Cyflaith (Treacle Toffee)
NEW YEAR - WELSH
Toffee was part of the Dydd Calan (New Year) festivities in the 19th century and involved the entire family making it together ready for Calennig (small gift). Although dying out, Calennig is a tradition still upheld in some Welsh villages. Early on New Year’s Day groups of young boys visit all the houses in the village carrying an evergreen twig and a cup of cold water drawn from the local well. The boys would then use the twigs to sprinkle the faces of everyone they met. They would receive the Calennig, usually in the form of copper coins or treacle toffee in exchange for reciting:
Mi godais heddiw ma's o'm t?
A'm cwd a'm pastwn gyda mi,
A dyma'm neges ar eich traws,
Sef llanw'm cwd â bara a chaws.
In English:
I left my house today
With my bag and my stick,
And here is my message to you,
Fill my bag with bread and cheese.
The custom continued from dawn until noon after which it was considered very unlucky.