The Customs and Traditions of Wales

Trefor M. Owen

Description

Trefor M. Owen’s seminal work educates, enlightens and entertains with a far-reaching yet accessible text, which paints a colourful and comprehensive portrait of a nation’s rich folk culture. The Customs and Traditions of Wales is an illuminating and engrossing insight into a subject that continues to unfold and develop in contemporary life. Despite an increasingly globalised society that has transformed local communities, folk customs are still practised and enjoyed the world over as people combine modern-day and historical rituals and embrace opportunities to learn about their past, and Owen’s influential study has maintained its relevance as customs change and evolve.

Sujets

• Traditions
• Social Science
• Sociologie, société et politique
• Customs

Informations

• Publié par: University of Wales Press
• Date de parution: 20 avril 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781783168262
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 20 Mo

Extrait

T H E C U S T O M S A N D T R A D I T I O N S O F w a l e s

TREFOR M. OWEN I N T R O D U C T I O N B Y E M M A L I L E

THE CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS OF WALES

Treor Meredîth Owen, 2014. ©FotoNant.

The Customs and Traditions of Wales

Trefor M. Owen

Second edition, with an introduction by Emma Lile

UNIVERSITY OF WALES PRESS 2016

© The estate of Trefor M. Owen and Emma Lile, 2016 First published in 1991 This updated edition published in 2016

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright owners except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Applications for the copyright owners’ written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the University of Wales Press, 10 Columbus Walk, Brigantine Place, Cardiff, CF10 4UP.

www.uwp.co.uk

British Library CiP Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781783168255 eISBN 9781783168262

The right of the estate of Trefor M. Owen and Emma Lile to be identified as authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 79 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Typeset by Eira Fenn, Cardiff Printed by CPI Antony Rowe, Chippenham, Wiltshire

Contents

List of Illustrations Acknowledgements Introduction to the New Edition Preface

 1 Working the Land

 2 Customs of Hearth and Home

 3 Community Traditions

 4 Church Festivals and Practices

 5 Changing Traditions

 6 Studying Folk Customs

Selected Reading List by Chapter Index

vii ix xi xxvi

1

31

63

95

127

153

163 175

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Lîst o ïustratîons

Cutting peat on the moorland above Llanuwchllyn, Merioneth Melin Bompren mill and corndrying kiln, Synod Inn, Cardiganshire Cist styffylogor oatmeal chest Ffair Dalis, the wellknown horse fair held at Lampeter, Cardiganshire Caseg fedior corn maiden Themedelor reaping party on Y Fadfa farm, Talgarreg, Cardiganshire, in 1889 The fire on the floor at Pontfaen, Ciliau Aeron, Cardiganshire Cottage interior at Dolgellau, Merioneth,c.1836, by Edward Pryce Owen The stable loft at Hendrewen Farm near Llanrwst in the Vale of Conwy Glazed earthenware puzzle jug, dated 1711 AMari Lwydand its party in Llangynwyd, near Maesteg, during the early twentieth century Wren house, probably the only surviving example, made in 1869 An idealized portrayal of the bidder in his distinctive headdress and carrying his decorated staff of office as he invites guests to a bidding

6

11 13

15 17

18

36

41

45 51

56

57

73

ïustratîons

At} unnosor squatter’s cabin in the Welsh Folk Museum, St Fagans, built as an experiment by architectural students in 1988 79 The handball court at Nelson, Glamorgan in 1914 88 Bathers at St Winifred’s Well, Holywell, Flintshire, c.1890 (reference PH/30/55) 101 Funeral procession in the Trelech district of Carmarthenshire at the beginning of the twentieth century 112 The Wake at Holyhead from Edward Pugh’s Cambria Depicta119, 1816 An openair prayer meeting held near Llyn Eiddwen, Cardiganshire, 1911 137 Admission ticket to a lecture on ‘The Best Way to Live Happily’ held in a chapel schoolroom in 1879 as a substitute for a bidding, to assist a newly married man 141 Nazareth Chapel Sunday school class, Talybont, Cardiganshire,c.1897 143 Trophy won at a choral competition held at the Crystal Palace, London, in 1872 and 1873 146

vîîî

Acknowedgements

The authors and publishers wish to thank the following copy right holders who have kindly permitted the reproduction of photographs:

ffotoNant: Trefor M. Owen Flintshire Record Office: St Winifred’s Well (image reference PH/30/55) National Library of Wales: cottage interior, Dolgellau National Museum of Wales: peat cutting, Melin Bompren,cist styffylog, Ffair Dalis,caseg fedi,medel, hearth at Pontfaen, stable loft, puzzle jug,Mari Lwyd, wren house, bidder,t} unnos, Trelech funeral procession, prayer meeting, admission ticket, Sunday school class, Crystal Palace Challenge Trophy (the ‘Caradog Cup’) Richard Burton Archives, Swansea University: handball court, Nelson Roderic Bowen Library and Archives, University of Wales Trinity Saint David: Holyhead wake