CAMBRIAN HERITAGE SOCIETY OF MADISON - FEBRUARY/CHWEFROR 2016 1

NEWYDDION CYMREIG Cambrian Heritage Society of Madison, Wisconsin

Volume 22 Number 1

Website: madisoncambrian.org Email: [email protected] Facebook: Cambrian Heritage Society of Madison, Wisconsin ------

UPCOMING EVENTS St. David’s Day Program Sunday, Mar. 6

Sunday, March 6 at 1:30 p.m. Annual St. David’s Day Celebration St. Paul Lutheran Church, 2126 North Sherman Avenue, Madison.

Friday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. John Good Concert Christ United Methodist Church, Watertown

Saturday, April 30 – Sunday, May 1 The Society will celebrate St. David’s Day again at Annual Wisconsin Welsh Weekend St. Paul Lutheran Church, 2126 North Sherman Christ United Methodist Church, Watertown Ave. This year March 1st falls on Tuesday, so we Saturday 2:00 – 5:00 Workshops will gather the following Sunday at 1:30 for a 5:30 – 7:00 Noson Lawen & Eisteddfod potluck and program. 8:30 Pub Night Sing-along, Lyon’s Brew Pub Sunday Mary Williams-Norton is devising another head- 2:30 State Gymanfa Ganu, John Good, director scratching trivia contest, complete with prizes for all participants. Danny Proud and the Cambrian Sunday, June 12 at 2:30 p.m. Singers will present a Welsh musical program, and Rewey Gymanfa Ganu we might have a sing-along! Peniel Presbyterian Church, Rewey Geraint Wilkes, director Please bring a dish to share. Plates, cups, and July 17-24 utensils will be provided. Also please don’t forget Cwrs Cymraeg to contribute to the food pantry collection as part Huntsville, AL of our thanks for use of the church. Park in the www.madog.org rear and use the back entrance. July 17-24 Welsh Heritage Week Ottawa, Ontario Other St. David’s Day Events www.welshheritageweek.org

September 1-4 Other St. David’s Day events in the region: North American Festival of Calgary, Alberta Feb. 27, 1:00 –Cambrian Benevolent Society of www.nafow.org Chicago, The Carlton Hotel, 1110 Pleasant St., Oak Park, Ill. See www.chicagowelshcambrian.org

Feb. 28, Noon –Welsh Club of the Milwaukee Area. Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus! Pano’s Banquet Center, 20290 W. Bluemound Rd., Brookfield. Contact Jan Batty (414) 861-2202

Feb. 28—Racine St. David’s Society, Covenant

Presbyterian Church, 40 Ohio St., Racine. Happy Saint David’s Day! Contact Dick Myers (414) 228-7466 2 CAMBRIAN HERITAGE SOCIETY OF MADISON – FEBRUARY/CHWEFROR 2016

Who Was St. David? “Welsh Weekend for Everyone” April 29 to May 1 Welsh people all over the world celebrate the life of St. David, the patron saint of Wales, on or This is the tenth year that the Wisconsin Welsh around March first each year, supposedly the day have organized the expanded State Gymanfa Ganu of his death. The occasion is marked by music, to include workshops and social events for our teas, and the wearing of traditional costumes and enjoyment and edification. This year the location sporting the national symbols of Wales, the leek or will be Christ United Methodist Church, 112 Hall the daffodil. St., Watertown.

St. David (Dewi Sant) was born sometime around 500 A.D., reputedly on a cliff top along the southwestern coast of Wales near present day St. David’s. His parents, Sandde and Non, were descended from Welsh royalty.

