Over the next few weeks, we’ll be watching and singing a load of different national anthems during the World Cup.

But when did the tradition of singing anthems before games start?

It was from the land of song - Wales. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

A thread. 16th December 1905 is when tradition first started. In Cardiff.

Dubbed “the match of the century” - it was the first rugby match between Wales and New Zealand. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🇳🇿

The opposition were touring - this was their only loss of the 35 games.

Wales 3-0 NZ

Snowdon National Park Authority is going to change…

Members have today voted to use the Welsh language names “in every context” from now on. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Snowdon will be ‘Yr Wyddfa’ 🏔️
Snowdonia will be ‘Eryri’

A thread. The Head of Cultural Heritage, Naomi Jones:

“We are eager to consider the message we wish to convey about place names, and the role they have to play in our current cultural heritage by promoting the Welsh language as one of the National Park’s special qualities.”

In 1983, Dafydd Iwan wrote “Yma o Hyd”.

It was a political protest song - to “raise the spirits, to remind people we still speak Welsh against all odds, to show we are still here".

It’s now sung by hundreds of thousands of people across Wales and the World. [thread] Yma o Hyd - Still Here

The song came during the Thatcher era. Many coal pits closing down.

Iwan said he “felt demoralised” about Wales.

An important factor in the song was also the 1979 referendum - where 79.7% of people voted against a Welsh Parliament.

There’s an anti-monarchy protest here led by former Plaid Cymru MS, Bethan Sayed, among the thousands outside Cardiff Castle - in preparation for King Charles’ visit. King Charles arrives at Cardiff Castle. Boos versus cheers.

More from BBC Wales here:
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-…

Important to note the service for Queen Elizabeth II in Cardiff today is bilingual - Welsh and English.

Also significant - William Morgan’s Bible is also there from 1588. He translated the first complete bible into Welsh from Greek/Hebrew.

An important relic in Welsh history👇🏻 For people who don’t know much about this bible… it’s something we learn about in Welsh schools.

William Morgan (1545-1604) was the Bishop of Llandaff and St Asaph.

His Bible is claimed to be the most important book published in Welsh - reinforcing the status of Cymraeg. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

NEW: Every child aged 3-16 in #Wales is going to be offered a free musical instrument as part of the new 'National Music Service'.

It's hoped the plan will help low-income households and those with additional learning needs. More here: Music teaching: Instruments plan for all pupils in Wales bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-…

BREAKING: Every 18 year old leaving care in #Wales will be offered £1,600 a month over 2 years under the basic income pilot. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

It's believed to be the highest amount offered on a scheme of its kind *ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD*. It'll start later this year and around 500 people are expected to be eligible for the plan.

The basic income pilot could cost up to £20m over 3 years.

More Info: bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-…