The banner of Owain Glyndŵr is associated with Welsh nationhood.[4] the image of the lions were used by Welsh forces within battles during Glyndŵr's battles against the English, includes four lions on red and gold. The standard is similar to the arms of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (Llywelyn the Last), the last Prince of Wales before the conquest of Wales by Edward I of England. The design may also be influenced by the arms of Glyndwr's parents, both of whom had lions in their arms.[5] There's no evidence to suggest this was ever used as a flag, but they are used today on public buildings.
The Red Dragon (Welsh: Y Ddraig Goch) of Wales is a symbol of Wales that appears in "Cyfranc Lludd a Lleuelys", Historia Brittonum, Historia Regnum Britianniae, and the Welsh triads. According to legend, Vortigern (Welsh: Gwrtheyrn) King of the Celtic Britons from Powys is interrupted whilst attempting to build fort at Dinas Emrys. He is told by Merlin/Ambrosius (Welsh: Myrddin) to dig up two dragons beneath the castle. He discovers a red dragon representing the Celtic Britons (now Welsh) and a white dragon representing Anglo-Saxons (now English). Merlin/Ambrosius prophesies that the Celtic Britons will reclaim the island and push the Anglo-Saxons back to the sea.[9][10] As an emblem, the red dragon has been used since the reign of Cadwaladr, King of Gwynedd from around 655AD and is present on the national flag of Wales, which became an official flag in 1959.[2]
The badge represents the Duke of Cornwall or Heir Apparent of the British monarchy (commonly known as the Prince of Wales's feathers).[14] It consists of three white feathers emerging from a gold coronet and the German motto Ich dien (I serve). Several Welsh representative teams, including the Welsh rugby union, and Welsh regiments in the British Army (the Royal Welsh, for example) use the badge or a stylised version of it. There have been attempts made to curtail the use of the emblem for commercial purposes and restrict its use to those authorised by the Prince of Wales.[15] The use of the emblem to symbolise Wales is controversial, such as its use by the Welsh rugby union.[16][17][18][19]
The leek is the national emblem of Wales.[20] According to legend, King Cadwaladr of Gwynedd ordered Welsh soldiers to identify themselves by wearing the leek on their armour in an ancient battle.[21]
The red kite is sometimes named as the national symbol of wildlife in Wales.[24]
Welsh Language
The Welsh language is considered a symbol and icon of Wales and considered a "cornerstone of Welsh identity". Spoken throughout Wales by around 750,000 people, it is present on television, radio, road signs and road markings.[25]
Welsh mottos
"Cymru am byth" ("Wales forever") is a popular Welsh motto.[26]
"Y Ddraig Goch Ddyry Cychwyn" ("the red dragon inspires action"[31] / "the red dragon shall lead")[30] appeared on the Royal Badge of Wales when it was created in 1953[32] until 2008.[28] It also appeared on £1 coins as the motto of Cardiff.[30]
Male voice choirs are considered a Welsh symbol. Traditional members of the movement include the Treorchy choir and the Morriston choir. More recently, the success Only Men Aloud has also played a part in continuing this tradition.[25]
The Welsh harp, also known as the triple harp is considered to be the national instrument of Wales.[35]
The earliest known dated lovespoon from Wales, displayed in the St Fagans National History Museum near Cardiff, is from 1667, although the tradition is believed to date back long before that.[36]
The unique Welsh hat, which first made its appearance in the 1830s, was used as an icon of Wales from the 1840s.[37]
From the 1880s, when the traditional costume had gone out of general use, selected elements of it became adopted as a national costume. From then on it was worn by women at events such as Royal visits, by choirs, at church and chapel, for photographs and occasionally at eisteddfodau. It was first worn by girls as a celebration on Saint David's Day just before the First World War. The costume is now recognised as the national dress of Wales.[38]
^The arms and flag have four squares alternating in gold and red (representing the Royal House of Aberffraw and iron, or Mars the god of War). Each square has a lion of the opposite colour. The lion is looking at the observer and has 3 paws on the ground and one raised high in the air ("passant guardant"); the tongue is stuck-out ("langued") and the claws outstretched claws ("armed"). Both are blue ("Azur". This represents primacy in Wales).
^ ab"Welsh National Anthem". wales.com. Welsh Government. 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014. Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau gradually became accepted as Wales' national anthem – though to this day, it has no official status as such.
^Christine Stevens, 'Welsh Peasant Dress – Workwear or National Costume', Textile History 33, 63–78 (2002)
^Davies, John; Jenkins, Nigel (2008). The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. pp. 931–932. ISBN978-0-7083-1953-6.
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