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Original poster

Why do I feel so strongly about being Welsh?

136 replies

tomenymur · 04/05/2020 23:21

I was born and brought up in Wales. Whilst we spoke mainly English at home, with just my dad speaking Welsh to us, I am fluent in Welsh.
I went to university in England and have lived in London ever since.
But, why do I feel so strongly about being Welsh?
I absolutely LOVE Wales, but cant move back as my job and life is here.

If I go shopping and I see that a bag of carrots are from Wales, I would buy them even if I didn't really want carrots that week.
If I can buy specialist coffee or from a wine merchant, I'd favour a Welsh one over one down the road.

Does anyone else feel like this about their home country? I almost feel like it's a duty to do everything I can to support Wales... :o as ridiculous as that sounds

OP posts:

MrsMoastyToasty · 05/05/2020 00:28

I'm English and DH is Scottish (living in England). He is definitely more patriotically Scottish than I I about England.
I am married into a family that wears the kilt, plays the bagpipes, does Highland dancing and a couple of the younger members speak Gaelic. ...

Fedhimtotigers · 05/05/2020 00:30

Not gonna lie but being welsh is just bloody brilliant.

Wauden · 05/05/2020 00:34

georgie279 · 05/05/2020 00:34

I'm welsh, fluent and it is my main language but moved to England for my husband who's from here we now have a baby and it makes me so sad that she'll probably never live there or know my family as well as his I love being welsh

Wauden · 05/05/2020 00:37

Much as I like and admire Prince Charles as a person, he can never be the REAL Prince of Wales, though.

MissHoskins · 05/05/2020 00:38

@Wolfgirrl
I have Welsh people in my family and they are ridiculously patriotic. They have to shoehorn in the fact they're Welsh at every opportunity
Maybe they dislike you too.

KanyesVest · 05/05/2020 00:57

I was organising something recently and put the flags of all the countries sending delegates on a slide. I'm glad I did the four flags of the UK now, rather than the union flag

Wolfgirrl · 05/05/2020 01:07

@MissHoskins I never said I disliked them!😂 Deary me!

I think Wales is a beautiful country, but after years of hearing about how Welsh they are, how amazing their rugby team is, and their national anthem it does get a bit 😴

But that's just me, I guess if the shoe was on the other foot the Welsh would find it boring listening to the English going on and on!

justfeellikedancing42nite · 05/05/2020 01:12

Not welsh born but definitely welsh bred with 3 welsh babies made Up the valleys. Wouldn't move if they paid me to go somewhere for townies.

Who's coat is that jacket? I will be there now in a minute. Its bloodly perishing outside.

I love it here its lush, and will never leave my little valley.

Honestly wales is awesome. You don't realise until you leave. (Disclaimer lived in England for uni was so glad to come home.)

augustusglupe · 05/05/2020 01:17

I lived in Wales for over 30 years. I’m not Welsh, DH is but doesn’t speak it and DD is Welsh, speaks fluently and like the OP, lives in London.
We moved back to England a few years ago and although it was time for us to move, I’ve become very protective of Wales since moving. More so than I ever thought I would.

Yes, to choosing Welsh products when I’m shopping.
It was a lovely, quite idyllic place to bring up DD and I have very fond memories of Wales.

ArthurandJessie · 05/05/2020 02:56

I'm proudly English and have emigrated and feel the same way ! If someone asks where I'm from I always say I'm English rather than British so I get it for sure ! I think it's really nice to be proud of where you come from and who you are wherever that may be in the world :)

Ohffs66 · 05/05/2020 06:47

I'm the same, I'm not fiercely patriotic or anything but I love being Welsh and have a very strong feeling of belonging here, not my hometown or any one place in particular, just in Wales. DH is English and we were both living in England when we met, since moved to Wales. He thinks it's really lovely how much pride people have in being Welsh.

Servers · 05/05/2020 06:51

I think a lot of people don't realise how diverse Wales is and how beautiful some parts are. I went to university in Cardiff and loved it, and 2 years up past Swansea. If I was Welsh I would be proud too!

devildeepbluesea · 05/05/2020 06:56

I'm Welsh born and bred, fluent Welsh speaker.