David was raised to be a priest, educated at the monastery of Hen Fynyw under the tutelage of St. Paulinus. Stories and accounts of miracles abound for David’s life, including the tale of a battle against the Saxons in which David had his soldiers wear leeks in their hats to distinguish themselves John Good, a Welsh-born singer, storyteller, and from their enemies (hence the traditional wearing instrumentalist from Phoenix, Arizona will of the leek on St. David’s Day). perform in concert on Friday evening, give a reading and lead the noson lawen on Saturday, David was a gifted teacher and preacher, and and direct our gymanfa ganu on Sunday. founded monasteries, including Glastonbury and Minevia (St. David’s), and churches in Wales, Eisteddfod submission deadline: April 14 Dumnonia (Cornwall and parts of Devonshire) and Poetry and prose on the topic “Rainbow/Enfys” Brittany. He was appointed Archbishop of Wales See http://wggaw.org/eisteddfod for details. in 550 A.D. Early registration for reduced admission: April 22 The Water Drinker, as he became known, David Form at http://wggaw.org/2016-weekend-registration/ ate only bread, herbs, and vegetables, and drank only water. He taught his followers to refrain Welsh Weekend Schedule from eating meat and drinking beer. (Location is Christ United Methodist Church in In 1120 David was canonized as a saint, and later Watertown unless otherwise noted.) as Patron Saint of Wales. Many pilgrimages were made to St. David’s, two equaling one to Rome and Fri., April 29 three equaling one to Jerusalem. Over fifty 7:30 p.m. John Good in concert--Singing, harp, churches in South Wales bear his name. bagpipes, guitar & storytelling Sat., April 30 The flag of St. David was popularized in the 1990s 1:30 Registration & Welsh flea market as a patriotic complement to the Red Dragon 2:00 Reading: “Disappearing of Owain Glyndwr” alongside the emblems of the other patron saints, 3:00 Workshops: Welsh flag; flag kite-making; St. George, St. Andrew, and St. Patrick. video on 1904 Welsh Revival 4:00 Workshops: Patagonia; Welsh folk tales 4:45 Tea 5:30 Noson lawen & eisteddfod 7:00 Dinner break 8:30 Pub night at Lyons Irish Pub, Watertown Sun., May 1 2:30 State Gymanfa Ganu, John Good, director CAMBRIAN HERITAGE SOCIETY OF MADISON – FEBRUARY/CHWEFROR 2016 3

Discovering Welsh-American Legends: Thanks for Your Support of Our Society: Welsh in the Old West Start or Renew Your Membership

We know that many of America’s early political Please complete the form below and mail it in or figures—Thomas Jefferson immediately comes to take it with you to the St. David’s event on March 6. mind—had Welsh roots. Presidents, signers of the Declaration of Independence, movers and shakers who made outsized contributions in shaping this new land. Now a new book, Welsh in the Old West, ------reveals the Welsh background of some of the colorful figures who roamed the Wild West a century later and helped shape the character of the Western frontier: among them, Jesse James, Jim Bowie, and Daniel Boone.

Jesse James’ family came from Pembrokeshire in the early 1700s; Jim Bowie’s mother Elve ap- Cambrian Heritage Society Membership Form Catesby Jones was the daughter of a Welshman; Daniel Boone’s maternal grandfather Edward Name(s) ______Morgan came over from Gwynedd, North Wales. Address ______Another of the men studied in this release was the co-founder of American Express Company and ______Wells Fargo, a Mr. William Fargo, whose ancestor Moses Fargo left Wales from in City ______State ____ ZIP ______1668. A generation later a person who I believe is a relation, Lorenzo Dow Fargo, became a E-mail address (please print) prominent businessman in Lake Mills, Wisconsin ______and financed in 1902 the construction of the city’s free library, “the centerpiece of Lake Mills cultural Telephone number ______life.” The library is still in use with regular hours today. ___ I/We wish to join the Cambrian Heritage Society as new members and receive its newsletter, The author of Welsh in the Old West is Lorin Newyddion Cymreig. Morgan-Richards, an American writer and artist, partially of Welsh descent, who also happens to ___ I/We wish to renew membership into the have founded the Los Angeles St. David’s Day Cambrian Heritage Society and receive the newsletter. Festival, one of the largest Welsh festivals in the U.S., and who authors Celtic Family Magazine, the ___ I prefer to receive my Society newsletter at the most widely distributed print publication about email address above rather than by mail. (This saves Celtica in the U.S. money and provides the newsletter to me in color.)

Welsh in the Old West is available through Amazon Dues enclosed $ ______Date dues sent: ______and Barnes & Noble Online. (Dues are $10 for individuals; $15 for couples & families)

Facebook Group Please complete this form and send it, along with your

We encourage all of you who like to use check payable to Cambrian Heritage Society, to:

Facebook and keep up with Society Dr. Mary Williams-Norton activities to join our Facebook group at W9866 Kent Road (http://madisoncambrian.org). Questions? Call Robert Humphries at (608) 588-9078. Poynette, WI 53955-9409

4 CAMBRIAN HERITAGE SOCIETY OF MADISON – FEBRUARY/CHWEFROR 2016

Alan Rickman, Aberystwyth and Hogwarts Thomas Jones, a former student of Henry Lloyd Snape, recalled that “every limb of his body was Harry Potter fans were shocked to hear the news of summoned to assist him in the act of lecturing.” the death of actor Alan Rickman, age 69, on January Rodgers found an obituary of Snape in 1933 14. Rickman played the troubled and sinister describing him as an ‘ “energetic, keen and Professor Snape in the Harry Potter film series. devoted” man who was serious about science… and a key player in “College dramatics”.’ She What most of us did not know was that Rickman continued, “It’s difficult not to conjure up an image was half Welsh from his mother, and he cherished of Alan Rickman marching through the halls of his Welshness. Hogwarts, cape billowing behind him.”

