Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau: Encyclopedia II - Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau - National anthem

Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau - National anthem

Though it has no official or legal status, Hen wlad fy nhadau is recognised and used as an anthem at both national and local events in Wales. Usually this will be the only anthem sung, such as at national sporting events, and it will be sung only in Welsh using the first stanza and refrain. But on some official occasions, especially those with royal connections, it is used in conjunction with the national anthem of the United Kingdom, God Save the Queen.

The existence of a separate national anthem for Wales has not always been apparent to those from outside the Principality. In 1993 the newly-appointed Secretary of State for Wales John Redwood was embarrassingly videotaped trying to guess the words during a communal singing of the national anthem, clearly unaware of them; the pictures were frequently cited as evidence of his unsuitability for the post. According to John Major's autobiography, the first thing his successor William Hague said, on being appointed, was that he had better find someone to teach him the words. He found Ffion Jenkins, and later married her.

Versions of Hen Wlad fy Nhadau are used as anthems in both Cornwall, as Bro Goth Agan Tasow, and Brittany, as Bro Goz ma Zadoù.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "National anthem", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki