English

Form 9-A

Nicolayeva Yev.

Yuriev-Polsky, 2008

Secondary School №1

Project“Wales and its people at a glance”

«Социокультурный портрет Уэльса»

CONTENTS

1. General information about Wales _____________ 3

geography; national symbols; Welsh national costume; history and the Welsh language.

2. Welsh culture and traditions __________________ 10

the International Eisteddfod; Merry Night.

3. Cardiff, the capital of Wales __________________ 12

4. The National Parks of Wales __________________ 15

the Brecon Beacons National Park; Snowdonia; the Pembrokeshire Coast.

5. Literary Wales _____________________________ 17

6. My image of Wales _________________________ 19

7. Bibliography ______________________________ 21

2

http://images.yandex.ru/Wales (Welsh: Cymru [ˈkəm.rɨ]) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and

the island of Great Britain. It's situated to the west of England and is around 170 miles (256 km) long and 60 miles (96 km) wide. It covers just over 8,000 square miles (20,720 km²) - that's about the same size as Massachusetts in the USA or half the size of Switzerland. . It is a peninsula washed by the Irish Sea in the north, the British Channel in the south and the St. George’s Channel in the west.

The official name of this country is Principality of Wales. This name is often used, although the Prince of Wales has no power in Wales. The Welsh call their country Cymru. It’s a Welsh word which has the same root as “comrade, friend”.

Rich in history and natural beauty, Wales has a living Celtic culture distinct to the rest of the UK. Travelers are attracted to Wales because of its beautiful landscape, including the mountains and coast of its stunning national parks, the wealth of history and large number of imposing castles.

Wales is a highland country of old, hard rocks. The Cumbrian Mountains cover most of the land. The Pride of Wales is Snowdonia, a region of high mountains. Snowdon is the highest mountain of England and Wales (1085 m).

The capital of Wales is Cardiff, the largest city of Wales. The second largest city in Wales is Swansea.

3

explore Wales

The leek

According to legend, St David advised the Britons on the eve of a battle with the Saxons, to wear leeks in their caps so as to easily distinguish friend from foe. This helped to secure a great victory. Today Welsh people around the world wear leeks on St David's Day. It is also a surviving tradition that soldiers in the Welsh regiments eat a raw leek on St David's Day.

The daffodil

The Welsh for leek (the original national emblem) is Cenhinen, while the Welsh for daffodil is Cenhinen Pedr. Over the years they became confused until the daffodil was adopted as a second emblem of Wales.

The harp

The harp is regarded as the national instrument of Wales. By the end of the 18th century, the triple harp - so called because it had three rows of strings - was widely known as the Welsh harp on account of its popularity in Wales. The harp has been used through the ages as an accompaniment to folk-singing and dancing and as a solo instrument. HRH Prince Charles appoints a

Welsh Royal Harpist on a scholarship programme annually.

The flag

Their national flag - The Red Dragon (or in Welsh Y Ddraig Goch) - was granted official status in 1959, but the dragon itself has been associated with Wales for centuries. Some say it’s the oldest national flag still in use, and that it was used by King Arthur and other ancient Celtic leaders.

Welsh National Anthem4

Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau

Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (translated in English as ‘Land of my Fathers’) is Wales’ National anthem. It was written in 1856 by Evan James and his son, James James, from Pontypriddin Glamorgan. It is traditionally sung before national sporting events.

Land of My Fathers

This land of my fathers is dear to meLand of poets and singers, and people of stature

Her brave warriors, fine patriotsShed their blood for freedom

Land! Land! I am true to my land!As long as the sea serves as a wall for this pure, dear land

May the language endure for ever.

Old land of the mountains, paradise of the poets,Every valley, every cliff a beauty guards;

Through love of my country, enchanting voices will beHer streams and rivers to me.

Though the enemy have trampled my country underfoot,The old language of the Welsh knows no retreat,The spirit is not hindered by the treacherous hand

Nor silenced the sweet harp of my land.

5

(engraving) An early print of various Welsh costumes

If you want to learn some information about Welsh National Costume go to the Museum of Welsh life or Welsh Folk Museum in Cardiff. Their expositions tell a lot about what National Costume was like.

