Maybe I was a bit rash agreeing to give the Toast to Wales at a St. David’s Day dinner, but I figured that with the help of all you fantastic folk on the Forum, we could pool some fresh stories, little-known facts, tall tales and funnies to spice-up a suitable Toast to Wales. Calling all proud SSiWelshers–can you help please?
To round it off–can anyone suggest an appropriate Welsh word or phrase to accompany raised glasses for the Toast itself?
Maybe some of you reading this have made a similar promise to offer the Toast to Wales–or would like to start that tradition at your ‘local’ whatever, so let’s see what we can come up with!
I don’t know if it’s of any use to you, but I was told this little tale (I’m not sure if it’s 100% true, but I kind of hope it is!)…
A certain Welsh singer was asked by some Englishmen how they should say ‘cheers’ in Welsh. Unfortunately, their accents were rather posh and the singer thought they had asked him how to say ‘chairs’ in Welsh… so he told them, and they then spent the rest of the evening raising their glasses and saying ‘cadeiriau’ to each other!
Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon. O bydded i’r hen iaith barhau. (Referencing the last line of the refrain of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau which I assume will be sung.)
Translation:
A nation without a language, a nation without a heart.
O may the old language continue/endure.
I invite correction - I’m a beginner. @aran@Iestyn ?
I noticed you are a priest in Vancouver. (Beautiful city. ) Perhaps Grace in Welsh before Dinner?
Here’s a link to a much-used version which also provides the pronunciation at normal and slow speeds. www.kellogg.ox.ac.uk/discover/about-kellogg/history/college-grace
We do indeed have the national anthem, daffodils everywhere, some folk in costume, Welsh poetry and songs, suitable entertainment and a delicious dinner—even Welsh whiskey for those so inclined.
So how is St. David’s Day celebrated where you are?
Your dinner sounds excellent. It’s wonderful to think of Welsh culture/traditions being celebrated 4600+ miles from Wales. The Welsh whisky will almost certainly come from Penderyn, a village in the foothills of the Brecon Beacons National Park, just a few miles from my home town. There’s also a smaller distillery near Llandysul (not far from Aberteifi/Cardigan) which has a Gaelic name - Dà Mhìle - Gaelic for ‘2000’.
I live in London which has a wide range of events ranging from an informal party at the London Welsh Centre, a London Welsh Male Voice Choir concert at Central Hall, Westminster to a black tie Dinner at the magnificent medieval Guildhall in the City of London. (There have been eight Welsh Lord Mayors of the City of London, most recently in 2007 - the 680th.)
Other suggestions?
Provide the words of Calon Lân, always a favourite. Everyone knows the tune. They’ll sing with hwyl - perhaps tinged with hiraeth.
A fact about the Welsh anthem - the first ever record in the Welsh language was made in 1899 when Madge Breese recorded ‘Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau’ in London for the Gramophone Company. She was a singer from Porthmadog and is buried in Penrhyndeudraeth. You can hear it here: http://delwedd.llgc.org.uk/delweddau/xcd/xcd00301.mp3
PS - she didn’t record it because it was the national anthem as it wasn’t taken up as the anthem 'til the middle of the 20th century, it was pure luck that it was the first song she sang!
You ‘London Welsh’ sound like you really have a wonderful society, sense of community, famous alumni and a fabulous venue for special celebrations.
Calon Lan—a must, thank you.
We sometimes have a harpist, or soloists, clog-dancing demos, and/or poetry-reading from one of Wales’ bards. I believe Vancouver is the only city in North America to have its own Cambrian Hall (which has a pub the Red Dragon of course in its basement). It may be modest by London standards, but once the beer starts flowing on international days… well, you can forget the miles and count the smiles.
But back to this Toast to Wales… I was at a Burns’ Night dinner last night, and it was quite spectacular, with great Toasts… Friends don’t let us be outdone on the pitch or off… so please, bring it on… more facts, fun and stories.
A book I find very useful for work which is packed full of interesting facts is this one: https://www.amazon.com/Reference-Wales-John-May/dp/0708312349
Although it is a little out of date (my copy was published 1994), it is still a goldmine for handy little snippets of trivia.
One obscure fact that’s not in there - at the Home International Regatta in 1985 (held at Holme Pierrepoint in Nottingham), the only gold medal won by Wales was in the Women’s Junior Sculls category
(Can’t see how that would be useful to you on the night, but I’m very proud of it!)
Siaron’s info on the Welsh National Anthem seems like an interesting topic for a short but interesting toast, especially if the anthem will definitely be sung at the event. You could give a brief history in your own words using Siaron’s resources?
Or maybe some interesting facts about Dewi Sant himself?
Here are some phrases which may be useful to you in general…
Mae’n fraint gen i gael siarad efo/gyda chi heno - it’s an honour to be speaking with you this evening/tonight
Diolch am y gwahoddiad i siarad efo/gyda chi heno - thank you for the invitation to speak with you this evening/night
Gawn ni godi gwydrad i Gymru - can we raise a glass to Wales
Gawn ni gyd sefyll i ganu’r anthem - can we all stand to sing the anthem
If you’re stuck for a fact about a certain thing in particular, give me a shout - otherwise it’s a bit difficult for a trivia-phile like myself to know where to start!
My friend who told me this same story actually named the certain Welsh singer (and I have forgotten who), and seemed to imply that he had it from the horse’s mouth. And this friend works at S4C (as do you, don’t you?). So it smacks of being authentic to me!
But reading these posts has been a great help so far and sent me hot on the trail of some good material. Also, I now have it on the authority of two of you that the Welsh for “chairs” is quite appropriate.
Talking of posh… I grew up in Splott—the butt of jokes even by the BBC when reading out requests to ‘Children’s Choice’ and ‘Two-way Family Favourites’. The ‘gurrls’ from the high school I attended also made fun of anyone coming from Splott—worse still Splott Road, Splott. Years later I read it was a contraction of ‘Bishop’s Plot’ because it used to belong to the Bishop of Llandaff. True or false, no matter because it has since been gentrified in varius movies and programmes so is now referred to as ‘Spleow’ that rhymes with an elongated pronunciation of ‘glow’.
Without even trying, I have become upwardly mobile, but to any other proud Splotttite here, let me say that if you stick to your original heritage, you are more likely to be treated to a free drink… Three times this has happened over the past 50 years—all in North America. The first in the Waldorf Astoria, the second in the very exclusive Prospectors’ Club and the third in a lodge in Wells Grey Park. On the first two occasions, guests at neighboring tables politely butted in, bowed and asked to shake the hand of anyone who was unafraid to say ‘I come from Splott’.
Funnily enough, although not originally from there, the singer who told me the ‘chairs’ story lived in Splott - I think maybe he still does! (I’m not on the music circuit these days, so haven’t chatted to him in a while).
) Perhaps Grace in Welsh before Dinner?
