Adfywiad Fashion Post: Cilting it up, for Cymru?
Full, as possible Information on how and perhaps why? the Cymry are being ''Cilited Up'' will be found on in posting: CILTS ARE US - The Cilting of Cymru published in:Follow through the links in this article and you will come to know a lot more about ''Tartan Taffery'' and the 'Yellow (Heretics Cross of Redemption at pain of death) of Saint David. In main now being promoted by ''MHOSD MEN'', Mark Roberts and Henry Jones Davies also Editor of Cambria Magazine also initiator of the annual 'Dydd Dewi' Parade in Caerdydd. (see web for info).
The whole silly ''NAFF TARTAN TAFF'' idea, can be sourced to the ''TARTAN TAFF CENTRE'' In Cardiff (and in Abertawe) See photo below:
Although some one sent me following photos with the good news, that possibly one ''Tartan Taff'' shop is closing down? is this the case? 
Do not get me wrong, I think the Scots are great in their ''Kilt Heritage'' but as for the 'Cymry in Cilts', forget it. See below what one patriot thinks of it all, note that he is replying to some one standing up for ''Cilts and Crosses'':
Commenting on ''Cilts Cymru'': ''The cilt is probably the single most recogniseable Scottish (i.e. non-Welsh) item of clothing people could possibly wear. Welsh nationalism is hardly the majority sentiment in Wales. It is something that needs to be fostered and encouraged. People need to see that Wales is a nation in her own right, with a history, culture and traditions of her own. As things stand, Wales is promoted by the powers that be as merely a geographical area incorporated into England long before nations had emerged. That is, we never had our own institutions, never had our own traditions, never were a nation. That's why our culture is portrayed as male voice choirs, the Welsh Guards marching band, coal-miners and rugby....Appearing in cilts only reinforces this idea that Wales has no culture or heritage of her own, and that we have to invent and borrow in order to create a nation. And that 'created' nation being a nation with characteristics alien to the 99.9% of Welsh for whom the cilt is an irrelevant abhoration. This is detrimental to the growth of Welsh identity. You may of course point to the creating of traditions. Fine. I agree that creating traditions is natural and good. But creating is not the same as duplicating. When Lady Llanover created the (quite ludicrous) Welsh ladies costume, she didn't copy another nation's dress, she made one anew. As for the 'God' element - you can also disagree with me at will. But don't call me 'divisive' or 'petty' etc here either'.
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Commenting on St David's Cross: If believing in fairy tales is a pre-requisite for being a nationalist and for attending the parade, then count me out. For again, if we need to attract the new generation into the fold, we must rid ourselves of this pompous (and reactionary) religious bullshit. There - is that not a valid point I have the right to make??? Disagree if you like, but don't come out with your 'divisive and petty' routine. Such tactics stifle debate, and are just a form of bullying someone into passive, silent aquiescence. We're used to that from the Brit State and Labour Goliath. But with God on your side, I suppose you all feel justified to persecute the dissenters! It seems some of you parade organisers/helpers have created yet another Welsh sacred cow. A Plaid Cymru, or a Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg - an institute one can never criticise, or even pass judgement on, or even disagree with certain elements of. It is taboo to mildly rib, or to point out certain failings, like it is taboo in nationalist circles to criticise Saunders or Gwynfor, or the Cymdeithas leadership. Here we go again with the Saint David's Parade. No matter how many times I state my support for it as an event that promotes Welsh identity, it is still claimed I am anti-parade just because of a couple of valid points I raise''.
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He is of course spot on, dead right, thankfully not every patriot seems to be duped enough to buy into this ''CILT CYMRU CRACKERDOM''. I have a number of reasons why I am opposed, one is this use of post 1536 ''SLAVE NAMES'' as if they were ''Cymric Clan Names'' (or Cenedl/Tribe, to be more correct in a Cymric context). Since the 60's, following on Black Panther ues of 'X' instead of Slave Sur names, we have campaigned for our people to adopt use of 'ap' or at least ''Cymricise'' their Sur Names. Now along comes Mr Wake and in his footsteps Tony Collins, inventing and promoting ''Naff Tartan Taffery'' which makes it look as if such ideas and products are rooted in our ancient Cymric heritage, when they are not. Get my patriotic point?