Their current concept of Welsh National Costume is largely the result of one woman's efforts to preserve and popularize a sense of Welsh national identity.

Augusta Hall, later Lady Llanover was what nowadays would be called an "activist". She wanted her home - Llanover House - to become known for the promotion of Welsh language and culture. Her influence lives on, in that her ideas of what an "idealised" Welsh costume should be, have now become the basis for a "recognised form" of their National Costume.

Mrs Stevens of the Museum of Welsh life says: "The costume regarded as national dress is based on clothing worn by Welsh country women during the early nineteenth century, namely a striped flannel petticoat, worn under aflannel open-fronted bed gown, with an apron, shawl and kerchief or cap”.So what really was the National Costume at that time?

Girl in "traditional" Welsh National costume.

Dr. Iorwerth C. Peate. (Translated from the Welsh by Helen Fordor) says: "According to common belief, the Welsh costume comprises a high hat, petticoat, bedgown, apron and shawl, the whole of local manufacture. The bedgown was a sort of long coat, forming a waist, and closing over the bust, and a long tail which folded behind over the petticoat, with the apron hiding the petticoat front. "

Nowadays there is no special costume for men but some girls still wear it for folk dancing and music festivals.

Gwenllian LlwydSketch of her Welsh national costume

6

courtesy of Mr. C. Granville Morris

7

Welsh is one of the Celtic languages still spoken, it is not like English or German. It is much older than both of these languages. Celtic tribes came to Britain from Europe over two thousand years ago. One tribe, the Britons, gave the island its name, Britain. The Celts loved to fight and the different tribes often fought against each other. They made strong swords and other weapons. But they also loved music and made beautiful jewels and fine clothes. The most powerful people in the tribes were the Druids - or priests.

Over the centuries Britain was invaded a number of times, first by the Romans, later by the Angles and Saxons from their homes in Germany and Denmark and finally by the Normans from France. The Romans and Celts lived together peacefully. But there were terrible battles between the Celts and the angles and Saxons, until finally the Celts have to move to the hills of Wales to Scotland and Cornwall. Today these are the places where traces of Britain's Celtic past can still be found in the language and culture.

The Saxons called the Celts in Wales the "Weal as", the foreigners. During the centuries that followed, this name became "Welsh". They and the English often fought against each other. Then in 1181 the English King Edward I defeated the last Welsh prince, Llewellyn. Then King Edward's son became the Prince of Wales. Today this is still the title for the first son of the British king or queen. Prince Charles is now the Prince of Wales. But he has no power over the Welsh. And they are proud that, 700 years after Llewellyn, they are Welsh and not English.

The most convenient source of statistics to hand is a survey published by the Welsh Office, Arolwg Cymdeithasol Cymru 1992: adroddiadar y Gymraeg published about March 1995. It showed that 21.5% of the population of Wales (590800 people) speak Welsh; this divides into 32.4% of 3-15 year olds, 17.8% of 16-29s, 16.7% of 30-44s, 18.7% of 45-64s and 24.2% of over 65s. 55.3% of them (326600, 12% of the population) are first-language speakers, meaning someone who spoke more Welsh than English as a child at home. 13.4% of the population of Wales claims to be fluent in Welsh, and 66.1% claim no knowledge of Welsh at all.

7-th-3-rd centuries BC: Celtic invaded Britain.

AD 43-400: the Romans were in Britain.

400-600: the Angles and the Saxons invaded Britain and stayed there.

1066: the Normans under Williams the Conqueror invaded Britain and stayed there.

1282: the English defeated the last Welsh prince.

1969: Prince Charles became Prince of Wales.

The Welsh language (Cymraeg)

8

Welsh is a Celtic language spoken in Wales (Cymru) by about 659,000 people, and in the Welsh colony (yr Wladfa) in Patagonia, Argentina (yr Ariannin) by several hundred people. There are also Welsh speakers in England (Lloegr), Scotland (yr Alban), Canada, the USA (yr Unol Daleithiau), Australia (Awstralia) and New Zealand (Seland Newydd).

