If there’s one essential date in the cultural and social calendar of the people of Wales, then the National Eisteddfod of Wales is it! The National Eisteddfod is, arguably the most important of many of the eisteddfodau or “festivals” that take place up and down the country each year.

An Eisteddfod is a true celebration of all things Welsh, and all the things we love about Wales. It’s a celebration of our history and culture, and at it’s heart is the competitions for poetry, song, dance, literature, verse and art.

The origins of the Eisteddfod can be traced back to medieval times, but the festival as we know it first opened it’s doors to the people of Wales in 1861, when the very first National Eisteddfod of Wales was held in Aberdare, South Wales. The event was a huge success, and so it has been repeated every year since then – with only one year being missed – in 1940, during WWII the Eisteddfod wasn’t held for fears it would become a target for German bombs. Instead, a radio version was held.

The venue alternates each year between North and South Wales. This year the Eisteddfod is in the southern town of Abergavenny, and the festivities for 2017 are already scheduled on the beautiful island of Anglesey.

Each year, the National Eisteddfod of Wales attracts some 160,000 visitors, so it’s a huge boost to the economy of the host town. An area close to the town is transformed into the festival village, with tents, pavilions, marquees and booths erected to create the main maes (“field”). As well as the competitions, there are also gigs by Welsh bands, parties, a dance hall, a theatre and a science and technology pavilion – to name a few of the other activities and events that take place over the week. The chairing and crowning ceremonies (where the winners in each of the competition categories are officially crowned) are one of the highlights of the week, and are presided over by the current Archdruid.

This year, the Eisteddfod is on between the 29th July and the 6th August, and there’s so much to see and do there it isn’t one to miss! You can find out more information on this most wonderful and traditional of Welsh events at www.eisteddfod.wales

See you on the maes!