I've lived elsewhere over the years, but I'm home now and I love it. DD is having a Welsh education, I still speak it regularly with school friends and I'm proud that I'm doing my bit to keep such an old language alive.

I'll always try to buy Welsh in the supermarket but tbh that imperative was much stronger when I lived in England 😁

I'm back in my home village now after a good 10 years further west and on my government-approved exercise I've been rediscovering the stunning countryside we have here. I've realised that I don't think I want to live anywhere else in the UK again.

A few sunny years in Greece or Portugal wouldn't go amiss though...

MinnieMountain · 05/05/2020 07:06

I love the determination to preserve the Welsh culture. My DGF was born in the colony in Patagonia. Other countries colonised to make money, we did it to preserve our language

Wales is magical. And old.

Themostwonderfultimeoftheyear · 05/05/2020 07:11

I wasn't born in Wales but moved here as a young child and apart from university and one year of living in England post university I haven't left. DS was born here and the week before last we found out that he has got into a Welsh medium school and I am so happy and excited for him that he will be fluent in Welsh. DH and I also agreed that if he got into a Welsh medium school we would remain in Wales for the remainder of his education so will definitely be here for another 14 years at least :)

DH is English but loves Wales too, especially North Wales and I think once DS is set up in life we will probably move up there so fingers crossed I will never love outside of Wales again. That feeling as you come over the bridge is like nothing else, you are home.

Themostwonderfultimeoftheyear · 05/05/2020 07:12

Oh and I am incredibly proud of my Welsh name and desperately wanted to give DS one but DH didn't like Welsh names. I managed to get one in as a middle name though :)

Makeminelarge · 05/05/2020 07:12

DH is Welsh, as of course are in laws. They are incredibly patriotic. DH and I met in England and have continued to live here. DH daily and when we speak/see in laws there are lots of unfavourable comparisons of England to Wales although always very jokey and lighthearted. Other than rugby. There's no joke there. It's a lifeblood in a way I cant understand. It's a patriotism I dont feel and is deeply entrenched in who they are. In small things like ticking 'other'and writing Welsh if its not an option on the demographic section of forms. It's important to us that DS who is born and will be raised in England is as aware of his Welsh roots and spends a significant amount of time there.

TimothyTerrible · 05/05/2020 07:18

I’ve often wondered this. The Welsh people I know are definitely the most patriotic.

Seeleyboo · 05/05/2020 07:18

DH is Welsh and I and English. We both live in Wales. I love it here and wouldn't go back. I too buy Welsh butter over English

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 05/05/2020 07:42

First language is Welsh
Kids all fluent
DH is English but has lived here all his adult life
I am most definitely Welsh
And love my little nation

FthisS · 05/05/2020 07:53

I'm the opposite, I feel very strongly about being british and always correct people that I'm not welsh. I was born in pembrokeshire and my family are from here but we are below the landsker line and I definitely see the town I'm from as little england. My whole family are patriotic and I've never been able to relate to them. From a young age I've had very strong opinions on it.
I have a very neutral accent as do my children, I spent most of my childhood with my nan who was from a very tiny village in pembrokeshire and you would swear she was cornish from the way she spoke.

Megatron · 05/05/2020 07:53

@JKScot4 I don't get what you mean that Polly lives in 1950? Her post was a nice one, giving a comparison about how she feels, that's all.

OP I'm a Scot, married to an Englishman and living in England and I love living here. I live in a lovely village with lovely people and we're very settled here. But we will definitely moved back to Scotland at some point. DH would go tomorrow but the DCs are in secondary and I won't leave his mum anyway, so it'll likely be a while. I always buy Scottish cheese/butter when I see it as I think it just feels like a wee 'connection' if you know what I mean? I genuinely mean that I love where I live but my heart has never really left Scotland. I think it's in the DNA.

MargieMo · 05/05/2020 08:34

I'm not Welsh, but this is a great positive thread to read.

It's fascinating how often language comes up in the posts.

LittleCandle · 05/05/2020 08:47

Hiraeth? (I think that's how its spelled.) I am Scottish and it would never occur to me to say I am British, because I'm not. I'm Scottish, so a bit the same way.

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