Language English is the day to day language for most Welsh people. Due to the efforts of many dedicated people the Welsh language still flourishes (and there is a Welsh language TV channel). The 1991 census gave a figure of 18.5 per cent Welsh speakers.
Climate Wales has the sort of climate often described as "temperate". This means that it never gets very hot or very cold.
Geography The land area is just over 8,000 square miles and Wales measures 160 miles long by 60 miles wide. Wales has extensive tracts of high plateaux with mountain ranges deeply dissected by river valleys radiating from the centre of the upland area. The lowland area is confined mainly to the relatively narrow coastal belts and the valley floors. Snowdon is the highest mountain at 3,650 feet. The coastline is almost 750 miles long (1,200 Km.)
National emblems The Welsh flag has two equal horizontal stripes, white above green, and a large red dragon passant. The Welsh flag has two equal horizontal stripes, white above green, and a large red dragon passant. The dragon standard was perhaps first seen in Britain in the shape of the "draco" a standard carried by the cohorts of the Roman legion. The dragon is seen as a symbol of national independence in the story of the red dragon battling with the white dragon of the Saxon enemy. Despite its occasional use by other figures famous in Welsh history, the red dragon became the symbol of the Welsh nation through its adoption by the Tudor ancestors of king Henry VII.
The leek and the daffodil - both emblems of Wales. They share the Welsh name Ceninen. The daffodil and the leek are also famous emblems of Wales. The Wales Tourist Board produced the following notes: "On the evidence of Shakespeare, the leek was the recognised emblem of his day, and there is written evidence that it became the Welsh emblem considerably earlier. Entries in the household accounts of the Tudor Kings include payments for leeks worn by the household guards on St. David's Day. According to one legend, the leek is linked to St. David because he ordered his soldiers to wear them on their helmets when they fought a victorious battle against the pagan Saxons in a field full of leeks. It was more likely, however, that the leek was linked with St. David and adopted as a national symbol because of its importance to the national diet in days of old, particularly in Lent." The leek is known to have been displayed as a Welsh emblem in 1536 and in Henry V, Shakespeare acknowledged this as an ancient custom. One legend tells of a battle between the Welsh and the Saxons fought in a field of leeks. At some time in the past, the leek was an important part of the diet but it is not commonly eaten today. It is delicious when part of the traditional leek and potato soup.
Statistics - from Wales in Figures 2001 (courtesy of the Statistical Directorate, National Assembly for Wales). Agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing: 1.8 Mining, quarrying etc.: 0.9 Manufacturing: 27.0 Wholesale and retail trade: 10.8 Real estate, renting and business activities: 15.1 Hotels and restaurants: 3.5 Health and social work: 8.9 Transport, storage and communication: 6.0 Construction: 5.2 Road length (km) - 33,695 Total land (sq. km) - 20,640 National parks - 4,129 Forestry Commission woodland - 1,160 Sunshine (hours per day) - 4.03 Rainfall (annual total mm.) - 1,296
Emigration from Wales to America One of the first Welsh settlers was Howell Powell who left Brecon for Virginia in 1642. In 1660 Charles II was restored to the English throne and religious intolerance increased. The Court of Great Sessions in Bala, north Wales had threatened Quakers with burning. Welsh Quakers bought 40,000 acres in Pennsylvania and left for America in 1682. (Phew!) In 1683 Baptists from Mid and West Wales settled on the outskirts of Philadelphia and soon bought 30,000 acres further down the Delaware river. Llanbrynmair became a noted source of emigrants to America as a result of the enthusiasm of a local cleric. 19th century emigration was largely from the industrialised South of Wales (see South Wales and Monmouthshire). The arrows on the map do not, of course, signify actual routes taken. The bulk of emigrants to America left via the English ports of Bristol and Liverpool.
