Who says New Year"s Day has to be on January 1? In Wales, the clocks turn back—figuratively—to celebrate Hen Galan, or the "Old New Year," on January 13. As part of this tradition, Calennig, meaning "New Year"s gift" in Welsh, plays a central role, linking the celebration to customs from the Julian calendar era. Even after most of the world switched to the Gregorian calendar in 1582, some Welsh communities clung to their old ways. Traditionally, the day involves children going door-to-door, singing songs and offering good wishes in exchange for gifts like coins, food or sweets. A unique feature is its clove-decorated apples. These aren"t for snacking, though; they"re miniature symbols of luck and prosperity.
Happy Welsh New Year!
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
Say hello to these halophytes!
-
Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
-
Bring the king cakes
-
Fourth rock from the sun
-
Mount Sopris, Colorado
-
Babbling on and on
-
Rising with the sun
-
Black sands in a tropical paradise
-
Marine Day, Japan
-
What’s your favourite colour?
-
Home of the ‘world’s worst smelling food?’
-
Via Krupp, Capri, Italy
-
International Day for Biological Diversity
-
Piecing together a better tomorrow
-
The lungs of Earth
-
Lake Bled, Slovenia
-
World Art Day
-
World Architecture Day
-
Festival fever
-
Pollinator Week
-
Remembering D-Day
-
Canadian Tulip Festival
-
The Sonoran Desert, Arizona, USA
-
Least chipmunk, Kootenai National Forest, Montana, United States
-
On a dark and stormy night...
-
Kinder Scout, Peak District National Park, UK
-
An oasis in a sea of sand
-
Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
-
Salzburg, Austria
-
Canadian National Exhibition 2024