Gŵyl Mabsant facts for kids
A Gŵyl Mabsant (which means "Feast of the Patron" in Welsh) is a traditional Welsh festival. It was held every year to celebrate the special patron saint of a local area called a parish. These festivals were also known as patronal festivals or Wakes.
Long ago, before the year 1752, the date of the festival was based on the saint's official day. After 1752, the date shifted by eleven days. For example, St. Teilo's Fair in Llandeilo used to be on February 9th but then moved to February 20th. By the 1800s, the fair often began on a Sunday and lasted for three days to a week. Over time, the religious parts of the festival changed because of the Reformation. They were replaced with fun activities and games. Most of these fairs had stopped by the 1860s.
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Fun Activities and Games
Gŵyl Mabsant festivals were a time for communities to gather and enjoy various activities. These events often included games and competitions that brought people together.
Traditional Games and Sports
- Bando: This was a team sport, much like modern field hockey. Teams used clubs to hit a ball towards a goal. Bando remained popular in some areas, especially in Glamorgan, until the late 1800s.
- Grinning Matches: These were contests where older women would make funny faces.
Historical Competitions
- Cockfighting: This involved specially trained birds fighting each other. The owner of the winning bird was highly respected. People would often bet money on which bird would win.
Food and Treats
- Eating Hot Pudding: A popular and tasty activity was eating hot pudding. This was a simple but enjoyable part of the festival.
