This week, since Easter is just around the corner (this coming weekend, in case you hadn't realised!) I thought I'd tell you about some of the Easter traditions of Wales.
In Tenby it has been well documented that no one works on Good Friday, with no horse or cart (and very few people) to be seen on the streets for the whole day.
On Good Friday, people also walked barefoot to church, so as not to "disturb the earth"
The custom of "making Christ's bed" was also popular in Tenby. Children would gather reeds and weave it into a 'Christ' figure, which was then laid on a wooden cross and left in a quiet part of a field or pasture to rest peacefully.
Llun y Pasg means Easter Monday in Welsh
It is often celebrated by a procession up to the very top of a mountain or a hill before sunrise (we have many and are very proud of these in Wales!) to watch the sun rise.
In Llangollen, in the Vale of Clwyd, villagers used walk to the summit of Dinas Bran (a location famous for its inclusion in many medieval Welsh folk tales) to greet the sun's arrival with three somersaults.
In other areas, a bowl of water was taken to the top of the nearest hill to catch the sun "dancing" in the reflection.
Rogationtide was celebrated on the 5th Sunday after Easter. This was the Pagan spring fertility rites and Roman blessing of crops. Local Church officials should visit local crop farmers on this day to bless his crops
Ascension day is on the 40th day after Easter. This is the Roman Festival honouring streams and fountains.
On Ascension day wells were rededicated to saints in Wales and people would be wary of accidents. For example, you wouldn't wash clothes on this day as it was feared that someone would die as the clothes dried. Miners and farmers would also refuse to work through fear of mishaps! (The superstition about washing clothes also extended to New Year's Day when I was growing up, although I'm not sure if this was just a local thing or whether it was also observed in other parts of Wales.)
With many thanks for the legends in this article to Becca Hemmings of The Welsh Book Shop
(They sell beautiful, traditional Welsh gifts and do Mail Order!)
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I love the tradition of walking barefoot to church on Good Friday--being one with the earth.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by - yes that's a lovely tradition, isn't it!
DeleteI love seeing how pagan rituals combined to make Christian ones. Lovely post.,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Bamakim, do glad you liked it!
DeleteLovely traditions. I remember an old saying; if it rains on Easter, it will rain for seven Sundays after. My mom always told me that one.
ReplyDeleteWe used to say the same thing in the Midwest (Iowa) when I grew up. One year the saying most certainly came true!
DeleteThanks Lucy - I hadn't heard of that one, perhaps it's an American saying, so interesting how these things are passed on in different countries.
DeleteFascinating information. Thank you for compiling it. I've been to many of the places mentioned, including Dinas Bran, which is an incredible site. I'm jealous that you live in Wales. It is my "spiritual homeland" and I visit as often as I can.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary, so pleased you're able to visit 'the land of my fathers' as our national anthem says! So many myths and legends and spectacular scenery! Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting.
DeleteSo interesting to see the traditions from Wales. I don't think I could do the somersaults though!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ilona - I don't think I could, either! :)
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