The Ancient Welsh Festival of Sitting Together

The word Eisteddfod literally means sitting together. This historic cultural gathering started as a tense competition where bards and minstrels vied for favor before royal patrons.

Today, these festivals celebrate Welsh language and art through intense rankings in music and poetry. While the name sounds peaceful, the tradition originated from highly competitive debates between skilled performers. Royals acted as the ultimate judges, deciding who had the most talent. It is a fascinating look at how a simple act of gathering evolved into a prestigious national institution.