The Welsh language is spoken throughout Wales, in nearby parts of England, and in the Chubut province of Argentina.Before the Spanish came to America, indigenous nomadic people settled early on in the New World, as far south as southern Argentina and Chile. Magellan called this area Patagonia. It's gorgeous - especially the Chubut River Valley.
Welsh emigration to the Chubut Province began in about 1865 in response to the Argentine government's invitation to western Europeans to settle the sparsely populated areas outside Buenos Aires. By 1875, there were 34 settlements of various western European ethnicities.
There are now over 50,000 Patagonians of Welsh descent. Only about 1500 actually still speak Welsh. The Welsh colony in Patagonia is called Y Wladfa.
Lots of British connection with South America. Much of this due to building railroads.
ReplyDeleteA man named Higgins helped free some from the Spanish and that name is common there. There was an Argentinian called Manuel (?) Higgins played for Real Madrid no less, and several )' Higgins have been known, though how that arose I could not say.
Pedro Manuel MacCallister was playing in the Argentinian league a few years ago. Those navvies got around. Football, the proper kind, was also started there by British folk. They say the famous Boca Juniors strip is based on the colours of the Irish county their founder came from.
There are a lot of Griffiths in Valparaiso, Chile.
ReplyDeleteSome of them are related to me.
Lots of people are willing to read about Y Wladfa and Patagonia, but few are brave enough to make a comment. Interesting information. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI know a Griffith. Not from Chile, though.
Incidentally, the picture was taken during the Olympic opening ceremony parade.
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