BY THE ALIMOCHE TEAM
2 DECEMBER 2022
It is no secret that the United Kingdom is composed of a union of states, with England at its centre, followed territorially by Alba in the North, Tuaisceart na hÉireann to the North-West and Cymru to the South-West. Further territories annexed into this so-called “union” include but are not limited to Kernow, Ellan Vannin, the Isle of Wight, Jèrri and the Principality of Sealand. But despite being surrounded by such a myriad of historically Celtic nations, due to the influx of ecclesiastical lore dominating storytelling tradition through religious invasion since Roman times, it is evident our Celtic mythos has become vastly overshadowed by this new pantheon of modern organised religion. Whilst intensive movements involving the revival of Irish and Scottish mythology through arts and media have succeeded, most notably the phenomenal success of Cartoon Saloon’s The Secret of Kells’ Oscar nomination in 2009, and wider success of the animation company in conveyancing the ancient spirit of Ireland to a modern audience, it is evident the Welsh pantheon is the most overlooked of Britain’s four Celtic cultures, as the mythos of the Mabinogion is yet to enchant a modern audience.
Wales: The gem of the union, yet overshadowed by England's farcical pomp. image source: pexels
The core reason for Wales, henceforth being referred to as Cymru in respect for its Celtic culture, can be attributed to the annexation into English rule under the Statute of Cymru 1284, and Henry VIII’s Act of Union in 1536. These acts have been detrimental for the Cymraeg national identity, due to the removal of Cymru’s independent sovereignty, and the replacement of Cymraeg laws with English laws, contributing to the erasure of culture via systems of governance at the highest level.
As it is evident that governance is inherently tied to culture, as the intention of law is to provide a structure for the continuance of culture, the removal of indigenous law from Cymru acts as the crux of the overshadowing of the mythos; it is not only a systemic erasure of independent sovereignty and the bullish dominance of the English sentiment toward the union as a whole, viewing the union as merely beneficial pecuniarily and territorially, but also highlights this invasive nature of forced anglicisation culturally; as the principle of the erasure of Cymraeg sovereignty therefore eased the impregnation of the English agenda into Cymru as a delusional form of uniting the nations, despite this unity being more parasitic than parallel.
It must also be noted despite the Cymraeg roots of Henry VIII’s father and predecessor Henry VII, the arrogation of Cymru had no legal basis, however these roots were used as part of a slapdash justification effort to seize Cymru, presenting an image of the dragon almost being overpowered by the lion. Mythologically speaking, the legislation enabling the Cymru annexation into English territory paves the way for the Mabinogion to be forgotten via Biblical stories, including that of St Dafydd, pervading their way through Cymraeg history to the modern lexicon, as when one thinks of the mythos of Cymru, it is the English Christian mythos that immediately comes to mind; patron saints instead of pagan prose, all a product of the destruction of an independent Cymru.
Divine right or divine ruse? Despite his minor Cymraeg roots, the annexation of Cymru based on Henry VII's roots is entirely unlawful.
image source: Britannica
Furthermore, English control over religion, through the Church of England, but also previous Norman Catholicism, can be argued to overshadow Mabinogion due to both its overzealousness in “evangelising” the “heathen” Cymru, but also via the inaccessibility of Christianity within Cymru. When considering the question of overzealousness, we must look at Christianity in Cymru as a state-run institution, which leaches its way into the other institutions of the state, including education.
Whilst the Cymraeg language has not been outright banned, its discouragement stemming from the anglicisation of Cymru can be seen via the implementation of the “Cwstom”, a tool used within education to deter the Welsh language, bringing about humiliation for those speaking the language of the land.
Never again can the Cwstom taint Cymraeg- a barbaric symbol of british repression
image source: BBC
How does this link to Mabinogion, you may ask? Due to religious oppression of indigenous Cymraeg culture even indirectly through the Cwstom, a culture of shame and stigmatisation, almost pressuring the new generations to abandon their Cymraeg heritage arose, and part of this resulted in the abandonment of the Celtic storytelling traditions present in the Mabinogion. As a result of Christianity in Cymru on an institutional basis, the Mabinogion is overshadowed by the ecclesiastical mythology, notably creationism, but also further mythology concerning saints including Dafydd.
Dafydd: Patron Saint or Christian Conquistador?
image source: wikimedia commons
Whilst one surviving myth from Mabinogion stands out in popular culture, as some of the earliest versions of King Arthur, the depictions of Arthur are far different from the sword-wielding, quick-witted leader, instead within Mabinogion, Arthur is much less adherent to English ideals for a perfect king, and is instead presented as much more human; more indecisive, more passive; not in a lax sense, but in a realistic sense of the limits humanity has on perfection being distorted by anglicisation and the unrealistic divine link between royalty and divinity smudging away the “flaws” of Arthur to misappropriate the legend into the standards of English rather than Cymraeg mythology, thus the Mabinogion is erased from British history through specific church-oriented misappropriation via cherry-picking and changing the mythology to better conform to an English annexed agenda rather than honouring the original Celtic mythos.
like the daffodils, can mabinogion become a truly cultivated symbol of the Cymraeg national identity?
image source: unsplash
Since the Roman invasion, Celtic culture has become a source for national disrespect through colonisation and forceful annexation via both law and religion prohibiting and diminishing core tenets of the Cymraeg national identity, from language to expression and most notably storytelling. The poets of the past have been persecuted for practicing the art of storytelling within Cymru, and despite revival efforts there is a significant gap within the Celtic revival for the resurgence of the Mabinogion within the national lexicon of Cymru. In reshaping the national identity by harnessing the power of arts, language and media, it is therefore evident that the pantheon of Cymraeg mythology is due reverence, and through embracing the Mabinogion as a symbol of the enduring Celtic roots of the United Kingdom, the English tie to Cymru can be solidified, but on Cymraeg terms. The dawn of Cymraeg culture, through its language and storytelling, from Pwyll to Pryderi to Macsen Wledig and all the branches of this anthropological epic, is long overdue, and despite institutional overshadowing, it is in the ancestral interest of Britain to retrace its roots as a fitting homage to its earliest bards.
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