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Permalink Reply by Carl Morris on July 7, 2009 at 2:05

I'm just seconding your question, really. I'm sure there are people here who know more about this.

Just an isolated thought though: Eisteddfod culture is all about contests of singing, poetry, dancing and so on. It's not really pervasive gaming but maybe some aspects of the tradition would fit the bill, anyone know? Also check out the intriguing/strange custom of the Mari Lwyd.

Permalink Reply by Alex Fleetwood on July 14, 2009 at 4:08

Thanks for that Carl - Eisteddfods are definitely something I'm interested to explore, and the Mari Lwyd is... amazing. I really want to go to the Chepstow thing in January - NTW outing maybe?

Permalink Reply by Carl Morris on July 16, 2009 at 3:46

Chepstow's a BIG place (!) but I guess you mean

An interesting mixture of the Mari Lwyd and Wassail customs occurs in the border town of Chepstow, South Wales, every January. A band of English Wassailers meet with the local Welsh Border Morris Side, The Widders, on the bridge in Chepstow. They greet each other and exchange flags in a gesture of friendship and unity and celebrate the occasion with dance and song before performing the 'pwnco' at the doors of Chepstow Castle.

I know nothing of this custom (despite my surname).

Before that there's the National Eisteddfod in Bala in August.

Permalink Reply by Alex Fleetwood on July 20, 2009 at 10:27

Hey Carl, maybe we should organise a trip to go to the Eisteddfod? I'd really like to spend a day there if possible. You up for being our guide?