14 Welsh Things To Do During The Pandemic
While you’re at home and can’t travel to Wales, here are 14 Welsh things to do during the pandemic to help you feel like you’re there and to get you excited about going.
1. Make some Welsh comfort food.
No matter what you’ve heard, Welsh food is comforting and seriously yummy. Try some Welsh Rarebit, Cawl, or Welsh Cakes while you’re stuck at home.
2. Watch a Welsh movie.
There are some really good Welsh movies. The movies listed here were either made by Welsh filmmakers or set in Wales: How Green Was My Valley (1941); The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain (1995); Pride (2014); Hedd Wyn (1992); The Edge of Love (2008); Soloman a Gaenor (1999); and Under Milkwood (1972).
How Green Was My Valley
Pride
Under Milkwood
3. Dance to a Welsh rock band.
You might be surprised to learn that some of your favorite bands are Welsh. Check out the Stereophonics, Super Furry Animals, and Manic Street Preachers.
Stereophonics
Super Furry Animals
Manic Street Preachers
4. Drink a Welsh cider.
You might think all cider comes from Somerset or some other place in England, but some very fine, award-winning ciders are made in Wales. Here are just a few of them: Gwynt y Ddraig, Old Monty Cider, Hallet’s Real Cider, and Apple Country Cider.
5. Read something written by a Welsh author.
One of the most famous writers/poets from Wales is Dylan Thomas, but here are some other astonishing writers from Wales: Bertrand Russell (The Bertrand Russell Collection, Selected Works 1912-1922), Roald Dahl (Matilda, The Witches, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Dick Francis (Bone Crack), Bernice Rubens (The Elected Member), Ken Follett (Fall of Giants), Owen Sheers (Resistance), and Cynan Jones (The Dig).
6. Listen to a Welsh men’s choir.
The male choral tradition dates back only 100 years and is inextricably linked with the coal and steel industries of Wales, with drinking pints in pubs with your mates and with rugby.
The Treorchy Male Choir with Tom Jones
Rhos Male Voice Choir | Music From the Welsh Mines 1957
7. Go to Duolingo and learn Welsh. There is also an app you can download. Likewise, you can sign up for Say Something in Welsh, if you’re really serious.
8. And then get a Welsh penpal so you can practice your Welsh.
9. Watch a Welsh TV series.
Some of the best crime dramas are Welsh. Check out these: Hinterland, Torchwood, and Keeping Faith.You can find these either on Netflix, Acorn TV, or Amazon Prime.
Hinterland
Torchwood
Keeping Faith
10. Bake some Welsh bara.
Baking Banana Bread seems to be a favorite of people that are self-isolating, so, instead of Banana Bread, try this Welsh favorite, Bara Birth.
11. Carve a Welsh love spoon.
In Wales, a love spoon is given to a woman by her suitor. It was important for the woman’s father to see that her beau was capable of providing for his future family by showing his ability to woodwork.
Certain symbols meant specific things: a horseshoe for luck, a cross for faith, bells for marriage, hearts for love, a lock for security, and caged balls were the number of children hoped for.
12. Listen to a Welsh podcast.
Smart Welsh People with Dean Burnett
The Welsh Rugby podcast
The Welsh History Podcast
13. Enroll in virtual Hogwarts Classes.
You might not consider Harry Potter to be Welsh, but there are lots of Welsh connections to him. While you are self-isolating, why not enroll in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? You can take part in courses like Astronomy, Charms, Herbology, Defense Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic, Potions, and Transfiguration. The courses aren’t just for fun, each course comes with an in-depth syllabus, lesson plans, and even homework.
Discover the Welsh connections to Harry Potter you might never have known about.