#plygain

[merchymynydd]

Writing a blogpost for work on Welsh Festive Traditions (because everyone needs an excuse to post Mari Lwyd gifs for work)

but also getting distracted by Plygain

So Wales is reasonably known for singing and songing, right? Yes. And we love bursting into spontaneous group song, like, you know that video of the Lion King cast singing on an aeroplane? Get a pint in 'em and that is all of Wales. (I know this doesn't really count because they're already a choir but it's in a bar and they're singing the beaut of a song Pan Fo'r  Nos Yn Hir and I'm a sucker for it)

What we also are, is feral af. So over the festive period there would be a lot of rowdy nonsense (holly whips, Mari Lwyd and just generally getting drunk and loud) and everyone piling in to church (SO MANY churches and chapels in Wales: a place to hang out, gossip and sing? Of course there is) to sing for a few hours at 3am so we can pretend we're pious and worshipful when really we're all showing off our wonderful voices, tight harmonies and how well we've improvised local place names into the hymns.

So Plygain is an early morning worship (kind of Catholic Midnight Mass style) usually Christmas morning. People would stay up the night before making cyflaith and decorating the house, then would walk together with candles (Plygain Candles) to the church. The Candles would be used to light the church which, atmospheric or what? And then the vicar would do a short (very short) sermon before letting the singing start.

Different groups, duets, soloists etc would slowly rock up to the front in no particular order and sing a song. They would make a point not to sing anything that had already been sung but there would be no order of service or the like. Just all off the cuff job. So the no repeating of songs was a point of pride.

And the songs, kind of carols but not really because they're more like Prayers. They were collected in Llyfr Y Plygain ("Book of Prayers") and like mentioned above some would be adapted to mention local place names or farms or people (Like, Carol Wil Cae Coch) and then they got made... canon... I guess?

I mean the whole thing is very on brand for Welsh Christmas really.

Also note the word Plygain was first clocked in 13th Century Welsh manuscripts which, like, old! Really old shit!

Here's a lovely bit of Plygain singing to get distracted by. Croeso pal!

[celticstudies]

plygain time today :)

[celticstudies]

falle mod i'n mynd i wasanaeth plygain gydag un o fy ffrindie yr wthnos 'ma!!

[cardiffwow]

Four Welsh Christmas songs you can't miss

By Denise Puca

Most of the well-known Christmas songs are English, which are often translated into other languages. But Wales has a strong tradition of original songs, covering all the genres and tastes.

The Tŷ Cerdd (Music Centre Wales) has a wide collection of Welsh music, including a series of typical Christmas songs. Caio Higginson, IT Officer and main responsible of the Welsh Music Information section, suggests four songs you will love.

O Deued Pob Cristion (O Let Every Christian Come)

This song is generally sung during the Plygain service. As Higginson explain, “the Plygain is the Church service which takes place between 3 and 6 am on Christmas days. It’s typical of the east midlands, such as Llangynog, even though you may find other churches performing it in Wales.”

Suai’r Gwynt (Gentle Breeze).

Another Plygain soft song, which is about Mary using the “gentle breeze” to make Child Jesus sleep.

Noson oer Nadolig (Christmas cold night)

Unlike the other ones, this is a modern song by Meic Stevens, a Welsh rock legend, often called “the Welsh Dylan” by local newspapers.

Preseb Betlehem (Bethlehem’s manger)

A traditional song for children, usually taught at schools or sung in churches.

Tŷ Cerdd, Wales Millennium Centre, Bute Place, Cardiff.

http://www.tycerdd.org/

Photo by New Communication Officer, Flickr