Marriage and Family

In the past, a young man would signal his interest in a woman by carving a 'love spoon' for her, in anticipation of courtship. Today these elaborate love spoons are found in craft shops throughout Wales. Marriage is legal at 16, but most people marry in their mid-20s. Many young people live together before or instead of getting married.

Traditionally, Welsh families have been close, with many of the extended family living nearby and grandparents sometimes living in the same house. The nominal head of the household is the father, but the mother plays an equally important role in family affairs. Many women now work outside the home. Single-parent families are becoming more common, and divorce is increasing. More than two-thirds of houses are owner-occupied, higher than in England, Northern Ireland, or Scotland.

Eating

Welsh lamb—served with mint sauce—and salmon are famous, and there are some traditional Welsh dishes such as cawl (a soup made with vegetables, particularly leeks), bara lawr (bread made from seaweed and oatmeal), and bara brith (currant cake). However, the Welsh mainly eat a variety of foods common throughout the world. In recent years there has been an increase in health consciousness with regard to diet.

Most people eat cereal, toast and marmalade, and tea or coffee for breakfast. The midday meal is usually called dinner, sometimes lunch. The main meal, often consisting of meat or fish with vegetables, might be in the middle of the day or in the evening. On Sundays dinner is traditionally served in the middle of the day, and it often includes roasted lamb with mint sauce and vegetables. The evening meal is called supper, tea, or sometimes dinner. Tea can also refer to the traditional ritual of taking tea, cakes, and scones at around 4 pm. Table manners are similar to those in other parts of the United Kingdom.

Socializing

A firm handshake is usual when first being introduced, but is often dispensed with thereafter, unless one has not seen the person for some time. When meeting for the first time, a common greeting is “How d’you do?” or “Pleased to meet you.” On other occasions, “How are you?” may be used. Good friends, especially young people, use “Hello” and “Hi” to greet each other. Women who are close friends may kiss each other once lightly on the cheek; sometimes men also kiss women this way. Many women remain seated when being introduced and shaking hands. First names are widely used.

The Welsh enjoy visiting friends and neighbors, and often call without an invitation. If invited for a meal, however, it is considered impolite to arrive late.

Workingmen’s clubs are an important social base in many communities, and pubs (public houses, which serve alcoholic drinks and often food) are also popular places for relaxation. Full membership in workingmen’s clubs is restricted to men; women can be associate members.

Recreation

The national sport is Rugby Union, known as “football,” and international matches played at Cardiff’s National Stadium—known colloquially as Cardiff Arms Park— are high points of the sports calendar. Soccer and cricket are also played, and people enjoy a range of sports from walking and sailing to darts, lawn bowling, and fishing.

Watching television is one of the main recreational activities. There are cinemas and arts centers in most large towns. The Royal National Eisteddfod (an arts festival and social gathering) is held every year during the first week of August, alternately in the north and south of Wales. The festival is conducted in Welsh. The International Eisteddfod takes place in Llangollen in July. There is also an annual, week-long Eisteddfod for young people. There is a strong Welsh tradition of singing, both formally in choirs and informally on such occasions as rugby matches.

Holidays and Celebrations

Wales has the same national holidays as England, including New Year’s Day (1 January), Easter (Good Friday through Easter Monday), May Day (first Monday in May), the spring and summer bank holidays, Christmas Day (25 December), and Boxing Day (26 December). Boxing Day comes from the old British tradition by which servants and tradespeople went around on the day after Christmas to collect tips and bonuses in small earthenware boxes. It is now a day for relaxing and visiting friends.

Saint David’s Day (1 March), which celebrates the nation’s patron saint, is not an official holiday but is a day of special dinners and other events. On Saint David’s Day, people wear a leek or daffodil, which together form the national emblem, on their clothing. In 1959 Queen Elizabeth II gave Wales its official flag—a red dragon passant on a green and white background—and this is now widely displayed with pride.

Source: Encarta Interactive World Atlas

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