Cymru, (Wales) is an ancient land with a history that goes back into the mists of time itself. In his book "Hains Cymru" (A History of Wales), p.123, John Davies writes that Geoffrey of Monmouth, the second Bishop of St. Asaph's, in his book "Brut y Brenhinedd" (The Chronicle of the Kings), states that of the earliest of the Britons was Brutus, who fled from Troy after the Greeks had captured the city; thus the Britons share their origins with the Romans, for it was claimed that Rome had been founded by Areneas, who was also a Trojan. Brutus had three sons, Locrinus, Camber and Albanactus, and it is said that it was they who created the kingdoms of Lloegr (England) - Cymru (Wales) and Alba (Scotland). Today, these are still the Welsh names for those countries.

The Country of the Red Dragon is referred to as Cymru by its people, which means "The Land of Brothers", but by the English and others, it is called Wales (The Land of Strangers). Indeed, it was around the 1200's that the word Cymro (Welshman) replaced the ancient name of Brython the land of the Ancient Britons, thus increasing the consciousness of being people of Cymru rather than Brythonic. Nevertheless, the term Brython continued to be used by the Bards in their stories, poems and songs.
It has to be said at the outset, that my love of Cymru - the land of my birth - has to be seen within the context that, as Cymro (a Welshman), I am also a "World Citizen and firmly believe in the Unity and Oneness of All Mankind". I also believe that Unity between Races must and can be achieved. Hence, my first loyalty is to the whole of the Human Race. My Second loyalty is to my cultural homeland that has and continues to make me who and what I am - that is, part of the diversity of the whole, yet, both these loyalties - as I understand it - are inseparable, for all people are my brothers and sisters, regardless of race, colour or creed.
       
Cymru (Wales) is a land of mountains and valleys, of hills and coastlines with its West bordering onto England - the Land of the Anglo-Saxons. Yet, it is the very mountains themselves that have given Cymru it isolation and its love of independence and goes a long way in explaining its internal divisions that are as real today as they were at any time in its checkered and bloody history. Writing about Cymru, Owen M. Edwards, in his book wrote. "The inhabitants of the Welsh Mountains will ever be a separate nation-come they as a glacier stream from the north or as the lava torrents from the south. Whatever they are when they come, the mountains gradually and silently give them their own final character." - Owen M. Edwards, The Story of the Nation - Wales, 1901, p. 9.
Saint Non's Bay, Pembroke, West Wales
According to Owen Edwards, the name Iberian had been given to this land before the arrival of the Celts and though the Iberian man may not have been the first people to come to this land, they are most certainly the oldest surviving. Even today, the typical Welshman has the appearance of those who live around the Mediterranean, being short, dark and long skulled. They had no iron implements, only polished flint weapons.
Pentre Ifan - Near Newport, East Wales
The Celts followed in two waves, that of the Brythonic and the Goidelic. Both were tall, blue eyed and fair-haired and soon over ran the Iberians, subduing them as a master ruling over slaves. In time, there followed further invasions by the Roman, Normans, Flemish and the English. In more modern times came the seafarers from the middle and Far East and the Irish seeking work in the building of Cardiff Dock as well as peoples from the former British Empire. Gradually, they all added their colour and culture to this land of Bards and Song.
Nevertheless, Cymru still holds onto its culture and language, though the English made every attempts to distort it and confine it to the History books. Now today, in the 21st Century, Cymraeg, the Welsh Language is becoming an important part of the Welsh Identify as it continues to enrich its culture with many schools now teaching all subjects in the media of Welsh and English being taught as a second language. The media too, with both Radio and Television have their own Welsh Station and Channel with many publications and newspapers now in Welsh.
Another interesting fact is that the Welsh Flag is the only flag in the world today that flew around the time of the last millennium, though the background has changed, thus making it the oldest surviving flag in the world, a flag that is still much love and revered by all the peoples of Wales and her expatriates throughout the world. Other emblems include the daffodil and the leek. Indeed, it was Lloyd George, whilst Prime Minister of the UK Government, who was the first Welshman to wear a daffodil on St. David's Day (1st March). Today Daffodils are worn on March 1st.
Welsh Flags Ancient and Modern
       
