How do we celebrate this? There's, of course, the annual rant to make St David's Day a public holiday. (Which is having the same effect as the minority English lobby to recognise St George's Day as a public holiday on ... whenever it is)
We have a concert or even an Eisteddfod where due to the stereotypical nature of our country, the Welsh maffia seem to think that we all sit at home writing poetry, learning to recite a poem in unison or sing one melody while the accompanying instrument plays another.
I am very glad to say that despite my upbringing, being herded around schools, listening to endless partion cerdd dant, cyd addrodd and cyflwyniad dramatig I have still not been swayed that this is what we should be telling the whole world that we’re good at.
I think that every year a nation should have an opportunity to collectively celebrate it’s own identity. Take a look at our close Celtic friends the Irish. Later on this month, we'll all know about the St. Patrick's Day celebrations all over the world. It's rather scary that the pubs of Cardiff are already publicising special events where there's no equivalent for our Patron's saint's day.
I am very pleased to see that so many ex-pats, who are doing vital ambassadorial and missionary work in the countries around the world, seem to be able to express their Welshness in the same way that the Irish and other countries. Every year, Dr. George Guest would be invited to broadcast a Choral Evensong on Radio 3 which included a Welsh introit and anthem. Welsh Societies hold dinners and ask Welsh performers who have made an impact in the professional world to sing what they’re good at, and not what seen as “eisteddfodol”.
My cousin, Gwes, who lives in the “good old US of A” is typically understated in his celebration – “One proud Welshman, in a foreign land.” Bravo Gwes.
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