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Wales: Llanfair PG, Leeks and Daffodils, & Welsh Cakes
Want to know more about Wales? Are you a lover of travel, geography teacher, homeschooling or involved parent, student, or life-long learner? In an effort to make world geography more meaningful and memorable, I've compiled all you will need to locate Wales on a map, cook an Welsh meal, watch YouTube clips on Wales, color the flag, create a Welsh craft, read a great book about Wales, and more!
Please DO NOT copy this elsewhere without giving proper credit: http://iijuan12.hubpages.com/hub/w-is-for-wales
Where is Wales?
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Locate Wales on this map of Europe. Use this map of Wales to label the capitol, Cardiff. Mark other relevant features (rivers, mountains, famous locations, etc.) if desired. If you'd like to spend a bit more time researching the country, you can add the language, currency, type of government, religion, and/or famous landmarks. Write them on the back of the map. You can easily find all this information at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wales.
Fun Facts about Wales
The Talyllyn Railway (Rheilffordd Talyllyn) is a narrow gauge preserved railway in Wales running for 7.25mi from Tywyn on the Mid-Wales coast to Nant Gwernol near the village of Abergynolwyn. The Thomas the Train series by Reverend W. Awdry, was based on the Talyllyn Railway, which Awdry worked during the 1950s.
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, referred to as Llanfair PG for short, is a Welsh village and has the longest place name in Europe and one of the longest place names in the world. The name means, "St. Mary's Church [in] the hollow of the white hazel near the rapid whirlpool [and] the church of St. Tysilio with a red cave." The name was given to the town as a publicity stunt in the 1860s, and even today the the town draws tourists simply because of the name.
Welsh rabbit (also known as Welsh rarebit) does not have any rabbit in it. It is made with a savoury sauce of melted cheese and various other ingredients and served hot over toast. The name was given to the dish as an insult to the Welsh during the 1700's, as it implied that the Welsh were quite poor (and could not afford meat) and were poor hunters (and could not successfully hunt rabbits).
The Welsh Flag
Print and color the flag of Wales and learn the history and meaning of it from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Wales.
Visit Wales on YouTube: North Wales: Conwy Castle
North Wales: Caernarfon Castle from Rick Steves Europe
North Wales: Country of Poetry from Rick Steves Europe
Snodownia, Wales: Wild Wales and Mt. Snowdon from Rick Steves Europe
Bread Of Heaven - Visit Wales Promotional Video
Talyllyn Slate Railway Steam Trains (Wales) circa 1960 - "Railway With A Heart Of Gold"
How To Say Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
Welsh Meal
Prepare and serve Cawl Mamgu (Creamy Potato Leek Soup), Teisennau Eog Dyfrdwy (Welsh Salmon Fish Cakes), a lettuce and vinegrette salad, "chips" (french fries), hot tea with milk and sugar, and Welsh Cakes.
Cawl Mamgu (Creamy Potato Leek Soup)
- 1/2 cup sliced leek
- 2 cans chicken broth
- 4 medium potatoes cut in 1
- 1 diced onion
- 3/4 cup heavy cream or whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon celery seed (optional)
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Bring broth to a boil and reduce to medium. Add leeks, potatoes, and onion and simmer, covered, 25-30 minutes. Add seasonings and cream. Simmer 5 minutes more. Slightly mash with a potatoes masher to desired consistency. (This recipe came from food.com.)
Teisennau Eog Dyfrdwy (Welsh Salmon Fish Cakes)
- 8 ounces salmon (poached & flaked. You can use canned.)
- 1 tablespoon chives (chopped)
- 1 lb potato (peeled) (or use instant mashed potatoes)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 3 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Boil the potatoes until tender. Mash well with 1 Tablespoon of the butter and mix in the salmon, parsley, chives and lemon zest. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Turn out onto a floured surface, divide into 8 portions and shape into cakes. Fry in 2 Tablespoons butter mixed with oil until golden brown on each side. Drain on kitchen paper. Serve garnished with parsley and lemon wedges if desired. (This recipe came from food.com.)
Welsh Cakes
- 1 cup butter
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 cup washed and drained currants (or raisins if currants are not available)
- oil for frying
Instructions
- Mix together dry ingredients. Cut in cold butter. Mix egg and milk together and slowly add to dry ingredients. Turn onto a floured board and roll 1/4 inch thick. Cut into rounds and fry in a skillet on medium-high heat for about 5 minutes per each side. (This recipe came from food.com.)
Make a leek and daffodil boquet
The leek and the daffodil and both emblems of Wales, and they both share the Welsh name ceninen. The leek is known to have been displayed as a Welsh emblem in 1536 and in Henry V, Shakespeare acknowledged this as an ancient custom. One legend tells of a battle between the Welsh and the Saxons fought in a field of leeks. At some time in the past, the leek was an important part of the Welsh diet but it is not commonly eaten today.
The daffodil has no such claim to literary and historical distinction. It has become the more favored recent emblem possibly because the word for daffodil and for leek are the same in Welsh. Some have said that the daffodil is encouraged more by the British government because as it does not have any historical association with the defeat of Saxons. (www.data-wales.co.uk).
Make a bouquet of paper daffodils and leeks. Create the daffodils by following the directions at dltk.kids.com. To create the leeks, simply roll up green construction paper like you did for the stem of the daffodils. Glue a small piece of white construction paper to the bottom of the green tube. Use scissors to make a few slits in the top of the green construction paper to make it resemble a leek.
Find more great activities on Wales at dltk.kids.com.
Read a book about Wales
Pray for the people of Wales
To find out about the religious nature of Wales and specific ways you can pray for the country, go to operationworld.com.
Where is Cardiff, the capital of Wales?
I haven't been to Wales. Have you?
I haven't been to Wales. Have you?
Other options for the letter W
There are currently no countries that begin with the letter W. Instead, try one of these territories.
Wallis and Futuna (French)
Wake Island (US)
Western Sahara (Moroccan)
Ready to visit another country?
Go to Around the World in 26 Letters to find links to all the countries we "visited." Each webpage features a menu, craft, books, video clips, worksheets, and more!