Basic facts:

National flag of Wales

• The patron saint of Wales: St. David.

• St. David’s Day: March 1,the Welsh national day.

• The symbols of Wales: Daffodil and leek.

• The capital of Wales: Cardiff.

• The highest mountain in Wales: Snowdon.

• Wales is famous for male choirs.

• In 1282 – 1284 Edward I of England conquered Wales, and in 1536 Henry VIII officially united Wales with England.

Task 5. Read the text and make a quiz on Wales. While reading continue the table of task 2.

Wales is very different from the rest of Great Britain, and not only in a physical sense. This peninsula, which stretches out into the Irish Sea is a true nation which is proud of its language and which jealously guards its age-old traditions. The history of this region is rich with tales of medieval heroes, furious battles, foreign invasions and desperate attempts at defence. The Welsh consider themselves as the only true Britons because their presence in the territory dates back to prehistoric times, as several pre-historical ceremonial stones and tombs dotted about the country can testify. Despite its early annexation to England in 1284 and the signing of the Act of Union in 1536 during the reign of the Tudors (who were of Welsh origin), the people of Wales have maintained their own distinct culture, which dates back to the pre-Christian kingdom created by the Celts in Britain. The landscape of Wales also has its own natural beauty. Green hills accompany the course of the rivers Wye and Severn, while, in the northwest, we encounter a bare mountainous landscape with paths winding between rocky outcrops and breath-taking beautiful lakes in the Snowdonia area. In sharp contrast with this is the area of the Black Mountains, the most industrialized and densely populated area in Wales.

Welsh is a language built on past echoes, still alive in legends, in folk songs, and in ballads which are an integral part of Welsh social life. Music becomes a cultural expression when poets, dancers, and choir singers come together at festivals called “eisteddfod” – where traditional costumes can be admired and Welsh friendly hospitality enjoyed. The Jury, whose task it is to choose the best poets and singers, are dressed as Druids.

The people living in Wales as well as those living in Scotland and Ireland are descendants of ancient Celts. Some of the traditions going back to Celts are wishing wells where people throw money wishing health and happiness to themselves or to their family and friends. Another custom is for young men to make wooden love spoons and send them to their sweethearts. If the girl keeps the gift all is well if she returns it she does not love the young man. This tradition nowadays is largely a source of popular souvenirs.

The Welsh call their country Cymru [kamri]. There are some large standing stones in Wales resembling the Stonehenge.

There are three national parks (Snowdonia, the Brecon Beacons and the Pembrokeshire Coast), extensive areas of picturesque hill, lake and mountain country, fine sandy beaches and many historic towns and villages.

The colourful scenery is enhanced by ancient castles, the most famous of which are: Harlech castle that heroically held out against the Yorkists during the Wars of the Roses and Caernarvon castle where the first Prince of Wales was born.

The traditional division of Wales was into six counties: Glamorgan [gle’mo:gen], Dyfed [‘d^vid], Gwynedd, Clwyd[‘klu:id], Powys [‘pouis] and Gwent. Now those are subdivided into Unitary Authorities. The Unitary Authorities are so called because they combine in a single layer of local government the duties and responsibilities of the earlier County and Borough Councils. The object of the change, which formally took place on 1st April 1996, is to reduce duplication of duties (and costs) and improve the accessibility and accountability of local government to the residents of the area.

Wales - changes of 1996
Administration 1974-1996	CCC	Successor Unitary Authorities
Clwyd	CWD	Conwy (U) Denbighshire (U) Flintshire (U) Powys (U) Wrexham (U)
Dyfed	DFD	Cardiganshire (U) Carmarthenshire (U) Pembrokeshire (U)
Gwent	GNT	Blaenau Gwent (U) Caerphilly (U) Monmouthshire (U) Newport (U) Torfaen (U)
Gwynedd	GWN	Aberconwy and Colwyn (U) Anglesey (U) Gwynedd (U)
Mid Glamorgan	MGM	Bridgend (U) Caerphilly (U) Cardiff (U) Merthyr Tydfil (U) Rhondda Cynon Taff (U) Vale Of Glamorgan (U)
Powys	POW	Powys (U)
South Glamorgan	SGM	Cardiff (U) Vale Of Glamorgan (U)
West Glamorgan	WGM	Neath and Port Talbot (U) Swansea (U)

Glamorgan was subdivided into Mid.,South and West Glamorgan. The capital of Wales is Cardiff. Cardiff grew on the site of a Roman fort. Another large city in this county is Swansea, which developed around a Norman castle. The county Dyfed has many dairy farms. The main city of the county, Carmarthen, has an ancient Norman castle.Dyfed includes Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, and Corodigion.

The most famous town of the historic county Gwynedd is Caernarvon [ka:’na:ven].

There is an ancient castle, which was built by King Edward I and where the first Prince of Wales was born. Gwynedd also includes the Isle of Anglesey and Conwy.

Clwyd’s main city is Ruthin. Ruthin has a mineral water industry. There is another old castle there. Clwyd is subdivided into Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham.

Powysis a mountainous area and is largely a farming area. It is not subdivided into unitary districts.

Gwent, contrary to Powys, is an industrial area with a large port called Newport.