Griffith Morgan House Hosts Second Annual Welsh Heritage Celebration
Though a tiny nation, Wales played an out-sized role in the settlement of the Delaware Valley and the founding of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Among the early colonists of West New Jersey was a Welsh mariner named Griffith Morgan, who settled his family at the mouth of Pennsauken Creek in 1693. On Sunday, March 6, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., historic Griffith Morgan House will cast its eyes back across the Atlantic to the native land of Wales with food, music, folklore and history of the Welsh.
On the beautiful open hearth of Griffith Morgan House, traditional Welsh food will be prepared, including a stew known in Wales as a “cawl,” which has become virtually the national dish. Traditional Welsh cakes, baked on a heavy iron griddle, will also illustrate the simple, rural fare. Welsh music, including the famous men’s choirs; the distinct Welsh language, literary traditions, and folklore; and the land of Wales itself, will be highlighted as three strong pillars that have sustained Welsh identity despite foreign conquest nearly 750 years ago.
The historic and tumultuous events in Britain and Wales in the 17th Century, which provided a backdrop to the journeys of thousands of Welsh immigrants to the Delaware Valley, will be given special attention. The symbols of Welsh national identity and pride, the leek, the daffodil, the red dragon, and St. David, patron of Wales, and their background in history and folklore may lend a note of “hiraeth,” the Welsh word for the deep, nostalgic longing for Wales and home.
Refreshments will be offered, with a special Welsh savor, so when you raise a cup to toast “iechyd da,” good health in Welsh, no one need be surprised!
Free tours of Griffith Morgan House and its museum and access to the library will be offered, and light refreshments will be available to visitors. Plenty of free parking is available.
Griffith Morgan House is located on Griffith Morgan Lane off River Rd. between Delair and Rt. 73. Visit the Griffith Morgan House page on Facebook for more details or directions, or call (856) 486-9561 and leave a message for more information. Griffith Morgan House is also open for tours by appointment.
