Plygain – scribblah

Another Chorister.

Here’s another chorister from the Plygain I went to last week. It’s a performance of traditional Welsh Christmas carols, sung by Côr Aderyn Du, the Blackbird Choir.

The Choristers.

I went to a Plygain last week, it’s a performance of traditional Welsh Christmas carols, a bit late but the choir has been busy doing so many other things. Of course, I had to have a scribble.

Husb and I went to a Plygain this evening, a traditional Welsh Xmas celebration. Well, okay, it’s a bit late for Xmas, but the Blackbird choir, Cór Aderyn Du, had a hectic itinerary at Christmastide. I drew some of the choristers as they sang, it was interesting to sketch the contorted faces. The Plygain alsoContinue reading “Plygain Scribbles.”

Mari’s First Outing.

Husb and I have been making a Mari Lwyd from a flat pack kit for a while now. Quite a while, we began it during the first Covid lockdown!!! The past couple of weeks I’ve been down at Swansea Print Workshop printing some of the costume with one of my Mari Lwyd lino blocks andContinue reading “Mari’s First Outing.”

Plygain, Welsh Cakes And Three Mari Lwyds

Husb and I went to a Plygain celebration this evening which was interrupted by no less than three Mari Lwyds. It was a very 21st century mixture of Christianity and Paganism, good fun and lots of Welsh cakes. Grand. Of course, I had to have a quick scribble. A Chance To Own One Of MyContinue reading “Plygain, Welsh Cakes And Three Mari Lwyds”

Here Comes Mayhem

At the Plygain celebration over the weekend, after there had been plenty of Welsh carols sung and a break for tea and snacks, we had some surprise visitors. Some local Wassailers accompanied by the Coppertown Mari Lwyd (Mari Trecopr). We moved quickly from traditional Xmas hymns to Mari-led mayhem. The Mari Lwyd arrives with herContinue reading “Here Comes Mayhem”

Scribbling Singing

Here are a couple more sketches I did at the Plygain celebration last weekend in Swansea. Plygain is a Welsh language carolling tradition going back at least to the 13th century. It had almost died out but is now going through a healthy revival. In the past, families would have precious books of Plygain carolsContinue reading “Scribbling Singing”

Toffee Evening, Noson Gyflaith

I carried on sketching at the Welsh Plygain celebration, while all the rest sang. Traditionally, Plygain took place in church at around 3am on Xmas morning and ended at first light. People generally stayed up all night, doing all sorts of things to keep awake. One that was popular with younger people was the makingContinue reading “Toffee Evening, Noson Gyflaith”

Drawing The Singing

Husb and I went to a Plygain celebration this evening, a very traditional Welsh singing event. Plygain was at it’s height between the 17th and 19th centuries, although there is a mention of something similar in the Red Book of Hergest in the 13th century. But by the early 19th century opposition from the churchContinue reading “Drawing The Singing”