Yr Eisteddfod: Chairs, crowns and culture
National Eisteddfod of Wales at Llŷn andc Eifionydd in 2023. Uploaded by Llywelyn2000, via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 4.0
The Eisteddfod is an annual festival celebrating the Welsh culture, language, and heritage, dating back to the 12th-century. From chairs to crowns to medals, its ceremonies are steeped in rich traditions which make it the biggest celebration of Welsh culture. It is held in a different location in Wales each year and the designated town is decorated with banners and signs to signify that it is Cartref yr Eisteddfod (home of the Eisteddfod). The word means a sitting (eistedd = to sit), signifying the chair sat in by the best poets in The Crowning and Chairing of the Bard ceremonies.
The first Eisteddfod dates to 1176, led by Lord Rhys, the ruler of the Deheubarth Kingdom from 1155 to 1197, in Cardigan Castle. It was a bardic competition now known as the first version of what would come to be the modern event of the National Eisteddfod. Poets and musicians from all over Wales gathered at his castle and the best poet and musician were given a chair at Lord Rhys’ table. Today, this tradition is still alive, with the chair being given to the winning Bard.
There exist two Eisteddfodau each year: the National, which is held in the first week of August, and the Urdd Eisteddfod, which takes place during the May half term. A youth version of the National Eisteddfod, this is organised by the youth organisation Urdd Gobaith Cymru. More informally known as the Urdd, the organisation was founded in 1922 by Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards, an academic who played a critical role in the development of youth work in Wales.
The Gorsedd of Bards (Gorsedd y Beirdd) is a community of bards, musicians, artists, writers, and those who have contributed to the Welsh culture and language. Its first appearance was in Carmarthen in 1819; however, Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain (The Gorsedd of the Bards of the Isle of Britain) was established in 1792 in Primrose Hill, London by Iolo Morgannwg. On the site of the Eisteddfod, The Gorsedd walks around in green, blue, and white costumes. Those who wear white are the winners of the main competitions. Figures in the world of arts wear green, and those in blue have been recognised as important contributors to their area or the nation in the fields of Law, Journalism, Media, Sports, and Science. The head of the Gorsedd is called yr Archdderwydd (the Archdruid), and the current one is Mererid Hopwood. She is the second woman to hold the title after Christine James, who occupied the role from 2013-2016, who is also the first Welsh learner to have held the title of Archdruid. Mererid Hopwood was the first woman to win the Chair, in 2001. The Archdruid’s role is to lead the main ceremonies, and they are easy to spot from their gold regalia, which includes a spectre, a torc breastplate, and a crown.
During the week of the National Eisteddfod, three Gorsedd ceremonies are held. For the best poem in free meter, the winning bard is crowned during y Coroni (the Crowning of the Bard) ceremony. The winner of the best poem in strict meter, or cynghanedd (a poetic device of sound arrangement using alliteration, stress, and rhyme), is given a chair during y Cadeirio (The Chairing of the Bard). They are known as the Prifardd (The Chief Bard). Each year, a new chair and crown are commissioned, which are given to the winners. Alongside poetry, the Prose Medal also has a ceremony for the winner of the prose competition. These ceremonies attract large audiences, and everyone eagerly watches as the identity of the winners are revealed. Each contestant must have a pen name, and the winner’s pen name is called out after the Corn Gwlad (trumpet) plays. They are asked to stand and reveal themselves and are escorted to the stage to be awarded. During the ceremony, a sword is drawn from a sheath by the Archdruid, who asks ‘A oes heddwch?’ (‘Is there peace?’), to which the audience and the Gorsedd reply, ‘Heddwch’ (‘Peace’). Other awards include the Drama Medal, the Composer’s Medal, and the Welsh Learner of the Year.
An important event in the history of the National Eisteddfod was when the young bard, Ellis Humphrey Evans, known by his bardic name, Hedd Wyn (blessed peace), was declared the winner of the chair in 1917 Birkenhead National Eisteddfod for his ode, ‘Yr Arwr’ (‘The Hero’). During the ceremony, the winning bard with the pen name Fleur di Lis was asked to stand. The trumpets played. No one stood. A few weeks prior, Hedd Wyn had died on the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele as a soldier in the First World War. He was posthumously awarded the chair, and it was draped in black cloth, now known as Y Gadair Ddu (The Black Chair). Today, his home in Trawsfynydd, North Wales – Yr Ysgwrn – is a museum of his life, containing many bardic chairs that he won, immortalising him and his craft.
Historical yet modern and rich with traditions that are still enjoyed today, the Eisteddfod is an essential part of the Welsh culture. It is an opportunity for the Welsh and those interested in the culture to come together and celebrate the talent and skill of its individuals and to share their passion for this centuries-old festival which continues to be one of the biggest events of the year in the Welsh calendar.