As part of this year’s Halloween celebrations the Mentrau Iaith are highlighting a leading Day of the Dead figure in Celtic folklore – Gwyn ap Nudd.
To Celebrate the, Mentrau Iaith are holding a national competition for children and young people to create and decorate Gwyn ap Nudd’s skull by midnight on Halloween, October 31.
Thanks to the cooperation of Hunaniaith (Menter Iaith Gwynedd), a series of videos telling the story of Gwyn ap Nudd, King of the Underworld and Welsh Halloween traditions presented by storyteller Gwilym Morus-Baird will be published on social media. Their aim is to raise awareness of the Welsh and Celtic folklore linked with Hallows’ Eve.
Bet Huws, Hunaniaith Officer, says:
“With this year’s Covid-19 restrictions affecting the usual Anglo American Halloween activities, it’s an opportunity to introduce Gwyn ap Nudd to the children and young people of Wales.”
Inspired by hearing the story, children and young people in Wales will be able to download a template to create a paper skull from the Mentrau Iaith Cymru website and decorate. To enter the competition, send a picture of your skull to your local Menter Iaith. The winning skulls in the primary school age and secondary school age categories will then go through to the national round which will be judged by two of Wales’ most prominent authors: Angharad Tomos and Bethan Gwanas.
The competition has been made possible thanks to the co-operation of all local Mentrau Iaith and Mentrau Iaith Cymru, and in particular Hunaniaith and Menter Iaith Sir Ddinbych who have worked together to produce the resources.
Gwyn ap Nudd - https://cy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwyn_ap_Nudd
The Mentrau Iaith - http://www.mentrauiaith.cymru/amdanom-ni/ein-gwaith/