A Gŵyl Mabsant (Welsh for "Feast of the Patron"), also known as the patronal festival or Wake of a parish,[1] is a traditional Welsh festival held annually in commemoration of the patron saint of a parish. Prior to 1752, the corresponding fair was reckoned by the Saint's Day according to tradition or to the official Catholic or Anglican Calendar of Saints; following the shift to New Style dating, however, the fair was reckoned eleven days later.[1] (For example, St. Teilo's Fair in Llandeilo was originally held on 9 February but came to be held on the 20th.[1]) By the 19th century, the fair often began on the following Sunday and then lasted between three days and a week.[1]
By that time, the Reformation had already removed the religious solemnities formerly observed and replaced them with programmes of recreational activities.[1] Owing to the combination of betting, feasting, and drinking, parish festivals built up a reputation for their rowdiness.[2][3] The local, rural nature of the fairs also occasioned many variations in the rules of the contests, leading to disagreements between parishes.[2][3] The fairs had mostly died out by the 1860s.[1]
Customs
- Cockfighting: Birds were specially trained for the contest and the owner of a victorious cockerel was held in high esteem; large amounts of money could be wagered on the outcome of the fights.
- Grinning Matches: For old women
- Eating Hot Pudding
- Bando: A team sport, similar to the modern game of field hockey; teams used clubs to strike a ball towards a goal. It continued in some areas until the late 19th century and was particularly popular in Glamorgan.
See also
- List of Welsh saints, including their feasts
- Patronal festival
References
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