Cwmdauddwr Feast
As part of the fundraising efforts for a
Community Museum, Rhayader historians have been investigating the origins of a local custom - the Cwmdauddwr Feast. Rhayader resident and history hunter
John Jones tells us more.
"The parish of Cwmdauddwr was in the old times a complete commote, and it was the custom for the king or ruling prince to visit his commotes every year, staying for three days in each. He came with his court, reviewed the work of the local officials, heard cases of appeal, and collected the taxes.
The freemen of the commote, helped by the bondmen, contributed food and drink for the occasion and this was called Gwestfa (welsh for Feast ).
This was held on the Sunday after 14th February.
This Sunday was a festive occasion in many farmhouses, and a goose was often kept back from Christmas to be killed for that day. The following Wednesday a fair would be held in Rhayader, when there was a holiday for all farm workers. A football match was sometimes arranged, or there might be hunting, with beagles. It was this Wednesday fair that was popularly known as Cwmdauddwr Feast."
Article written by John Jones from Rhayader
Photos from the Cwmdauddwr Feast Social Evening...More about the Rhayader Community Museum Project...
your comments
Susan Jones
This request is not about the Cwmdauddwr Feast but about family. The John Jones that wrote the article above is a family member. My spouse is a descendent of John Jones,farmer, in 1869. His son, William, married Hannah Williams, daughter of Sylvanus Williams, March 2, 1869. They are George Walter Jones' great-grandfather and great-grandmother. George Walter Jones lives outside of Maxwell, Iowa USA and is also a farmer farming 400 acres of land.Please give him this message!
Wed May 7 10:31:02 2008
Do you have any memories of celebrating the Cwmdauddwr Feast? Are there any local customs to your area? Add your comments below:
