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	When the term is used without qualification, it usually means the national gorsedd of ], Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain<ref>http://www.gorsedd.org/</ref> (Welsh: "the Gorsedd of Bards of the Island of Britain"). However, other gorseddau exist, such as the ] ]<ref>http://www.gorsethkernow.org.uk/</ref> and the ] ]<ref>http://www.gorsedd.com/</ref>.		When the term is used without qualification, it usually means the national gorsedd of ], Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain<ref>http://www.gorsedd.org/</ref> (Welsh: "the Gorsedd of Bards of the Island of Britain"). However, other gorseddau exist, such as the ] ]<ref>http://www.gorsethkernow.org.uk/</ref> and the ] ]<ref>http://www.gorsedd.com/</ref>.

			==Purpose==
	Gorseddau exist to promote literary scholarship and the creation of ] and ]. As part of this, their most visible activity is often the organising of ]au.		Gorseddau exist to promote literary scholarship and the creation of ] and ]. As part of this, their most visible activity is often the organising of ]au.

			==History==
	Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain was founded in ] by ], often known as ], who also invented much of its ritual, supposedly based on the activities of the ancient ] (although much of its modern ritual also has ] influence).		Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain was founded in ] by ], often known as ], who also invented much of its ritual, supposedly based on the activities of the ancient ] (although much of its modern ritual also has ] influence).

			==Ranks==
	There are three ranks of membership in the Welsh gorsedd. In ascending order of honour, they are:		There are three ranks of membership in the Welsh gorsedd. In ascending order of honour, they are:
	* ''ovates'', who wear green robes,		* ''ovates'', who wear green robes,
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	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>. This symbol, called "awen", is often explained as representing the ]<ref>http://www.gorsethkernow.org.uk/english/ceremony.htm</ref>.		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>. This symbol, called "awen", is often explained as representing the ]<ref>http://www.gorsethkernow.org.uk/english/ceremony.htm</ref>.

⚫	==Gorseth Kernow==
	{{main\|Gorseth Kernow}}

			==See Also==
	The Gorseth Kernow (Gorsedd of Cornwall) was set up by ] in 1928 at ], one of the early proponents of ] revival, who took the name "Gwas Myghal", meaning "servant of ]". He and twelve others were initiated by the Archdruid of Wales. It has been held every year since, excepting during ]. A thousand people have been Cornish bards, including ], ] ("Mordon") and ].
		⚫	]
		⚫	]

	The Gorseth Kernow has now been opened up to all forms of revived Cornish.

⚫	==Goursez Breizh==
	{{main\|Goursez Breizh}}
	Goursez Breizh is the national ] of ] ("Breizh" in ]). It often has delegates from the ] ] and ] in ].

	Theodore Hersart of Villemarqué (1815-1895) was the first Breton to be made an initiate by the Gorsedd of Wales. He took the bardic name 'Hersaty Kervaker'. He created a “Fraternity of the Bards of Brittany” (Breuriez Breiz) but this did not lead to the creation of a Gorsedd.

	==References==		==References==

Revision as of 07:53, 9 December 2007

A gorsedd (Template:PronEng) plural gorseddau, is a community of bards. The word means "throne" in Welsh. It is occasionally spelled gorseth (especially in Cornwall ), or Goursez in Brittany

When the term is used without qualification, it usually means the national gorsedd of Wales, Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain (Welsh: "the Gorsedd of Bards of the Island of Britain"). However, other gorseddau exist, such as the Cornish Gorseth Kernow and the Breton Goursez Breizh.

Purpose

Gorseddau exist to promote literary scholarship and the creation of poetry and music. As part of this, their most visible activity is often the organising of eisteddfodau.

History

Gorsedd Beirdd Ynys Prydain was founded in 1792 by Edward Williams, often known as Iolo Morganwg, who also invented much of its ritual, supposedly based on the activities of the ancient Druids (although much of its modern ritual also has Christian influence).

Ranks

There are three ranks of membership in the Welsh gorsedd. In ascending order of honour, they are:

ovates, who wear green robes,
bards, who wear blue robes, and
druids, who wear white robes.

The head of a gorsedd is known as an archdruid, and often wears a purple robe. The ranks within the Breton gorsedd are the same. In the Cornish gorsedd there is only one rank, that of bard, and all robes are blue.

In the Welsh gorsedd, a person may become an ovate or a bard by passing an examination in the Welsh language. Druids may only be nominated by existing druids. People are occasionally made ovates or druids as an honour to reward their contributions to Welsh culture. In recent years, Ron Davies, Rowan Williams, and Ioan Gruffudd have been honoured in this way.

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: /|\. This symbol, called "awen", is often explained as representing the sun.

References

Template:Wales-related topics Template:Celtic nations

Categories:

Revision as of 07:53, 9 December 2007

Purpose

History

Ranks

See Also

References