There are 4 times the amount of sheep than there are people in wales. Wales has the most castles in one country than any other in the world. K, Q, V and Z are letters not seen in the Welsh language.
A third study, published in 2020 and based on Viking era data from across Europe, suggested that the Welsh trace, on average, 58% of their ancestry to the Brittonic people, up to 22% from a Danish-like source interpreted as largely representing the Anglo-Saxons, 3% from Norwegian Vikings, and 13% from further south in ...
The most common surname in Wales and one of the most prolific in the world. In 1913, the phrase 'keeping up with the Joneses' was coined, and today means to try and outdo your neighbour.
Today, Wales is seen as a Celtic nation. The Welsh Celtic identity is widely accepted and contributes to a wider modern national identity. During the 1st centuries BC and AD, however, it was specific tribes and leaders which were named.
Dishes such as cawl, Welsh rarebit, laverbread, Welsh cakes, bara brith (literally "speckled bread") or the Glamorgan sausage have all been regarded as symbols of Welsh food. Cawl, pronounced in a similar way to the English word "cowl", can be regarded as Wales' national dish.
What is the national drink of Wales? Perhaps a trickier question to answer, Penderyn whisky is the most famous Welsh spirit, and perry and cider have certainly gained in popularity, but beer is considered by most to be the national drink of Wales.
Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon. This is one of Wales' most famous proverbs and means 'a nation without a language is a nation without a heart'. It is pronounced phonetically as 'ken-edl heb yayth, kenedl heb gal-on'.
Instantly recognisable thanks to its bright yellow petals, the daffodil is considered the national flower of Wales.
Cambria is a name for Wales, being the Latinised form of the Welsh name for the country, Cymru. The term was not in use during the Roman (when Wales had not come into existence as a distinct entity) or the early medieval period.
Cawl. Dating back to the 14th century, cawl, also known as 'lobscows' in areas of North Wales, is a hearty stew of lamb and seasonal vegetables that is considered to be the national dish of Wales. Usually accompanied by slabs of fresh bread, it's the perfect meal to warm up during a frosty Welsh winter.
Welsh is one of the oldest languages in Europe.
It evolved from Brythonic, the main language spoken in Wales, England and Southern Scotland when the Romans invaded in 43AD. Welsh began to emerge as a distinctive language sometime between 400 and 700 AD – early Welsh poetry survives from this period.
Wales was the powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution, the cradle of the workers' rights movement and the birthplace of the National Health Service. All are sources of fierce pride. We're well known for our castles, which number more than 600.
Y NADOLIG (Christmas):
The custom in many parts of Wales was to attend a very early church service known as “Plygain” (daybreak), between 3am.
Siôn Corn: Is literally translated as 'Chimneypot John', or the 'bloke that comes down the chimney' and is the Welsh Father Christmas or Santa Claus.
Welsh lamb, beef and produce from the sea
Welsh lamb is justifiably world famous, farmed on the lush mountains and valleys. Our cattle farming produces Welsh beef, most notably from the Welsh black cattle. Both Welsh lamb and beef have Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status.
The Encyclopedia of Wales states that the sport of rugby union is "seen by many as a symbol of Welsh identity and an expression of national consciousness". The Welsh national rugby union team takes part in the annual Six Nations Championship and the Rugby World Cup.
In Wales sport plays a prominent role, with rugby union, association football, and outdoor recreation considered the most popular.
Physical characteristics of Welsh people include black or ginger hair, blue or green eyes, and a slightly below average height. Stereotypical character traits that are associated with Welsh people include that they are good singers, obsessed with rugby, proud and nationalistic, friendly and jokey, and country bumpkins.
So, who are the Welsh? The early settlers of Wales are believed to be descendants of the Beaker culture, mixed with immigrants coming from what is now Ireland (Celts) and the Basque country in Northern Spain.
Welsh developed from the Celtic language known as Brythonic or Brittonic. The two most closely related languages are Cornish and Breton.