New ballot demanding Wales is known as Cymru
- The petition is titled: ‘Abolish the title ‘Wales’ and make ‘Cymru’ the one title’
Over 10,000 individuals have signed a petition demanding Wales be known as Cymru – following the choice to solely discuss with the Brecon Beacons and Mount Snowdon by their Welsh names.
The petition, titled ‘abolish the title ‘Wales’ and make ‘Cymru’ the one title for our nation’, has reached 10,560 signatures.
The title ‘Wales’ is derived from an Anglo-Saxon phrase which means ‘foreigners’ and the petition says it’s ‘primarily not a Welsh phrase in any respect’.
Cymru means ‘fellow countrymen’, Cymry is the title for these from the nation, and Cymraeg is the title for the language – in contrast to in English, underneath which individuals each are Welsh and communicate Welsh.
It comes after the English names of Snowdon and Snowdonia have been ditched in favour of Yr Wyddfa and Eryri.
The Brecon Beacons was additionally modified to Bannau Brycheiniog – however Prime Minister Rishi Sunak not too long ago clashed with Welshman and movie star Michael Sheen when he refused to make use of the Welsh title.
Despite the backlash, nationwide park officers additionally voted to discuss with over 200 lakes and waterfalls by their Welsh names solely.
Over 10,000 individuals have signed a petition demanding Wales be known as Cymru
The petition, titled ‘abolish the title ‘Wales’ and make ‘Cymru’ the one title for our nation’, has reached 10,560 signatures. Pictured is the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff
Pictured is Pen y Fan in Bannau Brycheiniog, beforehand the Brecon Beacons
Llyn Padarn, Llanberis, in Snowdonia/Eryri National Park
The Senedd petition, which was put ahead by Arfon Jones, reads: ‘Wales is a reputation imposed on Cymru and is actually not a Welsh phrase in any respect. The world is aware of about Wales due to its English connection since 1282.
‘Hardly anybody has heard of Cymru or realises that we’ve got our personal distinctive language and tradition which is completely totally different from the opposite nations inside the United Kingdom.’
The petition was posted final week and has already surpassed the variety of signatures required to go to the Petitions Committee for a debate within the Senedd.
A ballot asking the Welsh public if they like the title Wales or Cymru discovered that 59 per cent of individuals suppose the nation ought to solely be known as Cymru.
Under half (41 per cent) needed to maintain the title Wales whereas 19 per cent mentioned they did not thoughts.
Andrew RT Davies, Member of the Senedd for South Wales Central, mentioned on X: ‘I’d favor to see petitions highlighting the place Welsh Labour Government are failing on schooling, failing on the financial system and failing on the Health Service.
‘We’ve solely not too long ago simply seen that huge petition that got here to the Welsh Parliament that recognized individuals’s frustration over the blanket 20mph throughout the entire of Wales the place practically half one million individuals signed that petition.
‘Let’s not attempt to put each languages towards one another, let’s have a good time each languages and have a good time the bilingualism of Wales.’
An aerial view of Snowdonia/Eryri. National park bosses have been accused by each UK Government ministers and Welsh Conservatives for making an attempt to look ‘fashionable’
Brecon Beacons nationwide park additionally rebranded itself as Bannau Brycheiniog
Campaigners are additionally pushing to axe English spellings of Welsh locations which might see Gavin and Stacey’s seaside city change from Barry to Barri
But Welsh independence campaigner Gwern Gwynfil mentioned: ‘There is nothing uncommon about nations deciding on their very own official names. Türkiey and Czechia are latest examples of this.
‘In no approach does this drive others to vary the names they use however it’s a clear and assured expression of identification in a contemporary worldwide context.
‘More broadly it displays a wider satisfaction and recognition of genuine cultural values, from Uluru to Bannau Brycheiniog, that is additionally a world phenomenon.
‘This is a traditional factor for nations to do. Perhaps the extra related subject right here is why are some individuals so viscerally towards the thought? What are they afraid of?’
In November 2022, the Snowdonia National Park Authority mentioned Mount Snowdon and the Snowdonia National Park could be referred to by their Welsh names following a petition with 5,000 signatures.
Critics had mentioned the proposed title change – championed by Welsh language lovers – was ‘complicated’ and a backward step when the title Snowdon was identified ‘all through the world’.
But supporters mentioned scrapping the English title – which means ‘snow hill’ – confirmed ‘respect’ for the Welsh language.
The Welsh title, which is pronounced ‘Er Withva’ and means ‘burial mound’, has lengthy been utilized in Welsh translations.
But the nationwide park will now use Yr Wyddfa and Eryri in English ‘contexts’ as properly.
The Brecon Beacons National Park is altering its title as a direct response to the local weather and ecological disaster, the park’s chief government has mentioned
Then in April 2023, it was introduced that the Brecon Beacons may even be referred to by its extra ‘eco-friendly’ Welsh title after the change was promoted by Michael Sheen.
Those behind the nationwide park agreed that the usage of the phrase ‘beacons’, with its echoes of wood-burning braziers chucking out carbon emissions, needed to go.
The change to Bannau Brycheiniog National Park – pronounced Ban-eye Bruck-ein-iog – or the Bannau for brief, was introduced in a video introduced by the Welsh movie star the place he mentioned it’s ‘an previous title for a brand new technique to be’.
Talking concerning the new title, Sheen mentioned: ‘I’m delighted to see them dealing with their challenges head-on and welcome the reclamation of the previous Welsh title, an previous title for a brand new approach of being.’
He added: ‘National parks have an important position to play in offering for nature, for individuals and for our shared future.’
In November final 12 months, one other petition known as for ‘Welsh names for Welsh locations’ within the saga of reclaiming Welsh tradition.
The 1,300 petition introduced to the Cardiff-based Senedd by linguist Mihangel ap Rhisiart would imply that Caerphilly cheese would change into Caerffili Cheese – and TV comedy Gavin and Stacey’s seaside residence city would change from Barry to Barri.
Mr Ap Rhisiart additionally hit out on the ‘cultural oppression’ by the English towards Welsh audio system.
Labour’s Welsh Language Minister Jeremy Miles – a contender to take over from First Minister Mark Drakeford – mentioned there was ‘a powerful argument’ for utilizing simply the Welsh in some instances.
