When Welsh couples talk about “spooning,” they’re not discussing cuddling. Since at least the 17th century, the Welsh have exchanged “lovespoons,” intricately hand-carved wooden spoons, as signs of romantic intentions. Young men spent hours meticulously crafting their spoons so they could offer their favorite girl the most magnificent utensil imaginable. If she accepted the spoon, the courtship was on.
The courtship aspect of the spoons has since faded, but lovespoons are still given on special occasions as tokens of admiration and affection.
Showing posts with label Welsh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Welsh. Show all posts
Oct 14, 2011
Oct 29, 2010
Ten Halloween Facts
It is actually supposed to be spelled Hallowe'en.
It has been celebrated for over 2000 years as pagan traditions.
Wearing masks comes from the Welsh and Celtic traditions that the dead visit the living on that day.
During the 1800s in America, the end of harvest was celebrated by wearing costumes, eating sweets, and playing tricks on each other.
Jack O' Lanterns started out in Ireland as hollowed out turnips with candles in them to ward off evil spirits.
Ninety nine percent of pumpkins are sold for Halloween for carving.
Orange and black are the traditional colors, because they represent the harvest and evil.
If you see a spider on Halloween, it is said to be the spirit of a loved one watching over you.
Eighty six percent of Americans decorate their house for Halloween, but the number is dwindling.
Halloween costume sales reached six billion dollars in 2009. Adults were 62% of that number.
About two billion dollars is spent on Halloween candy, annually.
It has been celebrated for over 2000 years as pagan traditions.
Wearing masks comes from the Welsh and Celtic traditions that the dead visit the living on that day.
During the 1800s in America, the end of harvest was celebrated by wearing costumes, eating sweets, and playing tricks on each other.
Jack O' Lanterns started out in Ireland as hollowed out turnips with candles in them to ward off evil spirits.
Ninety nine percent of pumpkins are sold for Halloween for carving.
Orange and black are the traditional colors, because they represent the harvest and evil.
If you see a spider on Halloween, it is said to be the spirit of a loved one watching over you.
Eighty six percent of Americans decorate their house for Halloween, but the number is dwindling.
Halloween costume sales reached six billion dollars in 2009. Adults were 62% of that number.
About two billion dollars is spent on Halloween candy, annually.
Jun 8, 2010
Lost in Translation
All official road signs in Wales are bilingual, so the local authority e-mailed its in-house translation service for the Welsh version of, "No entry for heavy goods vehicles. Residential site only."
Unfortunately, the e-mail response to Swansea council said in Welsh, "I am not in the office at the moment. Send any work to be translated."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)