Results 1 to 2 of 2

Thread: The Welsh traditional costume saved the nation from the last invasion of Britain

  1. #1
    Fantasy Peddler
    Apricity Funding Member
    "Friend of Apricity"

    Kazimiera's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Last Online
    @
    Meta-Ethnicity
    Slavic / Germanic
    Ethnicity
    Caucasian
    Country
    South Africa
    mtDNA
    I1b
    Taxonomy
    West Baltid
    Religion
    Roman Catholic
    Relationship Status
    Married
    Age
    99
    Gender
    Posts
    26,399
    Thumbs Up
    Received: 35,590
    Given: 16,990

    2 Not allowed!

    Default The Welsh traditional costume saved the nation from the last invasion of Britain

    The Welsh traditional costume saved the nation from the last invasion of Britain

    Source: https://www.thevintagenews.com/2016/...on-of-britain/

    The legend goes that during the last invasion of Britain at Fishguard in Wales in 1797, the French troops were incredibly drunk. They had found a Portuguese shipwreck and on board its cargo, which was wine. It was only natural for the wine to be drunk. Right there, right then, when they invaded Britain.

    And so it happened for the Welsh women to gather and see what was happening. Thousands of them, all dressed in traditional red dresses and black hats, and from a distance, they looked like the English troops to the drunken French.


    A late 19th-century photo of women in a rural Welsh costume

    In their drunken stupor, the troops got scared and the invasion ended after two days. The Welsh traditional costume, or Welsh women rather, unintentionally saved Britain. That is the legend.


    Welsh girls in traditional costume, 1830

    The traditional Welsh costume is a costume once worn by rural women in Wales and is described as different from other traditional costumes around Britain. It included a form of bedgown made from wool and worn over a corset; an item of clothing that survived in Wales for longer than elsewhere in Britain.

    This was teamed with a printed neckerchief, a petticoat, apron, knitted stockings, and the unique Welsh hat that became an icon of Wales ever since its first appearance in the 1830s.


    Welsh Fashions Taken on a Market Day in Wales


    A portrait of a Swansea woman in Welsh dress, 1818


    Bellringer of Caernarvon in costume of trade by John Cambrian Rowland, 1870

    The first records of a traditional Welsh costume date from around the 1770s when travelers began describing the women’s costumes in the rural areas with words and pictures. The costumes were always described as unique compared to other traditional costumes around Britain, especially to the ones worn in the urban areas where women dressed in accordance to the English fashion.


    A study of the Welsh costume in parts of Gower (left) and Cardiganshire (right)


    Welsh peasant girl in the costume of a large part of Gwent, 1830


    Welsh costume, Gwent, 1830


    Welsh girl in Pembrokeshire costume, 1830

    Augusta Hall, later on known as Lady Llanover, recorded, preserved, and encouraged the wearing of a “national” dress during the 1830s. She believed that at a time of crisis of the national identity, it is very important to support the Welsh identity in every possible way and that wearing traditional clothes was one of the ways to establish a Welsh national identity.

    Lady Llanover also encouraged the use of the Welsh language. In the 1840s, she organized balls at which people dressed up in costumes based on the traditional fashion of some rural areas, but they were made of satins, not wool.


    Augusta Hall, Baroness Llanover


    Two women in national dress drinking tea (c. 1875)


    Woman in Welsh national dress with a spinning wheel in 1885

    As of the 19th century, the wearing of traditional dress decreased with the costumes being worn exclusively for certain celebrations and holidays, and as an attempt to celebrate a separate Welsh identity.

    Today Welsh costume is worn on St David’s Day and by performers at concerts and eisteddfodau. It is also used in tourism as there are dolls produced in Welsh dress that seem to be the favorite gift among tourists.

  2. #2
    Veteran Member Neon Knight's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Last Online
    05-26-2023 @ 09:10 PM
    Ethnicity
    Britannic
    Country
    Great Britain
    Region
    England
    Gender
    Posts
    4,251
    Thumbs Up
    Received: 4,797
    Given: 5,979

    0 Not allowed!

    Default

    A proper account of the French 'invasion': http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK...on-of-Britain/

    During their two days on British soil the French soldiers must have shaken in their boots at mention of name of “Jemima Fawr” (Jemima the Great). The 47-year-old Jemima Nicholas was the wife of a Fishguard cobbler. When she heard of the invasion, she marched out to Llanwnda, pitchfork in hand, and rounded up twelve Frenchmen. She ‘persuaded’ them to accompany her back into town, where she locked them inside St Mary’s Church and promptly left to look for some more! Men of Harlech meet your match!

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Did Albanians saved Italy and West Europe from Ottoman invasion?
    By Laberia in forum Italy - English Entries
    Replies: 28
    Last Post: 12-11-2016, 07:16 PM
  2. The Scots are the most GENEROUS nation in Britain
    By Graham in forum United Kingdom
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 03-14-2013, 07:55 PM
  3. Welsh firmly back Britain's Union
    By Albion in forum Cymru | Wales
    Replies: 33
    Last Post: 02-05-2012, 12:59 PM
  4. The Last Invasion of Britain
    By Treffie in forum Cymru | Wales
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 04-03-2009, 08:47 PM

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •