Page 8 - Ninnau Jan-Feb 2021

Welsh Society of Western Photos from the Welsh Society of Western

New England 2020 Christmas New England’s Christmas Zoom Gathering

Holiday Zoom Gathering

by Susan Jenkins Meers,
Vice President, Welsh
Society of Western New
England

Back by popular demand…
the 2020 Holiday Celebration of
the Welsh Society of Western
New England rang in the holi-
day season with an amazing
Zoom Christmas afternoon.
On December 5, 2020, over
60 members and friends of
WSWNE gathered at 2:00 p.m.
to greet our friends across the
USA, Canada and Wales and
share holiday cheer, Christmas
joy and Welsh pride. Glyn
Dowden, WSWNE Board
Member, and our resident Dylan Just a few of the 63 guests from OR, NC, WA, FL, PA, MA, CT
Thomas, led off by reading and so many more states plus Canada and Wales at the
from “A Child’s Christmas in Christmas-on-Zoom event
Wales,” followed by member
Straford Wild singing, Gower Annie Rodgers of Chicopee, a Welsh Fairy Reel with won-
Wassail. Andrea Wild Mass., also a Board Member derful Welsh clog steps by
(Straford’s sister), Nancy Jarell sang Suo Gan and Tua Bethlem Andrea. Dylan attended Trac's
and Jeff Lewis, all the way from Dref, beautifully rendered in Gwerin Gwallgo, a youth camp
Portland, Oregon, sang two Welsh. She was followed by for traditional Welsh folk music
Welsh plygain hymns, tradition- some reminiscences of members in Bala, Wales in Feb 2020.
ally sung at dawn in churches of their favorite childhood Our Christmas event came to Andrea Wild and friends Nancy Jarrell and Jeff Lewis,
across Wales on Christmas Christmas gifts. a successful close with member, who is President of the Oregon Welsh Society, are
morning, originating in Following a give-away of Jason Ellsworth singing “The members of The Welsh Dragon Choir based in Oregon.
Carmarthen in the 13th century. some holiday gifts, Phoebe Peace Carol.” by John Denver,
The two plygain were: “Ar Wild (Andrea’s 12 year old after which Annie Rodgers Andrea is a singer with Andrea Wild and the Bad
Gyfer Heddiw Bore” and daughter from Portland, spread Hiraeth across the USA, Wolves as well as the Celtic band The Stomptowners.
“Daeth Nadolig.” Board Oregon), played Nos Galan Canada and Wales with
Member Shirley Gilmartin, (Deck the Halls) on the harp, theWelsh National Anthem,
originally from south Wales followed by Andrea and son, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.
entertained us with a reading Dylan, with “Song Y Wassael,”
from Lanterns Across the Snow.
Celtic Cultural Celebration

2020

By Dale Richards

On Saturday, October 24,
2020, the Welsh, Irish and
Scottish Committees, members
of the University of Pittsburgh’s
Nationality Rooms Programs,
presented the first ‘Virtual’
event via Zoom about the cul-
tures of the three Celtic Nations.
Previously, the event would
have been presented to the pub-
lic at the Frick Fine Arts Center
on the University’s campus.
Unfortunately, because of the
Pandemic, and as with most
events this year, the program Welsh Nationality Room and Welsh New Year Carol. She
had to be presented virtually. In how it came to be dedicated as also spoke about MayDay folk-
th
a way, this made the program a the 27 room in 2008. lore in North and South Wales.
little more inclusive because in Jessica Davies, Vice-Chair of Our final presenter was Andrea’s son Dylan age 15, attended Trac's Gwerin
the past there was a time restric- the Welsh Committee, showed a renowned Welsh author, Jane Gwallgo, a youth camp for traditional Welsh folk
tion at the in-person event power point presentation which Blank, who invited us all into music in Bala Feb 2020.
which didn’t apply using the included photographs of the her 1830s home in Ceredigion,
new online format. Welsh room, a brief history of a mile from Cardigan Bay. Jane
It took a lot of planning from Wales and information on the introduced her new novel,
each committee. In the past, activities of the St. David’s ‘Nanteos, The Dipping Pool.’
only two or three performances Society of Pittsburgh. She recit- She also did a Q+A session with
could take place and now we ed a poem in Welsh by John those who were watching live.
had to find a new and different Hughes, ‘Mountain Stream’ and Jane was joined by husband Jem
way to present our unique cul- described the tradition of poets Randles.
ture. taking on bardic names. I hope you will find time to
We had a great amount of Jen Jones produced a video enjoy some of these perfor-
help with the staff at the which told of her passion for mances as my summary doesn’t
Nationality Rooms and others at Welsh quilts triggered by quilts do them justice.
the University who worked with in her Massachusetts home. She We received many fine com-
us to make the event possible. moved to Wales and opened her ments from viewers, one in par-
We held virtual rehearsals. Welsh Quilt Center in 1971. ticular from Cristina Lagnese
Many thanks to Cristina Rev. Robert Dayton, said, ‘It was a brilliant experi-
Lagnese, Sage Levy, Elizabeth President of the St David’s ence for all of us in the audience
Myers, Sue Borowski and Bill Society of Pittsburgh, recited a to listen to your presenter’s
McShane for their expertise. poem written by R.S. Thomas, knowledge of history, oral pre-
The final program consisted renowned Welsh poet and sentations of story telling and
for three, 2-hour sessions by Anglican priest, entitled, ‘Welsh poetry, and beautiful music.
each committee, presenting History’. Bob then narrated the We’ve learned so much together
videos and live performances. story of ‘Cadwalader and His and I’m proud to work with all
Readers who would like to Goats,’ which explains why of you.’
watch the program can do so on there are so many sheep in
the University’s Global Hub Wales and not so many goats!
website: The narration was accompanied
www.globalhub.pitt.edu/celtic by a puppet show put on by Bob
-culture-celebration-2020 and his son and daughter-in-
Our Celtic Cousins, the Irish law.
and Scottish had great presenta- Ruthanne Ankney gave a live a
tions. Here is a summary of the performance of a Welsh Sea
Welsh program. I gave an intro- Shanty, ‘Tommy’s Gone Away’
duction about the history of the and ‘Levi Drew’ which is a Andrea’s daughter Phoebe, 12, is learning to play the harp.

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Page 8 NINNAU - The North American Welsh Newspaper January-February 2021