According to a survey carried out by S4C, the Welsh language TV channel, the number of Welsh speakers in Wales is around 750,000, and about 1.5 million people can 'understand' Welsh. Around 21% of the people of Wales (about 600,000 people), as well as some people outside Wales, can speak Welsh. Many people in Wales say they can understand some form of Welsh, such as spoken, written, or can read Welsh, even if they do not speak it all the time.

Almost all Welsh people understand and can use the English language. Welsh is a compulsory subject for children in all schools in Wales, and it taught as a second language in non-Welsh language schools. In Welsh, it is known as Cymraeg, or yr iaith Gymraeg, which means "the Welsh language" in Welsh. Welsh books and newspapers have been printed for hundreds of years. Some of these books have been translated into English, and some books in other languages have been translated into Welsh. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was translated into Welsh, with the translation of "Harri Potter a Maen yr Athronydd", which means the same as the English title.

BBC Radio Cymru is a Welsh-language radio station that is available throughout Wales. Some local radio stations have some Welsh and English programs during the day.

The Welsh television channel, S4C, has been on air since 1982. It broadcasts shows such as the soap opera Pobol y Cwm, and children's programs such as Superted and Sam Tân (known as Fireman Sam in English).

The Welsh alphabet (Yr Wyddor Gymraeg)

A a B b C c Ch ch D d Dd dd E e F f Ff ff G g

a bi ec èch di èdd e èf èff èg

Ng ng H h I i L l Ll ll M m N n O o P p

èng aets i èl èll em èn o pi

Ph ph R r Rh rh S s T t Th th U u W w Y y

ffi/yff èr rhi ès ti èth u w y

9

There are many great traditions of Wales, but three stand out that make it culturally distinct from its neighbors: the Eisteddfod, the Noson Lawen and the Cymanfa Ganu. Of these, the Eisteddfod is probably the most ancient and certainly the most popular. Most towns and villages conduct an annual Eisteddfod in one way or another. It is simply a competition, but the word translates as a "Chairing," with the winner being awarded a chair upon which he is ceremoniously crowned to great acclaim. Winners of local eisteddfodau (pl) go on to compete on a county or regional level, eventually reaching the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales (Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru ) in which they compete with others from all parts of the country. The "National" is the largest folk festival in Europe: held in a different town the first week in August each year. Alternating between a venue in South Wales one year and North Wales the next, it draws vast crowds to enjoy its week-long activities.

Eisteddfod: A Cultural Competition

In addition to the National, there is another important Eisteddfod in Wales with, for many, a much broader appeal. After World War II, with its shocking waste of life and disruption of much that had been held dear for so long, a brilliant idea came to the mind of an official of the British Council, Welshman Harold Tudor of Coedpoeth, a little town near Wrexham, Clwyd. Harold conceived the idea of an international folk festival, conducted

10

Llangollen

very much along the lines of the Welsh National Eisteddfod, but open to competitors from all parts of the world. The music organizer of the National, W.S. Gwynn Williams, was very receptive to the idea, especially as it entailed the desire of the Welsh people to contribute in their own unique manner to the healing of the terrible scars left by the War.

The site chosen for the new festival was along the banks of the River Dee, in a meadow under the ancient castle of Dinas Bran, and the first Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod duly took place in the summer of 1947, with fourteen different nationalities represented. It has been held each year since, attracting many thousands of spectators and hundreds of competitors, whose colorful native costumes and delightful singing and dancing fill the streets of Llangollen for one whole week every July. (One of the early competitors was the great tenor Luciano Pavarotti, who came with his father to sing in a choir from Italy in the early years of the festival and who returned to give a goodwill concert in 1995).