Driving south on Route 3 and after passing the city if Trelew, you will reach this small village (about 6000 inhabitants), located at the Lower Valley of Chubut River. Gaiman is the symbol of Welsh colonization in Patagonia. The first settlers arrived in 1865, aboard the Mimosa sailboat. They were escaping from the English penetration in their native country as well as from the attempt of the latter to impose their culture to them. They were looking for a virgin territory to be able to found the "New Wales" and follow their own rules and customs without being molested. Huge and virgin Patagonia was that promised land. The first settlers had to put up with many difficulties and problems, including bad harvests and confrontations with the native Indians. But they did not give up and, between 1874 and 1875, there was a second contingent arriving form the Country of Wales and the United States with the purpose of getting more land for farming and growing. This way, Gaiman was born. Only 10 years later, it became the first district of the old Chubut Territory. A place full of history, undoubtedly. At present, you can still discover the attitude that characterized these first inhabitants of the town by walking around the streets of Gaiman, which still keeps its village essence, sprinkled with farms, typical chapels and Welsh-style houses. And the main attraction are the Welsh Tea Houses, where the descendants of the settlers prepare and serve the greatest classic Welsh tea, not to mention the pastry...
Another must is the Museo Histórico Regional, located at the ex-Chubut's railway station, built in 1909 with the classical architecture. Here is the original documentation, written in Welsh and Spanish, of the constitution of the colony. There are also photographs, tools and personal objects belonging to the founders and first settlers, as well as religious stuff. You can purchase books, candies and handmade teapot covers. Among the places you should visit, there is the Bethel Chapel ("House of God" in Jewish), the largest and best kept out of 15 of them that exist in this valley. It is built on bricks and the inside is covered in wood. Right beside it you will see the old chapel (1880) which was built when the primitive Stone Chapel fell apart. However, besides these great sites, Gaiman's main attraction consists of just wandering through its streets, watching its typical houses and enjoying a great Welsh Tea at one of the many tea houses that are available, like Lady Diana Spencer did before her unfortunate death. Take our word and you will find yourself invaded by that particular feeling arising from the union of this town full of Welsh tradition and the lands of the far south.
TASTE OF WALES Welsh lamb and beef feature prominently as do freshly caught fish such as salmon, brown trout, white crab, lobsters and cockles. Bacon, along with the two Welsh staple vegetables leeks and cabbage, goes to make the traditional Welsh dish cawl, a broth or soup. This classic one-pot meal, originally cooked in an iron pot over an open fire, used all local ingredients: home-cured bacon, scraps of Welsh lamb, cabbage, swede, potatoes and leeks. Recipes for cawl vary from region to region and from season to season, depending on what vegetables and produce are available. While cawl can be eaten all together, in some regions the broth is served first followed by the meat and vegetables. Only in Wales, and some parts of Scotland and Ireland, is an edible seaweed known as laver gathered and processed commercially. Available already cooked and prepared in numerous markets throughout Wales, bara lawr or laverbread is usually eaten sprinkled with oatmeal, then warmed in hot bacon fat and served with bacon for breakfast or supper. The seaweed itself can be found in some parts of the west coast, clinging to the rocks at low tide. Caerphilly is a mild crumbly white cheese which originated in South Wales and is probably the best known Welsh cheese. Today farmhouse Caerphilly, made in traditional rounds with natural rinds, is made only in the West Country of England, not in Wales, although mild, crumbly block cheese is made in creameries in the Principality. In the mountains and hills of Wales, where sheep or goats grazed rather than cows, ewe's milk cheeses were made on farms and today in Wales there is a revival in soft, creamy goats' milk cheeses. The Welsh love teatime! Traditional bara brith ( the famous speckled bread of Wales), Teisen lap ( a shallow moist fruit cake) teisen carawe (caraway seed cake), tease sinamon (cinnamon cake) and teisen mêl (honey cake) are favourites for the tea table. Such cakes are still made today throughout Wales, although the ancient recipes have been updated to suit modern methods of cooking. Griddle cakes are also served at teatime. A variety of scones, pancakes, cakes, breads, turnovers and oatcakes are all cooked this way. Then there are the famous spicy Welsh cakes. Pancakes and pikelets, (a little like crumpets) are also family favourites and are served oozing with rich Welsh butter.When travelling through the Principality of Wales, be sure to seek out cafes, restaurants and hotels displaying the 'Wales, the True Taste' logo and try for yourself some of the delicious traditional dishes, produce and cuisine of Wales.
