An eisteddfod is a Welsh festival dedicated to music, literature and performing arts. The closest English equivalent to the Welsh word “eisteddfod” is “session”. The date of the very first eisteddfod is unknown, but the roots of eisteddfodau are believed to date back to the 12th century. However, interest in the Welsh arts started to decline in the 17th century, so eisteddfodau began to lose their popularity as well.
The revival of eisteddfodau began in the 18th century, when Welsh bard Edward Williams, better known by his bardic name Iolo Morganwg, founded the Gorsedd of the Bards of the Isle of Britain (Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain). The first revived eisteddfod took place in 1792 in London. However, the first official National Eisteddfod of Wales was held in 1861 in the Welsh town of Aberdare.
The National Eisteddfod of Wales traditionally runs over the first week in August. The festival is held in a new venue every year, alternating between south and north Wales. Occasionally the Eisteddfod has been held in England. English cities that have hosted the event include Liverpool, London, Birkenhead, and Chester.
The Eisteddfod has been running almost continuously since its inception. It was cancelled in 1914 because of the First World War. In 1940, during the Second World War, the festival was not held because the organizers feared that an event of such scale would be a bombing target. Instead, the BBC broadcast a special radio program.
The National Eisteddfod of Wales is the most important eisteddfod in Wales and the largest competitive cultural festival in Europe. It is dedicated to Welsh literature, music, dance, visual arts, etc. The Eisteddfod features about 6,000 competitors who compete in a number of categories, including Folk Songs, Brass Bands, Cerdd Dant (Welsh string music), Choral Section, Vocal Section, Instrumental Music, Folk Dance, Contemporary Dance, Drama, Recitation, and others. Alongside the competition, the Eisteddfod offers evening converts, workshops, exhibitions, community activities, a large area with hundreds of booths, pavilions and tents called the Maes, and more.
All competitions and performances at the Eisteddfod are entirely in the Welsh language. To attract more non-Welsh speakers to the festival, the organizers provide a simultaneous translation service available free of charge. A full list of sessions and concerts with simultaneous translation is available in the festival brochures and on the website, which is fully bilingual.
Photo: eisteddfod.wales