Noson Lawen (Merry Night)

Of unknown age is the third great Welsh tradition, the Noson Lawen. In Jack Jones's book "Off to Philadelphia in the Morning," a biography of the great Welsh composer Joseph Parry there is a description of a Noson Lawen held on the estate of Lord Crawshay the ironmaster at Cyfartha Castle, Merthyr Tydfil. The event was held to celebrate the successful bringing in of the hay harvest, always a big event because of the uncertainty of the Welsh weather. Because corn does not grow in Wales, a good hay crop is essential for winter feed for the cattle and horses. The festivities included penillion (the reciting of verses) to the sound of the harp, dancing, and recitation. No doubt prodigious quantities of ale and cider were also consumed, but these are not necessary ingredients for a Noson Lawen. The tradition is similar and often formed part of, the Pilnos, when neighbors gathered to peel rushes around the fire for candle making. During the long, dark winter nights, it was inevitable that music would play a large part in the proceedings, and it seems that the playing of the harp and reciting impromptu verses were key elements in the activities. The Noson Lawen gave everyone a chance to show his or her talents; in modern days, an MC takes charge of the evening and introduces the performers, sometimes professional entertainers.

11

Cardiff’s rich culture has a diverse range of influences, from the Romans and Normans of antiquity to the industrial revolution and the coal industry - which transformed Cardiff from a small town into a thriving, international city.

Roman origin

Cardiff's story began in AD55 when the Roman's established a fort on what is now the site of Cardiff Castle. Some of the original Roman walls can still be seen in Cardiff Castle, and it is suggested that Cardiff even took its name from Roman general Aulus

Didius – Caer Didi means ‘Fort of Didius’. The Vikings and the Normans also made their presence felt in Cardiff, and in 1091 Robert Fitzhamon began work on the castle keep,

which has been at the heart of the city ever since.

Cardiff Castle

Black Gold transforms Cardiff

In the late 19th Century, the 2nd Marquess of Bute built the Glamorganshire canal, which linked Merthyr Tydfil with Cardiff and the Cardiff docks, to take advantage of the huge coal reserves in the area. This saw Cardiff become the biggest coal exporting port in the world, resulting in Edward VII granting Cardiff city status in 1905. The port reached its peak in 1913, with more than 10 million tons going through the port. As Cardiff exports grew, so did its population; dockworkers and sailors from across the world settled in neighbourhoods close to the docks, known as Tiger Bay, and communities from up to 45 different nationalities, including Norwegian, Somalian, Yemenese, Spanish, Italian, Caribbean and Irish, helped create the unique multi-cultural character of the area.

Double birthday After going into decline in the 70's and 80's Cardiff's docks and city centre have now been regenerated. Cardiff Bay is now a thriving waterside development, and the construction of the Millennium Stadium in the city centre helped transformed Cardiff into a true European capital city. In 2005 Cardiff celebrated its centenary as a city and 50

12

years as capital of Wales, and enjoyed a year-long calendar of events, festivals and parties which marked the double anniversary.

Home of the DaleksTerry Nation, creator of Doctor Who’s arch-enemies, the Daleks, was born in

Cardiff, and in 2005 the Daleks returned to their place of birth for the new BBC Wales series of Doctor Who. The second season of Doctor Who, starring David Tennant and Billie Piper was also filmed in and around Cardiff. A new Doctor Who spin-off series, called Torchwood, was also filmed and is set in the Welsh capital.

World’s first Fair Trade capitalIn March 2004 Cardiff was designated as the world’s first Fair Trade Capital City in

recognition of its support for the scheme. To gain this status Cardiff Council had to ensure that Fair Trade products are available in a number of cafes, stores and supermarkets in Cardiff, as well as serving Fair Trade teas and coffees in its own canteens and meetings.

Famous sons and daughtersCardiff has produced many famous names in the last century. Children’s author

Roald Dahl was born in Cardiff in 1916, and the Norwegian Church where he was christened is now used as an arts centre and café. In the sports world Ryan Giggs, Colin Jackson and Dame Tanni Grey Thompson often fill the headlines, and Shirley Bassey and Charlotte Church are the city’s home grown musical divas.

Captain Scott and the South PoleIn 1910 Captain Robert Scott set off from Cardiff in the ship the ‘Terra Nova’ on his

ill-fated trip to the South Pole. Cardiff connections to Scott include a memorial sculpture in Cardiff Bay, a memorial lighthouse erected in Roath Park and the Discovery pub in Lakeside, home to photos from the expedition. The Captain Scott room in the Royal Hotel, where he ate his farewell dinner, was also reopened earlier this year.

