Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru Sir Gâr, 1 - 9 Awst 2014. Mae hanes hir ac amrywiol i’r Eisteddfod Genedlaethol, gyda’r Brifwyl yn dyddio’n ôl i 1176. Cynhaliwyd yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol gyntaf ar ei ffurf fodern yn 1861 yn Aberdar. Yr Eisteddfod yw un o wyliau celfyddydol mawr y byd, sy’n dod â phobl o bob oed a chefndir ynghyd i ddathlu a mwynhau cymysgedd eclectig o gerddoriaeth, llenyddiaeth, dawns, theatr, celfyddyddau gweledol a llawer iawn mwy.
The first modern Eisteddfod was held in Aberdare (Aberdâr) in 1861. The National Eisteddfod of Wales takes place in Carmarthenshire from 1 - 9 August 2014. It is one of the three major Eisteddfodau held in the summer months. The others are the Urdd being held in Meirionnydd 26 - 31 May 2014 and the International Eisteddfod at Llangollen 8 - 13 July 2014. They are all important events being held over the summer months. However, summer is not the only time of year that such festivals are held and the Winter Eisteddfod is also a feature in parts of Wales. Indeed the first Eisteddfod was held over Christmas in 1176 and was known as a bardic tournament.
The event was instigated by Rhys ap Gruffydd (1132 - 28 April 1197). He was the ruler of the Deheubarth realms of south Wales at the time. The event of 1176 was seen as a way of underlining his importance as the country’s most important chieftain. Even at its inception this event of poetry and music was seen as a national celebration, but also encouraged international participation. This international legacy continues today. It is said that the poetry chair was won by a bard from Gwynedd in north Wales and the music prize went to someone from Rhys ap Gruffydd’s own court. When he died in 1197 he had been ruler for over forty years. He was buried in Eglwys Gadeiriol Tyddewi (St Davids Cathedral).