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BEWARE THE BOURGEOUISE ARE REINVENTING WALES IN THEIR OWN IMAGE AGAIN. Sigh! Then along comes ''Idjeet'' of the week, Hywel Edwards an ''organ grinder'' of the National Eisteddfod (Sorry, I meant Organiser), who suggested that the Lady Llanover ''Womens Welsh Costume'' be done away with (See WM 24-03-07) because it presents the wrong image of Wales, it is ''Old Fashioned'' he says, so what? Behind all this, is as with the ''Cilts Cymru'', is much to do with marketing of Wales to the World but just why should we be dressing up for market forces and commercialism in Wales or for the World. Hywel went on to suggest the boys ''traditional costume'' of Flat cap and waistcoat also needs to be dumped (I might agree with him there, see below), thankfully, he did not suggest they all dress up in 'Tam o Shanters' and ''Cilts Cymru''. However, this post Devolution Dilettant made an even worse suggestion, that both boys and girls use WRU shirts as a ''National Dress''. Where is this guy coming from? Does he really want all our kiddies to go around sporting those ''Brit Three Feathers'' and advertizing beer - Yes! ALCOHOL, recently deemed by an huge body of experts as the most harm inflicting substance, indulged by many, but does not make it right. I have given up fags and cut down on booze myself but I have no ''Axe to Grind'' re people smoking or drinking but I am greatly opposed to our children being used as ''Advertizing Hoardings'' for Brains Breweries. HOW ABOUT YOU?
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Right on Girls keep wearing the ''National Costume'', especially if your going to carry 'Baner Glyndwr' as the patriotess below:
As for all of you out there with those WRU Shirts, remember our 'Ditch the Duster' Campaign and at least cover them up ok!
NB: I am not keen on this ''Flat Cap Costume'' either, is there no better inspiration or idea out there, to help think up something else, before all the lads are in ''Cilts Cymru''. I seem to remember seeing years ago, the illustration of a Welsh Farmer, dressed up in his 18th/19th? century ''Sunday Best'', which consisted of: A Red to waist Jacket, White Shirt, Black Trews and calf length white Socks plus Clogs and a ''ZORRO STYLE'' hat. Am wondering if i dreamed all this up? whatever, I think some one should organise a competition to design a better and more tradional male ''Welsh Costume'' and perhaps revamp the tradional womens ''Welsh Costume'' but please do not ''throw the baby out with the bathwater''. Now back to hats, see below:
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You will see I have taken to wearing a FEZ (yes! Just Like That?), bit of a ''Cultural Icon'' in opposition to Western Wear in the Ottoman Empire but later becomes a ''Religious Icon'' in the far East. It is also popularised in it's use by European Colonial Armies. Nothing really identifiable as a Nationalist Icon, but if we were to take up wearing something other than a ''Patriotic Flat Cap'', what would you suggest we wear? See below:
* Garibaldi 'Pill Box' Cap? HHHmmm!!!! became populer fashion with 19th Century ladies, also difficult to keep on in a storm.
* Basque Beret? HHHmmm!!! but does'nt this have ''Carlist Connections?''
* Phirygian Cap - Bonet Rouge /Cap Goch of the French Revolution, my favourite.
What about you? any suggestions? let me know if you have.
Hwyl!
Gethin.
NB: Re the Womens Welsh Costume: See related future posting: DAMES AND DRAGONS, how it is related, I will leave you to think on and guess about ok!
posted by Gethin 'Iestyn' Gruffydd @ Tuesday, March 27, 2007
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