Sporting historyCardiff has a long association with sport. In 1958 the city hosted the British Empire

and Commonwealth Games, now better known as the Commonwealth Games. The Empire swimming pool, however, was demolished to make way for the Millennium Stadium – which hosted the Rugby World Cup final in 1999. The stadium again made sporting history in 2005, when Wales won the Six Nations Grand Slam Championship for the first time in over 20 years. Cardiff will also host an Ashes cricket Test match in 2009, and football matches during the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Cardiff University GuideCardiff is one of the UK's most popular University cities, with over 30,000 students

making their home here during term time. According to a recent survey by the Royal Bank of Scotland, Cardiff is the most cost effective place in the UK to study.

Cardiff University

The city's oldest and largest university is located in the Portland stone buildings of the civic centre, just minutes away from the city centre. Over 25,000 students attend

13

courses in 28 Academic schools, including journalism, engineering and optometry schools. The university is also ranked as 7th best research university in UK.A place in one of the University’s 5,100 student rooms is guaranteed to all first-year undergraduates, and the main campus is only a short walk from Cathays – the most popular student neighbourhood in the city.

The Student Union on Park Place boasts three live venues and regularly hosts international and local bands. The union is also home to the student radio station and the award winning student paper, Gair Rhydd.

University of Wales in Cardiff (UWIC)

Over 9000 students study as Cardiff’s Metropolitan University, which is spread across four campuses at Llandaff, Cyncoed, Colchester Avenue and Howard Gardens. UWIC specialises in career orientated arts and sports courses, with 95% of graduates finding suitable work within six months of graduating. As a top sports college its leisure facilities are first class, with many international standard facilities built in the last few years - including the National Indoor Athletics Centre at Cyncoed. The student union runs bars at each of the four campuses, as well as a city centre nightclub.

City Hall, Cardiff Cardiff University

14

Welcome to Brecon Beacons National Park

There are National Parks all over the world, designated by each nation to protect their most beautiful landscapes. Brecon Beacons National Park is situated in mid-Wales and this year, we celebrate the Park's 50th anniversary, reflecting on its history as it looks toward its future relationship with the land and the people who live, work in and visit it. The celebrations recognise 50 years of cultural diversity, landscape heritage, wildlife conservation, spectacular geology and natural history in an ever changing world where threats to the natural environment are constantly round the corner.

Brecon Beacons National Park is a landscape that offers a legacy of unparalleled proportions with spectacular mountain ranges, internationally renowned geology, bountiful wildlife and diverse recreational opportunities. It contains some of the most spectacular and distinctive upland formations in southern Britain and covers an area of 1347 sq km (520 sq miles).

This amazing landscape has now been officially recognised as one of the most important geological landscapes in Europe. In October 2005, the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority was awarded membership of the highly prestigious European Geopark Network and given UNESCO Global Geopark recognition for the Fforest Fawr Geopark.

Brecon Beacons National Park is the FIRST National Park in the UK to achieve Geopark status, and is the FIRST Geopark in Wales.

15

Welcome to Snowdonia National Park

Mount Snowdon (1085 m)

Snowdonia National Park covers 823 square kilometers miles of the most beautiful countryside in North Wales. It is an area where people live and work but also where thousands come to relax and enjoy a wide range of leisure activities.

Cycling Mountains Walks Leisure Walks

Welcome to the Pembrokeshire Coast

16

Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl was born on September 13, 1916 in Wales, the son of Norwegian immigrants. His colorful experiences as a student in English boarding schools were the inspiration for his books Boy and Danny, Champion of the World.

Dahl became a writer during World War II, when he recounted in a short story his adventures as a fighter pilot for the Royal Air Force. The story was bought by The Saturday Evening Post and a long, illustrious career was born.

After establishing himself as a writer for adults, Dahl began writing children's stories in 1960 while living in England with his family. His first two novels, James and the Giant Peach and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, are now considered classics and both have been made into blockbuster films. He was the winner of England's two most distinguished literary awards, the Whitbread Prize and the Children's Book Award, and seventeen of his works are perennial bestsellers.

