Insight into unique New Year tradition still alive in Pembrokeshire

Canolfan Bethlehem in Newport, Pembrokeshire, will host a special Hen Galan (Old New Year) talk on Wednesday evening (January 28), offering a rare opportunity to explore one of Wales’s most distinctive and enduring cultural traditions, as it continues to be lived and celebrated in Cwm Gwaun.
Hen Galan, meaning “Old New Year” - is observed in Cwm Gwaun according to the old Julian calendar, several days later than the modern New Year. While Britain officially adopted the Gregorian calendar in the eighteenth century, communities in Cwm Gwaun continued to mark the turning of the year in their own way.
Over time, this quiet act of continuity became a defining feature of local life, and Hen Galan remains an important and much-cherished celebration, rooted in language, place, and community memory.
This event offers a rare chance to hear directly from those who live and breathe these traditions. Bonni Davies of Cwm Gwaun will give a talk drawing on personal experience, local knowledge, and the stories passed down through generations, exploring how Hen Galan has been celebrated and why it continues to hold such significance today.
The evening will be enriched by the presence of local strabs Bois y Clôs, whose music and song will bring warmth, humour, and plenty of hwyl to the occasion.
Traditionally, Hen Galan in Cwm Gwaun is marked by children travelling from house to house, singing seasonal songs and offering good wishes for the year ahead in exchange for calennig, small gifts of sweets or money. These customs speak to an older rhythm of rural life and a strong sense of shared identity, qualities that continue to shape the celebration today.
Doors will open at 6.15pm, with Bois y Clôs performing from 6.30pm. The talk will begin at 7.15pm, followed by tea and traditional bara brith.
A translation service will be available for those with limited Welsh. Donations will be gratefully accepted on the door.
The event is open to all and will appeal to anyone with an interest in Welsh culture, heritage, and living traditions that continue to thrive within their original communities.
For further information, please contact: canolfanbethlehem@gmail.com
©Vid: BBC Wales