Cymru was a land of Druid with their strange pagan rites and many gods. It is a land of Bards with a deep-rooted love of poetry and singing - a tradition that goes back into the inky darkness of time itself. It is a land with a mixture of the ancient and the modern. In more recent times, Wales can boast some great poets such as Dylan Thomas (1914-1953) Vernon Watkins (1906-1967) and R.S. Thomas to name but three. There are singers too, such as Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones - (The Voice) and Bryn Terfel the International Opera Singer). Wales has also produced its fair number of outstanding actors such a the legionary Sir Richard Burton. Sir Anthony Hopkins, Sian Phillips and Ioan Gruffudd and many more.
Dylan Thomas Poet / Ioan Gruffudd Actor
Welsh Princes
Owain Glyn Dwr & Llwelyn the Great
Click on pics to visit site on the Welsh Princes
Owain Glyn Dwr Day is 16th September. 2004 celebrates the 600 years since he established Wales first Parliament.
It is a land that is proud of its Welsh Princes of old, such as Owain of Gwenydd (died 1169). Owain became Prince of Wales, having successfully defended the realm of his father and his anticipated "Undod o Gymru" (the Unity of Wales). It then fell to his grandson, Llywelyn ap Iorweth ( Llewlyn I ), also known to history as Llywelyn the Great (died 1240) to finally establish this United Wales. His grandson, Llywelyn II (d.1282), whose descendants, through the line of his daughter Gwladus Ddu, were to sit on the English Throne. They were the Tudors - including, Henry VIII, Mary I, Elizabeth I and Edward VI, whilst Owain Glyn Dwr (d. around 1415), became the last Welsh Prince of Wales. Owain Glyn Dwr was also a descendent of the great Owain Gwynedd. It was the same Owain Glyn Dwr who established Wales' "Seneddol Cymraeg" her first Parliament, something the Welsh have been without until it was re-established with the newly elected Seneddol Cymraeg, in 1999 after a referendum.
Cymru is the land of stories and myths, of magic and romance such as are found in the Mabinogion. It is a land full of legends and tales of King Arthur and his knights, of Merlin, Dragons and enchanted lakes and pools. It is a land steeped in religions old and new, with many ruined castles, churches and ancient stone circles, dotted all over the land; all cherished by most people of this ancient land. As my colleague, Dewi Bowen says quoting Emyr Humhreys - in his introduction to his book,"Ancient Silurts, its old stone and ceremonial sites, 1992, p.13. "the affection of most Welshmen for their native 'Bro' or birthplace is something that has been apparent since the earliest Welsh literature.'
It is a land of rugged cliffs and golden sands, but above all else, it is Gwlad o Ddraig Goch, (the Land of the Red Dragon), its flag, emblem and protector. It is a Land of Heroes and Saints like Dewi Sant (Saint David Patron of Wales), of Saint Winifred and her Holy Well and of Tudfil the Martyr. The town of Merthyr Tydfil is named after her. It is a land that was once black with coalmines, but is once again turning green. It is a Land and a Nation of mix fortunes that has the ability to re-invent itself so as to survive from one generation to the next without losing sight of its past or of who they are. It is my land and the Land Of My Fathers before me, whose spirit runs through my veins.
The Brecon Beacon's National Park
It is a land that I left in 1972 to live in England, but was drawn back 19 years later and, like so many others, am now being inspired more than ever by the spirit of its ancient mountains as they gradually and silently change my character into its own. It is a Land that embraces all who come to these shores as expressed in its International Eisteddfod, a celebration of international cultural unity through the sharing of poetry, song and dance and held every other year.
 
Three Cliffs Bay - Gower - Swansea
Pictures from the 2003 Internationl Eisteddfod, held in Llangollen, North Wales, showing people from around the world. It is one of the greatest cultural events held every two years in Wales.
 
Cymru is a Land that is ever changing, moving forward, with Caerdydd (Cardiff), now Europe's newest capital. The new, Millennium stadium has focused the world's eyes on Wales as never before with International Rugby and Soccer matches being played there. Wales is awaking to the world; Draig Goch (the Red Dragon) is stirring and making itself known to all men. I am proud of my roots, to be part of this Ancient Land of Myths and Song; hence, I am happy to be known throughout the world of the internet simply as Cymro, the Welshman.
Caerdydd - Prifddinas o Gymru

I hope you found this of interest
Cardiff - Capital of Wales

Diolch yn fawr (many thanks) John (Cymro)

 

Words to the Welsh National Anthem

Anthem Genedlaethol Gymru

The Welsh National Anthem

Mae Hen alad fy Nhadau

The Land of my Fathers

     
Mae hen wlad gy nhadau yn annyu i mi,
 
The Land of my fathers, the land of my choice,
Gwald beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri,
 
the land in which poets and minstrels rejoice,
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra madd,
 
the land whose wtern warriors were true to the core,
Tros ryddid gollasant en gwaed.
 
While bledding for freedom of yore.
     
Cytgan
  
Chorus
Gwlad, Gwlad, pleidiol whf i'm gwlad,
  
Wales! Wales! Favourite land of Wales,
Tra mor yn fur i'r bur hoff bau,
 
While sea her wall may naught befall,
O bydded i'r hen iaith barhau.
  
To mar the old language of Wales.
     
Hen gymru fynyddig, Paradwys y bardd,
 
Old mountainous Cambrian, the Eden of Bards,
Pob dyffyn, pob clogwyn i'm golwg sydd hardd,
 
Each thill and each valley, excite my regards,
Trwy deimlad gwladarol, mor swynol yw si,
 
To the ear of her patriots who charming still seems,
Ei nentydd afonydd i mi.
 
The music that flows in her stream.
     
Os treisod y gelyn fy ngwald tau ei droed,
 
My country tho' crushed by a hostile array,
Mae he iaith y Cymru mor fyw ac eriod,
 
The language of Cambrian, lives on to this day,
Ni luddiwyn yr awen gan erchyll law brad,
 
The muse has eluded the traitor's foul knives
Na thelyn berseiniol fe ngwlad,
 
The harp of my country survives.