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Description

Find out about the origins of Halloween in Wales
The spooky traditions of Halloween are often associated with North America, but could the roots of those traditions lie closer to home than we think?
Most people are aware that Halloween's origins lie in the northern European Celtic and pagan festival of Samhain. Fewer people are aware of the unique and macabre Welsh traditions of our very own that are precursors to what is now known as Halloween.

"Literally translated from the Welsh ‘Winter’s Eve’, Noson Galan Gaeaf originated from the ancient Celtic festival Samhain, which commemorated the end of the autumn and harvest season and the beginning of winter,"

Resources

paper or cardboard, preferably black. a black pen, scissors, white sheet, pumpkins or paper to draw pictures of pumpkins , ragged clothes

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zbkdcqt

Instructions

Draw a picture of a pig and some hounds on black cardboard or paper and cut out
For the Ledi Wen (white lady), one leader throws a sheet or white scarf over their head to make a ghost costume.
Make a Campfire - imitation out of logs, orange/red tissue paper etc. All the Cubs dress in rags and draw faces on pumpkins or draw pictures of pumpkins.
Sing songs and dance round the campfire holding pumpkins, then one leader comes in, dressed in black, holding the tailless black sow and shouts;

“Adref, adref, am y cyntaf, Hwch Ddu Gwta a gipio’r ola!’’
“Home, home, at once, the tailess black sow will catch the last!”

Other leaders hold hound cut-outs and chase the Cubs. The white lady comes in and chases the Cubs too, and they run out of the way. Repeat until all Cubs are caught

Tags

• halloween
• welsh

Badge Links

• World - Foreign game