|
The aims of the Society are to foster the interests and encourage the friendship of all Welsh people and those who love Wales, residing in Petersfield and its surrounding area; also to keep intact the links that bind them to the 'Old Country' |
 |
Monthly meetings held every third Thursday, 7:30pm Herne Leisure Centre,
Further information may be obtained from
|
MiscellanyThe origin of the Welsh Dragon is uncertain but its earliest mention dates to around 800 AD when it was linked with Wales in the writings of Nennius. In Welsh mediaeval poetry the dragon became the symbol of Wales.
It is said to have been used as a crest by the early Welsh Kings, Arthur, Cadwallon and Cadwaladr, and at the Battle of Bosworth Henry Tudor unfurled his standard bearing a red dragon on a green and white background.
In 1901 the Red Dragon was recognised as the Badge of Wales and was added to the Arms of the Prince of Wales.
In 1953 the Dragon was made the official Royal Badge of Wales and after this it became the authorised Welsh National flag.
Have you ever compared Welsh Flags and other items bearing our national banner. Despite being the official flag of Wales for over 50 years, there still doesn't seem to be a firm standard for the Red Dragon on its white and green background. Here's a selection:
My interest in this potentially controversial subject dates from the day I was rummaging through a cupboard and came across a blanket badge (pictured right) in the form of our national flag. It was immediately obvious that this dragon was a very different beast to the one I was used to. It had the forked tongue, the forked tail with a twist in it, the right fore-leg raised, the unfurled wings, and of course it was red. But the nose was small - protruding no further than the lower jaw, the loop in the tail hung downwards, the wings were raised above its back, the spines on the back of its neck looked more like tufts of fur, the body looked like it had many folds of fat rather than scales, and the claws on the foot of the raised fore-leg were evenly spread. I began to wonder - was it a valid representation of the Welsh Flag?
Since then, every time I have seen a Welsh Flag I have been unable to stop myself looking closely. The main differences seem to be the nose and loop in the tail, but others are also apparent. Here's a list of differences I've found (and I think there's more):
- Tail looping downwards
- Short nose
- Bulbous nose (short and long versions)
- Nose thin, not bulbous
- Eye shaped like an egyptian hiroglyph
- Mouth closed (but tongue still sticking out)
- Claws evenly spread
- Wings well above the back
- Elbows in the wings
- Wing tips pointing upwards rather than backwards
- No spines on neck
Even the flag that we face while singing 'Mae Hen Wlad fy Nhadau' at the end of society meetings has the short nose.
So, the question is - "What is the true Draig Gymry?"
It is often said "To be born welsh is not to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth but with music in your heart and poetry in your soul"
But that is a misquote, here is the original poem
IN PASSING by Brian Harris
To be born in Wales,
Not with a silver spoon in your mouth,
But, with music in your blood
And with poetry in your soul,
Is a privilege indeed.
Your inheritance is a land of Legend,
Of love and contrast.
A land of beauty so bright it burns the eyes.
Of ugliness that scars the Spirit
As the Earth.
Wales is an old land with wounds
That weep in hills.
They wept before in the bodies of men
And in the hearts of women
And time will never heal them.
The stigmata of sorrow,
Of pain and poverty,
Of lonely crucifixion in the dark,
Remain our lives to feed.
This Land of our Fathers was built on coal.
Its rivers of mingled blood and sweat
Have forever darkened it,
Relieved only by death.
We are a sad people.
Our sadness being wrapped in harps and music
And praise to God,
For the lovely, yearning light
That feeds the Spirit as well as the eyes.
And, in the same vein, here's another poem
THE WELSH by Wyn Morris
Some of us speak the language
And there are those who don't know how
We live in the North or the South
With some far away right now
But those few who wear the red shirts
And know how to kick a ball
Amid cheers and hymn singing
Are able to unite us all.
Politicians, miners and teachers
Are born to us every day
Some turn to opera or folk in order to have their say
Our eisteddfod bring authors
Poets and famous choirs too
But one thing we all have in common
We are Welsh though and through.
 |