Plygain
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In west Wales, Christmas day celebrations started before first light with a carol service. With archive footage from the 1960s.
The custom in many parts of Wales was to attend a very early church service known as "Plygain" (daybreak), between 3am and 6am
In this clip, in the pitch black of the early morning, cut only with the toll of the bell, the congregation stream in to church to attend a joyous candlelight service, that could last several hours. After the service had finished, a day of feasting and drinking would begin.
Read an article about Plygain on the National Museum of Wales, St Fagans website
From: 21 December, 2006
First broadcast : Welsh Way of Life
