Guest article – Eisteddfod
Traditionally, the Gorsedd proclaims the Eisteddfod’s intention to visit an area at least a year and a day before the beginning of the festival. This is when the List of Competitions is published, which includes information for anyone wishing to compete this year.
The Archdruid, the head of the Gorsedd, leads this traditional ceremony, and the chair of the local executive committee presents the first copy of the List of Competitions to the Archdruid. Once the list has been presented, the competitions will be made public and copies will go on sale in shops across Wales as well as at the event itself.
In line with tradition, a procession is held in early afternoon, including representatives from a wide range of local organisations and Gorsedd Cymru, to welcome the Eisteddfod to the area, and to welcome the area to the Eisteddfod.
A group of children from the area will also be taking part in the ceremony, performing a colourful dance based on the patterns of collecting flowers from the meadows and fields.
Gorsedd ceremonies form a part of the much wider Eisteddfod festival which is a colourful, welcoming, friendly and inclusive celebration of our language and culture.
There’s a warm croeso for large and small groups to join us – there were over 600 people in the Proclamation procession in Rhondda Cynon Taf last year!
The Eisteddfod is a warm, colourful and inclusive festival and we want our procession to reflect this, so we’re encouraging groups to create banners to carry when walking.
Get in touch if you’d like one of the team to come to chat to your group, school or society about the Eisteddfod or the Proclamation. email us for more information, gwyb@eisteddfod.cymru.
You can also register to join the procession here.
