadn't included it lol) means 'good night', again obvious application, but I do have a funny story

A neighbour of mine is from Yorkshire, and she said when she was growing up there was a v popular Welsh comedian who ended all of his shows with 'nos da' and she understood it as 'no star', and until she was 16 just seriously believed there was some random natural anomaly that meant there were no stars visible in Wales

Might add more if I think of any, but otherwise, add any if anyone thinks of others!

Nos da!