The Ten Welsh Commandments Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sheep

It's sheep of course. I'm not obsessed with them personally, so I'm not sure if it's 20, 50 or 100 sheep for every one person in Wales (or another ratio altogether), but the Welsh have always been accused (mainly by our near neighbours, who I'm sure are jealous) of taking the role of sheep in the Welsh society far too seriously, especially in a social sense. Seaweed patties wouldn't be such a crazy answer - we do love our laverbread (made out of a particular type of seaweed found on the South Wales coast), but not as much as we love our sheep.

Answer: Beer

Beer of course - where do you think we get our wonderful beer guts from? Brains if you're in South East Wales, Felinfoel if you're in West Wales - and any beer you can get your hands on in any other part of Wales.

"Thou shalt drink not"? I doubt it somehow!

Answer: Three feathers with pride

The three feathers has become a symbol of Wales - although for many Welsh people, as the Prince of Wales' insignia, it is still a symbol of British Monarchy, and therefore an anathema to them. Still, our rugby sides wear the three feathers on their badges, so I suppose we ought to wear it to show a bit of solidarity with them, even if the origins of the badge are a little controversial in Wales!

Kilts and sporrans are more the territory of our Celtic cousins in Ireland and particularly Scotland, though we have seen some recent attempts at encouraging the Welsh to wear them - but frankly, we simply don't have the legs to get away with it, being short and squat and all that!

Answer: Dragons

Whilst some nations glorify in the slaying of dragons by their heroes, the dragon is Wales' national symbol - therefore there is no justification, whatsoever, for going out and looking for dragons to kill. Of course, there aren't that many dragons around these days, so I'm not completely sure about the efficacy or relevance of this particular commandment.

Seaweed plants? Well of course we have to slay them if we want to make laverbread, one of our national dishes, and anyone even thinking of slaying someone who is offering to buy him some beer is probably not Welsh in the first place...

Answer: rugby

They tell us that we should all love rugby, however, more people play and watch football (soccer) in Wales than follow rugby - yet rugby is considered our national game. Strange one that, which I've never quite understood.

If people want to love rugby league, that's their right - as for Morris Dancing - I'll pass on that please.

Answer: The English

This is another controversial commandment. Personally, I quite like the English - it's not their fault that their forefathers conquered Wales and have submitted us to over 700 years of oppression, is it? No one's quite sure if they built Offa's Dyke to keep us in - or we built it to keep them out.

Of course we should be friendly to Dragons, it's our national symbol. Toads in the garden keep the slugs off my courgettes (zucchini), therefore I simply won't have it if people aren't friendly with toads - it would ruin the whole circle of life. So that one's a complete no-no I'm afraid. And we love our Celtic brethren from the North, even though they keep beating us at most sports!

Answer: In the hillsides

A traditional Welsh greeting song, "We'll keep a welcome" is these days heard mainly at some international sporting fixtures - often when a touring team from abroad is playing its last game in Wales. These are the words to this traditional greeting song;

Far away a voice is calling,
Bells from memory do chime
Come home again, come home again,
They call through the oceans of time.
We'll keep a welcome in the hillside.
We'll keep a welcome in the Vales
This land you knew will still be singing
When you come home again to Wales.

This land of song will keep a welcome
And with a love that never fails,
Well kiss away each hour of hiraeth
When you come home again to Wales.

Is the Custard Slice a unique Welsh delicacy? I've never seen them anywhere else in the world, but that's not to say they don't get sold outside of Wales. Every time an Eisteddfod visits a location in Wales, a circle of Druid's stones is built for the Druidical Ceremonies, and the circle is left there as a reminder of the Eisteddfod. Tonypandy is a town in the Rhondda, probably best known in recent years as being the seat of Viscount Tonypandy, the famous Labour politician, George Thomas.

Answer: The National Anthem

It annoys me sometimes when some of these sports stars don't even know the words of the Anthem. If Vinnie Jones, from Watford, could learn it, then I'm sure those born and bought up in Wales can. I can't see Vinnie learning how to make Welsh Cakes though somehow. Writing Cynghanedd is another quiz or twenty in its own right. Here it is for those who want to start learning it now! These are Evan James' words;

Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mâd,
Dros ryddid collasant eu gwaed.

(Cytgan/ Chorus)

Gwlad, gwlad, pleidiol wyf i'm gwlad.
Tra môr yn fur i'r bur hoff bau,
O bydded i'r hen iaith barhau.

Answer: Leek Soup

It's the much maligned Leek. I don't know why so many people dislike the taste of leeks. They are one of my favourite vegetables. Chop up some leeks, add some diced potatoes, boil up for an hour or so till it's all "mushy", add a little cream, some fried red onion, seasoning and yum, yum - an absolutely delightful meal.

Folklore has it that when the Welsh archers turned up to fight for the English king at the Battle of Crecy, they decided to wear leeks on their uniforms to distinguish themselves from the enemy. More folklore has it that this tradition went back to the times of St David, whose soldiers wore leeks as a form of identity in the battles against the pagan Saxon invaders. Either way, it makes a lovely soup, believe me!

Answer: On international days

It's strange, but there's something about international sports days that makes the nation want to get together and drink - I don't know whether it's the excitement at another impending sporting clash, or just the fact that we're a fairly sociable lot that like nothing better than an excuse to get together, have a drink, a bit of a gossip, a bit of a laugh and a good old sing song.

If we did that whenever rain was forecast in Wales, we'd be getting together and drinking all the time - heaven forbid!

I hope you enjoyed the quiz, and that you got a lighthearted insight into the people I'm proud to be a part of!