 Goursez Vreizh, 2002
Report by Rod Lyon (Tewennow)
Deputy Grand Bard
Location. The site for this year's
Goursez Vreizh (The Breton Gorseth) was at Menez Meur, about seven
miles from the town of Brasparts. The ceremony took place in a
clearing, located within the complex of a Breton "centre",
displaying and promoting Breton culture and crafts.
Weather. The weather was dry and in
the main sunny, although, due to a strong breeze and perhaps the
altitude, not particularly warm.
Delegates. There were two delegates
from Wales, former Archdruid Geraint Bowen and his wife, Zonia, and
from Cornwall the Deputy Grand Bard, Rod Lyon (Tewennow) and his
wife, Margaret (Myrgh Casnewydd).
Ceremony. Some 25 bards in all met at
Menez Meur at approximately 10 am, and, after a cup of coffee,
robed in a small room provided for the purpose. Following robing,
we all proceeded to a point about 300 yards from the circle within
which the ceremony was to take place, and after a short briefing,
and led by a couple of pipers, we processed through an avenue of
trees to the circle.
The circle was roughly defined by stones, but in the main by a
rope barrier, outside of which stood approximately a hundred
members of the public to witness the spectacle. Prominently located
in the circle was the Maen-Log or "rock", on which the Drewyth Mur
(Gwenc'hlan le Scou‘zec) stood, and eventually one of the
delegates from both Wales and Cornwall.
The Drewyth Mur, who incidentally in the Breton Gorseth is a
permanent holder of the office, on taking his position on the
centre of the "rock" receives the Lady of the Flowers (here dressed
completely in white) and accepts her gift. He then welcomes the
delegates from Wales and Cornwall, who return greetings and take
their place on the "rock", the Welsh delegate on the Drewyth Mur's
right, and the Cornish delegate on his left.
Following the sounding of the horn to the four corners of the
nation, as in Cornwall and Wales, and the Gorseth Prayer, which
again is the same as that used at both the Welsh and Cornish
Gorsethow, there were further brief messages from the Welsh and
Cornish delegates. The Drewyth Mur then delivered his address -
this year quite long and rather strongly worded!
As in the Welsh Gorseth, there are three orders within the
Breton Gorseth: Druids (white robes), Bards (blue robes) and Ovates
(green robes).Ê This year three druids, two bards and three
ovates were received into the Gorseth, the ceremony taking place
after the Drewyth Mur's address. Also accepted into the Gorseth was
one "Disciple" - a young lady from Israel.
There then followed the "joining of the sword", in which one
half of a small ceremonial sword, borne by a Breton Bard, is joined
to the other half, borne by a Welsh Bard.Ê This is a symbol
demonstrating the united nature of the Welsh and Breton Gorsethow,
an act introduced before the founding of the Cornish Gorseth; but
to show that the later-formed Cornish Gorseth shares equally the
same aims, principles etc of the two other Gorsethow, the newly
joined half-swords were given to the Cornish Bard Myrgh Casnewydd,
who presented the whole to the Drewyth Mur. After accepting the
sword and calling upon the Celtic People to bond together through
their "spirit, heart and soul" until the return of Arthur, it was
once again placed in the hands of the Cornish Bard, who in the
company of the Breton and Welsh Bards, returned with it to their
respective places in the circle.
We then witnessed another part of the ceremony which does not
appear in the Cornish or Welsh Gorsethow, and that was the
presenting of freshly gathered mistletoe, initially to the Drewyth
Mur and the two delegates on the "rock", then to the other bards
present, and finally to the members of the public outside of the
circle of bards. This is to ensure, above all, Youth and
Health.
Finally the date of the next Gorseth was announced (the third
Sunday in July, 2003), the ceremony closed, and Bro Gozh ma Zado
(Bro Goth agan Tasow) sung.
All the bards then left the circle, not in procession, to unrobe
and join together for a first-class meal provided on the
premises.
This was an excellent Gorseth and it was a thoroughly enjoyable
occasion, made even better through the hospitality for which the
Bretons are well known.
During our stay over the Gorseth weekend, we were advised of the
names of the two Breton Delegates who will be attending our Gorseth
at Pensilva in September. These
will be Claude Amice from Brasparts and Guy Le Nair from L'Aber
Wrac'h.
Tewennow
Cannas Barth Mur
2002
Photo: the Horner calls to the four corners of the Nation
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