Back by popular demand…the 2020 Holiday Celebration of the Welsh Society of Western New England rang in the holiday season with an amazing Zoom Christmas afternoon.
On December 5, 2020, members and friends gathered at 2:00 p.m. to greet our friends across the USA, Canada and Wales and share holiday cheer, Christmas joy, and Welsh pride. Glyn Dowden, WSWNE Board Member, and our resident Dylan Thomas, led off by reading from “A Child’s Christmas in Wales”, followed by member Straford Wild singing, Gower Wassail.
Andrea Wild, Nancy Jarell and Jeff Lewis, from Portland, Oregon, sang two Welsh plygain hymns.
Andrea Wild (Straford’s sister), Nancy Jarell and Jeff Lewis, all the way from Portland, Oregon, sang two Welsh plygain hymns, traditionally sung at dawn in churches across Wales on Christmas morning, originating in Carmarthen in the 13th century. The two hauntingly beautiful plygain were: Ar Gyfer Heddiw Bore and Daeth Nadolig. Board Member Shirley Gilmartin, originally from south Wales mesmerized us with a reading from Lanterns Across the Snow.
Annie Rodgers of Chicopee, MA, also a Board Member sang Suo Gan and Tua Bethlem Dref, beautifully rendered in Welsh. She was followed by some reminiscences by members of their favorite childhood Christmas gifts.
Following a give-away of some holiday gifts, including Penderyn whisky, a gift box of Welsh cakes from Copper Kettle Bakery and a gift certificate from UK Gourmet, Phoebe Wild (Andrea’s daughter from Portland, Oregon), played Nos Galan (Deck the Halls) on harp, followed by Andrea and son, Dylan, with Song Y Wassael, a Welsh Fairy Reel with Welsh clog steps by Andrea.
Phoebe (Andrea’s 12 year old daughter from Portland, Oregon, played Nos Galan (Deck the Halls) on the harp.
Dylan, with Song Y Wassael, a Welsh Fairy Reel.
Our Christmas event came to a successful close with member, Jason Ellsworth singing The Peace Carol, after which member Annie Rodgers spread Hiraeth across the USA, Canada and Wales with the Welsh National Anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.
by Susan Jenkins Meers, Vice President