The Welsh Settlement in Patagonia Today

The Twentieth Century

Welsh people went to Patagonia in order to maintain their language and traditions. However, Spanish became the official language from 1880 onwards due to the Argentine authorities becoming actively involved in the governance of the settlement. This led to the beginning of a decline in the number of people speaking Welsh during the twentieth century.
 
By the mid-twentieth century the influx from Wales ceased all together and peoples of different cultural backgrounds from other parts of Argentina migrated to the territory. Welsh migration ceased completely with the start of the First World War. During this time there was little connection between Wales and Patagonia because of the two world wars, and during the depression years of Peron’s presidency of Argentina it was better to keep quiet about non-Hispanic heritage. The Welsh community was now in a minority and when the first generations of Welsh colonists disappeared, the sense of relationship between Wales and Patagonia weakened. Welsh cultural activity was reduced and an Eisteddfod was a rare event during this time
 
The links between Wales and Patagonia were strengthened during the 1960s. The year 1965 was the centenary of the Welsh Settlement. This was not only a time for the Welsh of Patagonia to take pride in this exceptional chapter in their history, but it was also the beginning of recovery of their Welsh identity.
 
In 1997 a Welsh Office project, under the auspices of the National Assembly for Wales, was started in order to aid the teaching of Welsh in Patagonia. The projects was to send teachers from Wales to lead teams to teach Welsh in the different areas of Patagonia, from nursery school level to primary, secondary and evening classes for adults. The project continues to this day.
 
A number of organizations such as Cymdeithas Cymru-Ariannin (Wales-Argentina Society), Menter Patagonia (an organisation that promotes the Welsh language in the community in Wales and Patagonia), Llandovery College, and Lampeter and Cardiff universities all take part in projects to promote the connection between Wales and Argentina, and to renew the Welsh language.
 
In 2001, the Gorsedd y Wladfa (a branch of the Circle of Bards of the Island of Britain based in Wales) was re-established with the recent Clydwyn ap Aeron Jones as President. He was followed by his brother, David Mefin Jones, and by Geraint Edmunds in 2008.

The Welsh Settlement Today

Out of approximately 150,000 people living in the province of Chubut (the province where the Welsh areas of Patagonia are located) there are approximately 20,000 of whom are descendants of the Welsh. Many of them speak Welsh naturally, and many more are able to speak Welsh to differing levels. The latter are people and children who either have received some amount of Welsh at home, or have learned Welsh as a second language in the classroom. Approximately 600-700 children and people of all ages are learning Welsh as a second language annually.
 
The Welsh heritage of Patagonia is visible throughout the entire province even in the middle of the Patagonian desert. Welsh names and signs are seen in the street on the shop fronts; you can find Siop Bara in Gaiman for instance, or Bendigedig restaurant in Rawson, Tŷ Te Nain Maggie tea house in Trevelin, Yr Hen Ffordd guest house, Siocled chocolate shop and Blasus cake shop in Gaiman. Examples of the names of the agricultural areas of the Chubut Valley are Tair Helygen, Glyn Du, Drofa Dulog, Lle Cul and Tir Halen. Names of some of the towns are Dolavon, Trevelin, Trelew and Porth Madryn. Names of places our in the steppe are Hirdaith Edwyn, Y Clafdy, Afon Eira, Hafn yr Aur, Bannau Beiddio, Hafn Mihangel, Gwastad Mawddwy and Ceunant Cethin.
 
Welsh culture and traditions survive in Welsh Patagonia. Many festivals are held at Porth Madryn, in the Chubut Valley and Cwm Hyfryd in the Andes. A number of Welsh choirs and folk dancing groups from the Chubut Valley and the Andes compete in the various Eisteddfod. Other festivals of note are Gŵyl y Glaniad on 28 July, the 25 November Festival in Trevelin, and St David Day also receives attention in some areas, mainly in Trelew.
 

Important Welsh festivals in Patagonia

March 1: St David's Day - Trelew
April (first weekend): Chubut Valley Agricultural Fair - Gaiman
April 30: Plebiscite Day – Pentre Sydyn, Trevelin. Celebrates the decision of the Welsh of Cwm Hyfryd to remain as part of Argentina rather than Chile in 1902.
May (first weekend): Eisteddfod Bro Hydref (Chair) - Trevelin.
July 28: Gŵyl y Glaniad - Porth Madryn and other areas. Celebrates the anniversary of the day landed off the ship Mimosa in 1865 near where Madryn is today.
August (first weekend): Mimosa Eisteddfod - Porth Madryn.
September (second weekend): Eisteddfod de la Juventud (up to 25 years) - Gaiman
October (end): Eisteddfod Y Wladfa (Chair and Crown) – Trelew. The principle Eisteddfod in Patagonia.
November 25: November 25 Festival - Trevelin, Cwm Hyfryd. Celebrates the discovery of Cwm Hyfryd by the Welsh "Rifleros" in 1885.