Throughout his life, Dahl took great joy in hearing from his readers. He loved nothing more than to know he was entertaining them, as well as instilling in them a love of reading and books. Dahl once said, "I know what children like." His stories are proof positive that he was right. Roald Dahl passed away on November 23, 1990.

17

Dylan Thomas

Dylan Marlais Thomas (27 October 1914 – 9 November 1953) was a Welsh poet and writer whose works include the poems "Do not go gentle into that good night" and "And death shall have no dominion", the "play for voices", Under Milk Wood, and stories and radio broadcasts such as A Child's Christmas in Wales and Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog. He became popular in his lifetime and remained so after his premature death in New York. In his later life he acquired a reputation, which he encouraged, as a "roistering, drunken and doomed poet".Thomas was born in Swansea, Wales, in 1914. An

undistinguished student, he left school at 16, becoming a journalist for a short time. Although many of his works appeared

in print while he was still a teenager, it was the publication of "Light breaks where no sun shines", in 1934, that caught the attention of the literary world. While living in London, Thomas met Caitlin Macnamara, whom he married in 1937.

Although Thomas was appreciated as a popular poet in his lifetime, he found earning a living as a writer difficult, which resulted in him augmenting his income with reading tours and broadcasts. His radio recordings for the BBC during the latter half of the 1940s brought him to the public's attention and he was used by the corporation as a populist voice of the literary scene. In the 1950s, Thomas travelled to America, where his readings brought him a level of fame, though his erratic behaviour and drinking worsened. His time in America cemented Thomas' legend, where he recorded to vinyl works such as A Child's Christmas in Wales. During his fourth trip to New York in 1953, Thomas became gravely ill and fell into a coma from which he did not recover. Thomas died on 9 November 1953 and his body was returned to Wales where he was buried at the village churchyard in Laugharne.

Although writing exclusively in the English language, Thomas has been acknowledged as one of the most important Welsh poets of the 20th century.

18

Statue of D. Thomas in Swansea Dylan Thomas birthplace

Introduction

I'd like to present you a project as the result of my work in the 9-th form.The title of the project is “Wales and its people at a glance”. Why have I chosen this country?

Well, first of all, I'm interested in foreign languages and in history. English is one of my favourite subjects at school. So, everything which is connected with the UK interests me a lot: historic cities, international cultural events, customs and traditions, outstanding personalities.

Besides, I have heard that Wales has a rich history! I can be mistaken but I think that Wales is a special nation because of its geographical position, its history, ancient customs and interesting traditions. One of the aims of my project is to show the value, beauty and peculiarities of this nation. Another aim of my work is to collect information about Wales as much as possible and to present you a project giving different aspects of life in Wales: national emblems, a national character, a national costume, traditions, literature, places of interest.

As a result of my work I have made up a slide-film about Wales. It is a kind of a tourist guide “Welcome to Wales” for advertising this country as a tourist attraction.

My image of Wales

Every nation is special. What do I picture in my mind when I hear the word “Wales”?

First of all, I picture in my mind a land of high mountains, rocks, deep valleys, waterfalls and old castles.

The aspect I’d like to begin with is a geographical position of Wales. Now, have a look at the map, please! As you can see, Wales is one of the four parts of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is a small country, because it is only a quarter the size of Scotland.

The official name of this country is Principality of Wales. This name is often used, although the Prince of Wales has no power in Wales. The Welsh call their country Cymru. It’s a Welsh word which has the same root as “comrade, friend”. Wales is situated in the west of Great Britain. It is a peninsula washed by the Irish Sea in the north, the British Channel in the south and the St. George’s Channel in the west. When I think of Wales, I imagine a highland country. The Cumbrian Mountains cover most of the land. The Pride of Wales is Snowdonia, a region of high mountains. Snowdon is the highest mountain of England and Wales (1085 m). The climate is rather mild.

