On the western coast of Great Britain, bordered by England on its east side and the Irish Sea on the west, lies the principality of Wales. Originally one of the Celtic nations, the Welsh people and their descendants retain a strong sense of national pride for their rich heritage. On Friday, Feb. 27 in Christ Chapel, students will have the opportunity to experience an important part of Welsh culture during Gustavus’ 36th annual St. David’s Day observance.
The Welsh people were originally inhabitants of England, but they first formed a national identity early in the fifth century after being driven south by the Normans. The region of Great Britain now called Wales currently has a population of roughly three million, half of whom are fluent in Welsh and 25 percent of whom speak Welsh exclusively.
On March 1 of every year, Welsh people all over the world celebrate their patron saint in a tradition that dates back 100 years to when the Welsh people first started writing hymns. These hymns are traditionally sung in four-part harmony, and they are commonly heard in all parts of Wales.
The annual St. David’s Day celebration is called a “Gymanfa Ganu,” a Welsh phrase that means “hymn fest.” Although many St. David’s Day celebrations feature hymn fests that continue throughout the entire day, Christ Chapel’s celebration is a mini-“Gymanfa Ganu,” because only four hymns will be sung during the service.
This year, Christ Chapel will be holding its annual Gymanfa Ganu during its regular daily chapel time (10:00-10:20 a.m.). The service will consist of four different Welsh hymns, a scripture reading and a prayer. Some of the hymns should sound familiar to many churchgoers, like “Jesus, Lover of My Soul,” but others are distinctly Welsh and will be sung in their native language by the Choir of Christ Chapel and accompanied by the Chapel Brass.
“All four Gustavus choirs come together to participate in the service. The idea is that all the hymns are sung in parts, so the choir helps the congregation with that,” said Gustavus Choir Director and Professor of Music Patricia Kazarow. “It’s been a tradition that the choir has participated in for as long as I’ve been here.”
“It’s like listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, except you’re right there in the middle of it,” said Ellis Jones, a retired Gustavus professor and the organizer of the annual event. “There are some Welsh publications that brag about having about 75 people at a celebration, but none of them come close to the 500 that we get here every year.”
And the celebration doesn’t just stop at the chapel service. Visitors are invited to a reception following the service at 10:30 a.m. At 11:00 a.m. a special presenter from Augustana College will speak about her study abroad experience in Wales. Afterward, a traditional Welsh luncheon of lamb, leek soup and trifle will be served in one of the banquet rooms.
“It’s been one of those events that kids from St. Peter have been invited to as a cultural experience. It’s something that the community here looks forward to every year,” said Kazarow.
Since 1973, when Christ Chapel first celebrated St. David’s day, the event has grown to include more and more people, many of them visitors from the Twin Cities. It is an opportunity for people of Welsh descent all over Minnesota to gather and celebrate, as well as an opportunity for the Gustavus community to learn more about and experience some great Welsh traditions.