Proud Celts would rather the dragon
I AM fervently patriotic. From my house flies the most wonderful flag in the world – the Dragon of Wales. Its scarlet form comes alive in the wind.
Think on these few facts, my fellow Welsh men and women. The original Princess of Wales – Queen Elizabeth 1 – had the Red Dragon of Wales on her royal standard. It was permanently removed after her death.
Welsh history is both fascinating and thought-provoking. How many Welsh citizens realise that a terrible massacre took place at Abergavenny Castle? Welsh princes invited to a feast by the ruling Norman lords, who insisted that the princes leave their weapons outside. They were duly surrounded and murdered.
Subjugation and oppression continued for centuries. Our culture, ancient language and customs all forbidden.
My mother used to relate how she and her friends were forbidden to speak anything other than English in school, and if they were overheard outside the confines of their homes, speaking in their mother tongue, they underwent degrading forms of punishment. This, in the early part of the 1900s. In Brittany the Bretons are trying hard to hang on to their ancient Celtic ancestry. They are very fond of the Welsh people and feel a close friendship and ties to our nation and principality. Their dukedom also goes back in history, when it was selfgoverned. The Breton language is so similar to our Welsh. Many words and names are exactly the same.
However, like us they have struggled with oppression – we the Norman/English, they the Napoleonic French. We have been governed from London, they from Paris.
They have a slowly flourishing Breton Language Society whose members meet regularly members of our Welsh Language Society. There are a few schools that have the Breton language in the curriculum, unfortunately, unlike us the populace considers the history and traditions, including the language, as unimportant and not worth preserving, which I think is terribly sad. Some of their saints are also ours and were educated in Llantwit Major, St Illtyd being the most prominent among them.
They take an interest in the success (or failure) of our national rugby team. When not shouting for France, naturally they shout for Wales.
So as far as the Ring of Steel is concerned, I would prefer one of Caerphilly’s fabulous dragons defending Flint Castle.
We should be proud of our history, traditions and culture. We are, after all is said and done, a unique people. Cymru am byth.
Sandy Acathan Plusquellec, Brittany