:Traditional festival days of Wales
{{Short description|Days of festivities in Wales}}
{{Culture of Wales}}
Various traditions are practiced on certain days of the year in Wales both currently and historically, including festivities originating in Welsh, Celtic, English and Christian cultures.
History
As recorded in the Laws of Hywel Dda, the three main holidays (gwyliau) of the medieval Welsh kingdoms were Christmas (Nadolig), Easter (Pasg), and Whitsuntide (Sulgwyn).Wade-Evans, Arthur. Welsh Medieval Laws, p. 2. Oxford Univ., 1909. Accessed 31 Jan. 2013.
Other important holidays were the feasts of St Patrick (Gwyl Badric) on 17 March; St. Quiricus (Gwyl Giric) on 16 June; the Beheading of John the Baptist (called in Welsh Gwyl Ieuan y Moch {{ndash}} St. John of the Swine {{ndash}} as it was the day the pigs were turned out into the woods to forage through the winterRoberts, Sara E. [https://books.google.com/books?id=U5CK1a64M0IC&pg=PA332 Llawysgrif Pomffred: An Edition and Study of Peniarth MS 259B]. Brill, 2011. Accessed 31 Jan 2013.) on 29 August; St Michael (Gwyl Fihangel) on 29 September; and the Calends of Winter (Calan Gaeaf) on 1 November, All Saints' Day (yr Holl Saint).Wade-Evans, Arthur. Welsh Medieval Laws, p. 343. Oxford University, 1909. Accessed 31 Jan 2013. A special drink called the "liquor of the Apostles" (gwirawd yr ebestyl) was brewed for and distributed on these saints' days.Wade-Evans, Arthur. Welsh Medieval Laws, p. 341. Oxford Univ., 1909. Accessed 31 Jan. 2013.
Modern celebrations calendar
{{For|existing public holidays observed in Wales|Public holidays in the United Kingdom#Dates in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales}}
Festivals no longer widely celebrated
These are festivals that were once widely celebrated in Wales but are no longer so.
Gŵyl Fair y Canhwyllau, or Candlemas, usually on the 2 February, literally translates as "Mary's Festival of the Candles" marks the presentation of Jesus at the Temple. It is based upon the account of the presentation of Jesus in Luke 2:22–40. It falls on the 40th day (postpartum period) of and the conclusion of the Christmas–Epiphany season.{{Cite book |last=Knecht |first=Friedrich Justus |url=https://archive.org/details/apracticalcomme00knecgoog |title=A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture |publisher=B. Herder |year=1910 |page=[https://archive.org/details/apracticalcomme00knecgoog/page/n452 410] |language=English |quote=We keep a feast on the 2nd of February, forty days after Christmas, in memory of our Lord's Presentation in the Temple. This feast has several names. First, it is known as the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord Jesus. Secondly, it is called the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. But the usual and popular name for this Feast is Candlemas-day, because on this day candles are blessed before Mass, and there takes place a procession with lighted candles. Candles are blessed and lighted on this particular feast. |access-date=27 December 2016}}
Whitsun, or the celebration of Pentecost, is a traditional Church festival that was observed with a statutory bank holiday in late May. The link with the formal Whitsun date (which moves with Easter) was broken and replaced by a late May bank holiday fixed to the end of the month.{{cn|date=February 2023}}
Locally, each parish celebrated a Gŵyl Mabsant in commemoration of its native saint. This annual celebration developed from a dedication through prayer to a programme of recreational activities.{{Cite web |title=The forgotten festivals of Wales |url=https://museum.wales/articles/1367/The-forgotten-festivals-of-Wales/ |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Museum Wales |language=en}}
Calan Mai (or Calan Haf) is a May Day celebration on 1 May, marking the first day of summer, and one of the traditional fire festivals.{{cite web |title=Welsh May Day customs |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/wales/entries/2bf9a235-94cb-301c-ac8c-011f6213715d |website=BBC |access-date=4 February 2023 |language=en |date=30 April 2012}}
Gŵyl Ifan (St John's Day) on the 24 June is otherwise known as Midsummer's day.{{cite book |last1=Owen |first1=Trefor M. |title=The Customs and Traditions of Wales: With an Introduction by Emma Lile |date=20 April 2016 |publisher=University of Wales Press |isbn=978-1-78316-827-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_ckmDAAAQBAJ |language=en}}