In 2006, on the 60th anniversary of the reforming Still, author J.K. Rowling seems not to have known of the Treorchy Male Voice Choir, Rickman sent of the existence of the actual Professor Snape. this message: Rodgers reports that “lore has it” that the inspiration for the surly Potions Master was To the Treorchy Male Choir, many congratulations on your anniversary! My Treforest, Pontypridd- Rowling’s own chemistry teacher, John Nettleship, born and bred mother, grandparents, aunts and at near , South Wales. uncles are singing along with you. Rowling herself has suggested that the name Snape is taken from a village in Suffolk. He had this to say of his relationship with actor Helen McCrory (Narcissa Malfoy in the Harry Other similarities between the fanciful Hogwarts Potter films) on the movie set: castle and the Gothic architecture of Aberystwyth University are too tantalizing to ignore We both had Welsh mothers—it’s a huge thing (Aberystwyth top, Hogwarts below): when you have Celtic blood running in your veins, and not English; there’s an inherited energy, a kinship.

Echoes and Parallels Revealed

As WalesOnline recently reported, some tantalizing echoes and parallels—real or surreal— between J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series and Aberystwyth University have come to light.

While doing research as a 19th-century literature lecturer at Aberystwyth, Beth Rodgers noticed that while Rickman’s character , Potions Master, taught at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, about 100 years ago there actually was a Welsh chemistry professor who taught at Aberystwyth.

Finally, recalling Hedwig and Moaning Myrtle, students at Aberystwyth had similar experiences:

One undergraduate recounts the capture of a young rook, whose “antics and baths afforded much amusement to the staff.”…. Another student summons the college ghost, which was wont to wake college residents with its “blood-curdling cries”.

[Later it was found to be a mischievous student The chemistry professor’s name? Henry Lloyd with a hunting horn.] Snape. Potions master? Close enough! How odd and serendipitous this all seems to be. CAMBRIAN HERITAGE SOCIETY OF MADISON – FEBRUARY/CHWEFROR 2016 5

RUGBY NEWS FROM WALES CAMBRIAN HERITAGE SOCIETY

Every four years the Rugby World Cup is held in Newyddion Cymreig is published by the Cambrian the fall, and last September the national sides Heritage Society of Madison, Wisconsin three from 20 nations competed in the U.K. for the times a year. Please send questions, suggestions, William Web Ellis Cup. Wales, going into the articles and poetry to the editor for the next tournament ranked sixth in the world, won 3 out newsletter! of 4 matches in the “pool of death” and knocked out old rival England in an upset. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Eventually eleven of the players on the Welsh squad were knocked out of the competition President, Treasurer and Secretary: through injury, so that a weakened starting lineup Mary Williams-Norton (608) 635-4946 could not prevail in the quarterfinals against [email protected] South Africa, losing 23-19. Favored New Zealand edged South Africa in the semis and defeated Newsletter Editor: Australia 34-17 in the final to become the first Danny Evan Proud (608) 212-3793 nation to win back-to-back tournaments in the [email protected] history that goes back to 1987. At-Large Representatives: Eddie Jones, whose team from Japan won 3 games Lincoln Jones Hartford (608) 432-4482 (including a defeat to the winless U.S.), accepted [email protected] an offer to coach England following the exit of Stuart Lancaster and the Red Roses’ humiliation as Robert Humphries (608) 588-9078 the home team failed to advance past pool play. [email protected] Resurgent Scotland also impressed, advancing to the quarterfinals only to lose to Australia 35-34 on Nancy Griffith Priegel (608) 271-7194 a blown call by officials. [email protected]

The annual 6 Nations tournament begins the first weekend of February with much anticipation as Scotland, Wales, Ireland and England all seem ready to vie for the championship. Wales has the most experienced and stable team, with most of the injured from the World Cup having recovered, and is ranked fourth in the world, ahead of Ireland, France, England, Scotland, and Italy.

Wales 6 Nations Schedule (CST) Sunday, Feb. 7, 9 am at Ireland Saturday, Feb. 13, 10:50 am at home v. Scotland Sunday, Feb. 26, 2:05 pm at home v. France Saturday, Mar. 12, 10:00 am at England Saturday, Mar. 19, 8:30 am at home v. Italy

You are welcome to join Dan Proud at his house,

114 Glen Hwy, Madison, to watch the Wales Singing “Hen Wlad fy Nhadau” before the start of a matches. Please call ahead of time if you plan to World Cup rugby match. come (tel. 212-3793). 6 CAMBRIAN HERITAGE SOCIETY OF MADISON – FEBRUARY/CHWEFROR 2016

See www.nafow.org for registration information and all festival details.