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“My Husband Insists I’m Not Welsh.” Woman Confesses Daily Struggle to Prove Her Welsh-ness to Husband
The question ‘What makes a person Welsh’ has been long debated. How can one prove someone that they are Welsh? Rowena Jones, reached out to Humans of Cymru community—concerned about her Welsh-ness.
“I have a question: My husband insists I am not Welsh because I was born in Manchester. So basically, my mam was born in gorslas and her mam before her and so forth. My mam was sent to an all-girls school in Chichester, but she ran away and ended up in Manchester where she had me and my brothers. She missed Wales (quoting ‘hiraeth’) so much that she moved us to Wales.
I have been here since I was 6 (now 57) and I believe I’m Welsh even though he says I’m not, he was born locally and never uses the language but as a 2nd language person I try to speak it often (with my 5-year-old grandson who uses the language a lot). So, what is your opinion? Am I Welsh? Do I have to prove my Welsh? I will show him this regardless of opinions. thanks in advance.”
The readers have been kind enough to confirm her and suggest the following.
1. “If you feel Welsh, then you definitely ARE Welsh, do not let anyone tell you otherwise!”
2. “You are whatever you want to be!”
3. “You are Welsh heritage by birth through your mother. If your father was English or other, then you are Welsh/English (or other). And since you were in Wales since age 6, you can easily identify with being Welsh.
Trace your family tree to see how far back you can go. My Mam was born and bred Welsh, my dad was born and bred English, but on doing my family tree my dad’s side traces far back to a lot of Welsh heritage as well as others.”
4. “My family all came from Birmingham and moved to Wales in the 60s and I was born in Prestatyn. I class myself as Welsh.”
5. “I consider myself Welsh as my ancestry is Welsh even though I live in England and was born in Chester. My sister was born in Wales by living just over the border because my mum had a home birth with her but i consider these semantics! My Nain spoke welsh to me as a child, but I have unfortunately lost the language. I am Welsh and proud!”
6. “Made in Wales I always say.”
7. “Of course you are Welsh. Being Welsh is more than being born within our borders. For whoever says this not to be, David Lloyd George was born in Manchester, Dafydd Wigley in Liverpool, and even that great Scottish singer, Rod Stewart was born in London. I know many people who were born within Wales who I would never class as Welsh.”
8. “Welsh can be an ethnicity or a nationality. Your culture and ancestry sound Welsh.”
9. “You are culturally more Welsh than anything else. So, you are Welsh.”
10. “Do you want to be Welsh? Yes, Will you respect the language, culture, beautiful landscape, and each other?
Yes = Croeso teulu! Welcome family! If No; Englands that way (There’s no place for imperialism here).”
Rowena, overwhelmed by the response, thanked the community for the support she was looking for.
“Thank you everyone, I can now tell my hubby that my blood is Welsh, my heart is Welsh, and my soul is true Cymru. I was born English but bred Welsh and I will never leave. I don’t have to prove Welsh. I even stay in Wales for my holidays because I can never get enough of all the beautiful places I have discovered. I must admit though llandeilo is my everything. Diolch am eich ateb.”
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Sally is a proud wife of a Welshman, editor & writer of Welsh Histories. She’s all about stories—that shout ‘anything Welsh.’ Drop her an email if you have an advice, insight, experience, or a story to share.