19

Every country has own symbols, so has Wales. Wales has got some national symbols. These are the leek and the daffodil. They are associated with St. David’s Day. St. David was a monk who lived on bread, water and leek. He died on the 1-st of March. Since that time the leek has become the national emblem for Wales and St. David has been the patron saint of Wales. Nowadays on the 1-st of March the Welsh all over the world celebrate St. David’s Day – the Welsh national holiday. There is a good tradition to wear leeks and daffodils on that day.

Another symbol of Wales is “The Welsh dragon”. It’s the national flag of Wales. On the national flag of Wales we can see a red dragon on a white and green background.

Wales has no any special arms, but it has a Royal Badge of Wales. The Welsh National Anthem “Land of my Fathers” was written in 1856. Its

authors are Evan James and his son James James from a small Welsh town Pontypridd where there is a monument to them.

I can’t imagine Wales without Welshmen living in this country. Wales is a place where national spirit and national pride are more intense than in any other part of the UK. I think that Wales is a special nation because all the history of Wales is a story of struggle. So, they are very proud to be the Welsh, to live in Wales and to speak their own language. The Welsh language is one of the Celtic languages spoken still in villages and small towns in north and west Wales. Besides, it is also spoken and taught in schools and colleges as the first language. More than that they have their own television channel (S4C) which transmits programmes in the Welsh language. According to statistics, 21 % of the population of Wales speaks Welsh.

Wales is often called “a Land of Song”. The Welsh people love folk music and poetry, singing and playing musical instruments. A lot of them play the harp. There are a lot of choirs in Wales. Nowadays Wales is a cultural centre that attracts a lot of poets, bards and singers. Every July there is a huge festival of music, poetry and folk dancing: it is the International Eisteddfod in Llagollen, North Wales. If you are interested in music and singing, you will really enjoy the International Eisteddfod.

I have found some information about a Welsh national costume. Nowadays there is no special costume for men but some girls still wear a national dress for music and dancing festivals. As you can see, it includes a high black hat, a petticoat, a bedgown, a white apron and a shawl . .

There is so much to see in Wales. If you go to Wales, visit and enjoy Cardiff, the capital of Wales.

As a tourist, you can visit the Cardiff Castle and Llandaff Cathedral. Cardiff is also famous for the National Museum of Wales and Cardiff University.

British literature is very rich. As for Wales, it is associated with such name as Roald Dahl, a well-known children’s writer. Wales is a birthplace of Dylan Thomas, a famous Welsh poet. In Wales you can see the White Rabbit Memorial which proclaims that Wales inspired Lewis Carrol to write his famous book “Alice in Wonderland”.

It is impossible to imagine Wales without old castles, deep valleys, daffodils, waterfalls and beautiful countryside. As a tourist, I would enjoy to discover Wales and its places of interest.

Wales is also called “the British National Park”. There are three National Parks there: Snowdonia in the north, the Pembrokeshire Coаst in the southwest and the Brecon

20

Beacons in the south. Together they cover about one fifth of the whole of Wales. People visit the National Parks to go walking, climbing, pony-trekking or just to enjoy the beautiful countryside.

7. Bibliography

1. “Customs, Traditions and Festivals of Great Britain”, T. Khimunina, N/ Konon, I. Walshe. L., “Prosveshcheniye”, 1974.

2. “English-speaking countries”. Страноведческий справочник: учебное пособие. – Саратов: Лицей, 2004. – (Серия “English”)

3. “Britain: the country and its people”, James O’Driscol. Oxford. University, Press, 2000.

4. “UK - Britain in Brief”, V. Oshchepkova, I. Shustilova, M., 19775. English G – Neue Ausgabe, Band A3 fur das 7. Schuliahr an Gymnasien. 6. Большой справочник для школьников и поступающих в вузы. – Английский

язык. «Дрофа». М., 2004.7. «Большая энциклопедия Кирилла и Мефодия» для общеобразовательных

учреждений РФ в 2-х томах. Электронное учебное пособие. 8. Информационные ресурсы Интернета:

www . visitbritain . com . ru . http :// images . yandex . ru / http://www.wales.com/ http://www.welsh-costume.co.uk/ http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_language http://www.omniglot.com/writing/welsh.htm

21