In our day and age it would seem we are inundated with every kind of summer festival; trance, drum and bass, punk; and it wouldn’t surprise me if they even had an ‘Opera-Electro Jazz for Cats’ Festival. But please someone tell me, what ever happened to the good old fashioned festivals?
Why have festivals turned into a drug fuelled orgy, full of 17 year old school kids wearing flourescent boob tubes, supping on a nasty looking bright blue drink (a miserable excuse for an alcoholic beverage I must say) and foaming at the mouth. These poor youngsters can not really enjoy stumbling around at a rave where no one can hear each other let alone realise their ears are bleeding from the disgusting example of music that has been screaming out of mammoth sized speakers.
Eisteddfod Festival Tent
The good news is that good old Wales has been the proud founder of just the festival I am looking for. Eisteddfod is a festival of literature, music and performance that dates back to at least the 12th century. The closest translation of the name of the festival, Eisteddfod, in English is ‘Session’ with the word being formed form s formed from two Welsh morphemes: eistedd, meaning “sit”, and bod, meaning “be”. It’s amazing What you can learn form Wikipedia! This incredible Welsh tradition combines family fun, with arts and crafts, food and drinks, and people having fun.
In the 20th century the festival was a way of showing off the best talented poets and musicians, for the rich to indulge in. The best poet would be awarded a silver chair! That’s what we need, more festivals that give away chairs to the winners, because let’s face it it’s always a bit rubbish when you forget to bring out your folding chair to a festival, and have to resort to getting a slightly damp bottom by sitting on the grass!
Now, the Eisteddfod Festival itself also combines incredible Welsh music, rock, folk and pop, where in the evenings the festival goers are whipped into a music frenzy (helped along by a few pints of Brains Beer of course!). Something you don’t see all that often is a festival that incorporates a good nightlife as well as interesting and cultural day events. But Eisteddfod is so very committed to displaying different aspects of art and performance that they even prepare ceremonies for the best writers and poets, where they are honoured in a colourful environment.
The 2012 National Eisteddfod is being held at the old Llandow airfield near Cowbridge, in the Vale of Glamorgan and it runs from August 4th-11th.
So, ladies and gentleman if you want to find yourself a date for this Welsh traditional Eisteddfod event, you have plenty of time. One good place to start to find yourself someone to take to the Eisteddfod is at this top rated Welsh Dating site – and remember it’s for Welsh people only!
