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Revision as of 06:40, 11 August 2019 editWaterborough (talk | contribs)231 editsNo edit summary← Previous edit Latest revision as of 21:21, 10 September 2023 edit undoJnestorius (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers77,729 edits #REDIRECT Gorsedd Cymru{{R from short name}} -- (1) as both article and Whatlinkshere confirm, most use of "Gorsedd" refers to Gorsedd Cymru, not any other gorseddau (2) this article gives virtually no info not already in Gorsedd CymruTag: New redirect 
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#REDIRECT ]{{R from short name}}
{{Infobox Organization
|name = <big>Gorsedd y Beirdd</big><br>''<small>''Gorsedd of Wales''</small>''
|image = Tribann.svg
|caption = ''] of Iolo Morganwg.''
|size = 120px
|abbreviation = Gorsedd
|formation = {{start date|1792|df=y}}
|headquarters = ]
|type = ]<BR>]
|founder = ]
|leader =
|website =
}}
A '''gorsedd''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|ɔr|s|ɛ|ð}} plural ''gorseddau'', is a community or meeting of modern-day ]s. The word is of Welsh origin, meaning "throne". It is often spelled '''gorsedh''' in ] and '''goursez''' in ], reflecting the spellings in the ] and ] languages, respectively.

When the term is used without qualification, it usually refers to the national Gorsedd of ], namely ''Gorsedd y Beirdd'',<ref></ref>. However, other gorseddau exist, such as the ] ]<ref></ref> and the ] ].<ref></ref>

==Purpose==
] (])]]

Gorseddau exist to promote literary scholarship and the creation of ] and ].<ref>Hanes Gorsedd y Beirdd Geraint & Zonia Bowen; Barddas 1991</ref> As part of this, their most visible activity can be seen at ]au – Welsh language festivals.

==History==
]) in 1906]]
Gorsedd Cymru originally founded as Gorsedd y Beirdd Ynys Prydain in 1792 by Edward Williams commonly known as ], who also invented much of its ritual, supposedly based on the activities of the ancient ] ].<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725182049/http://www.gorsedd.org/hanes.php |date=2010-07-25 }} – Hanes (History). Accessed 5 December 2009. Welsh language page only.</ref> Nowadays, much of its ritual has ] influence, and were given further embellishment in the 1930s by Archdruid Cynan (1950–1954).{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} Gorsedd Cymru or then known as Gorsedd y Beirdd made its first appearance at the Eisteddfod at the Ivy Bush Inn in Carmarthen in 1819, and its close association with the Festival has remained. It is an association of poets, writers, musicians, artists and individuals who have made a significant and distinguished contribution to Welsh language, literature, and culture.

The fictitious origin of these ceremonies was established by Professor G.J.Williams in works touching on Iolo Morganwg.<ref>Traddodiad Llenyddol Morgannwg, 1948</ref>

==Ranks==
There are three ranks of membership in the Welsh Gorsedd. Until 2012 they were, in ascending order of honour:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/eisteddfod2008/sites/guide/history/pages/gorsedd.shtml|title=BBC Wales - Eisteddfod - Guide - What is the Gorsedd?|website=www.bbc.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-09-14}}</ref>
* '']'', who wear green robes,
* '']s'', who wear blue robes, and
* '']s'', who wear white robes.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929102642/http://www.gorsedd.org/urddo.php |date=2007-09-29 }} – Urddo (Order)</ref>

However, since 2012 all these ranks are treated as equal, with new members all being called 'Druids' and with the colour of their robes reflecting the area of their contribution rather than an ascending order of honour. The head of a Gorsedd is known as an '']'' (English: Archdruid), and wears a golden robe, and is elected for a term of three years, and is responsible for conducting the Gorsedd ceremonies during Eisteddfod week. These ceremonies are held to honour literary achievements amongst Welsh poets and prose writers. The ranks within the Breton Gorsedd (Goursez) are the same.

In the Cornish Gorsedd (Gorsedh Kernow), there is only one rank, that of bard, and all robes are blue.<ref name="gorsethkernow.org.uk"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206205704/http://www.gorsethkernow.org.uk/english/ceremony.htm |date=2010-02-06 }}</ref>

==Admission==
In the Welsh Gorsedd, a person may become an ovate or a bard by passing an examination in the Welsh language.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929102637/http://www.gorsedd.org/arholiadau.php |date=2007-09-29 }} – Arholiadau (Exams)</ref> Druids may only be nominated by existing druids. Often a new inductee will take a pseudonym, called a "]." To become an Archdruid, an individual must have won one of the Eisteddfod's three highest awards: the ], the ], or the Literature Medal. In 2003, ] (Robyn Llŷn) became the first winner of the Literature Medal to be elected Archdruid, and the first Archdruid to be elected by a vote of all Gorseddogion. ] was the first woman to become Archdruid of Wales.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-18563191|title=Woman archdruid for eisteddfod|date=2012-06-23|work=BBC News|access-date=2017-09-14|language=en-GB}}</ref>

People are also made ovates or druids as an honour to reward their contributions to ]. In 1946, the future ] was inducted into the Welsh Gorsedd at the ].<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310082638/http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/911 |date=2011-03-10 }}</ref> In recent years, ],<ref>His bardic name is Ron o ]</ref> ],<ref>; his bardic name is Rowan ap Neurin. </ref> ],<ref>His bardic name is Matthew Tâf. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220163040/http://www.eisteddfod.org.uk/english/content.php?nID=3 |date=2008-12-20 }}</ref> ]<ref></ref> and ]<ref>{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> have been honoured in this way.

==Ceremony==
Three Gorsedd ceremonies are held during the Eisteddfod week:<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/cymrufyw/28463489|title=Find out more about the druids and the gorsedd rituals|date=2017-07-06|work=BBC Cymru Fyw|access-date=2017-09-14|language=en-GB}}</ref>
* The Crowning (Coroni) of the Bard (awarded to the poet judged best in the competitions in free meter)
* The Awarding of the Prose Medal (for the winner of the Prose competitions)
* The Chairing (Cadeirio) of the Bard (for the best long poem in traditional strict metre).

During these ceremonies, the Archdruid and the members of the Gorsedd gather on the Eisteddfod stage in their ceremonial robes. When the Archdruid reveals the identity of the winning poet, the 'Corn Gwlad' (a trumpet) calls the people together and the Gorsedd Prayer is chanted (the Corn Gwlad symbolically calls everyone from the four corners of Wales). The Archdruid partially withdraws a sword from its sheath three times, and cries "''A oes heddwch''?" ("Is there peace?"), to which the assembly reply "''Heddwch''" ("Peace"). The sword is then placed fully back into its sheath, and hence is never drawn fully. Then the Horn of Plenty is presented to the Archdruid by a young local married woman, who urges him to drink the 'wine of welcome'. A young girl presents him with a basket of 'flowers from the land and soil of Wales' and a floral dance is performed, based on a pattern of flower gathering from the fields.

==Symbolism==
].]]
The symbol commonly used to represent a Gorsedd is a triple line, the middle line upright and the outer two slanted towards the top of the centre, thus: <tt>/|\</tt>.<ref></ref> This symbol, called "]", is often explained as representing the ].<ref name="gorsethkernow.org.uk"/> The word "awen" means "muse" in Welsh.

==See also==
{{wiktionary}}
* ] (includes a chronological list of Archdruids)
* ] (Cornish Gorsedd)
* ] (Breton Gorsedd)
* ]
* ]
*]
*]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Wales topics}}
{{Celtic nations}}

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Latest revision as of 21:21, 10 September 2023

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