http://www.talkwelsh.net/welsh-americans.htm Discover More About The Welsh Language - Right Here! Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:25:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://www.talkwelsh.net/welsh-americans.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1195 andy543321 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:02:42 +0000 http://www.talkwelsh.net/welsh-americans.htm#comment-1195 Honestly, I never heard anybody use the term "Welsh American". I do know I have ancestors from Wales, but that was over 200 years ago, if that counts. However, I did see a special recently about a small town in eastern Canada that speaks fluent Welsh. Honestly, I never heard anybody use the term "Welsh American". I do know I have ancestors from Wales, but that was over 200 years ago, if that counts. However, I did see a special recently about a small town in eastern Canada that speaks fluent Welsh.

]]> http://www.talkwelsh.net/welsh-americans.htm/comment-page-1#comment-1196 steve j Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:02:42 +0000 http://www.talkwelsh.net/welsh-americans.htm#comment-1196 Yes, there are some Welsh Americans who have kept Welsh traditions in the US - Gymanfa Ganu's, for example. Next week I'll be heading to Wisconsin for Welsh Heritage Week. And every year there's a National Gymanfa Ganu, even including an Eisteddfod at the end. Unlike other immigrant groups who carved their own niches into American culture, many Welsh immigrants simply blended in with the existing culture (though Welsh Quakers were there from the start in Pennsylvania, which was almost called "New Wales." In fact, many town names in PA are Welsh - e.g. Bryn Mawr, etc.) An easy comparison here is with the Irish; being predominantly Catholic, they had to establish their own communities in order to preserve their religious culture. The Welsh, being mostly Protestants, had a much easier time assimilating into broader society. Thus, St. Patrick's Day is a huge celebration in the US, even for non-Irish, while no one knows about St. David's Day. Thus, what was initially a "blessing" for the Welsh eventually aided in the disintigration of a defined Welsh culture in the US. To illustrate this point, I knew a guy a few years ago whose last name was Lewis, and he didn't even know that he was Welsh. That said, their are communities of Welsh Americans all over the US - mostly in PA, Ohio, and I think Iowa has a large settlement. As for me and mine, we are fiercely proud of our Welsh heritage and hope to spread the knowledge and appreciation of Welsh culture in the US. Cymru am byth! Yes, there are some Welsh Americans who have kept Welsh traditions in the US – Gymanfa Ganu’s, for example. Next week I’ll be heading to Wisconsin for Welsh Heritage Week. And every year there’s a National Gymanfa Ganu, even including an Eisteddfod at the end.
Unlike other immigrant groups who carved their own niches into American culture, many Welsh immigrants simply blended in with the existing culture (though Welsh Quakers were there from the start in Pennsylvania, which was almost called "New Wales." In fact, many town names in PA are Welsh – e.g. Bryn Mawr, etc.) An easy comparison here is with the Irish; being predominantly Catholic, they had to establish their own communities in order to preserve their religious culture. The Welsh, being mostly Protestants, had a much easier time assimilating into broader society. Thus, St. Patrick’s Day is a huge celebration in the US, even for non-Irish, while no one knows about St. David’s Day. Thus, what was initially a "blessing" for the Welsh eventually aided in the disintigration of a defined Welsh culture in the US. To illustrate this point, I knew a guy a few years ago whose last name was Lewis, and he didn’t even know that he was Welsh.
That said, their are communities of Welsh Americans all over the US – mostly in PA, Ohio, and I think Iowa has a large settlement. As for me and mine, we are fiercely proud of our Welsh heritage and hope to spread the knowledge and appreciation of Welsh culture in the US. Cymru am byth!

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