[贝德格勒特（威尔⼠）⽂化背景中英对照]
Beddgelert （Wales） CULTURAL BACKGROUNDBeddgelert is a Welsh folktale about a faithful dog who sacrifices his life in service to his master. There is， in fact， a town in Wales named Beddgelert in honor of his heroic deed. Welsh culture is steeped in myth and legend. For instance， the country's national symbol is
the dragon， a mythical beast. True to Welsh tradition， the narrative history of nearly every mountain， river and lake， as well as many farms and villages is associated with the legend of fairies， magical properties or fearful beasts.
Wales is known as the land of poets and singers. The traditions of Welsh literature and music are among the oldest in Europe and date back more than 1，000 years to the bards （poet singers） of the Middle Ages. The legendary British hero King Authur， as well as the famed magician Merlin are claimed by the Welsh along with other characters who people the famous collection of medieval Welsh tales entitled the Mabinogion. Traditional Welsh culture has laid great stress on the spoken， as well as the written word in both poetry and prose. Vocal music， particularly choral singing， has also played a great part in the cultural heritage of the country.The Welsh take great pride in their heritage. Though united with England for more than 400 years， they have kept alive their own language， literature and traditions.
Wales occupies the western portion of the island of Great Britain and is one of four countries of the United Kingdom. The Welsh name for Wales is Cymru， meaning a fellow countryman. Cardiff is the capital and largest city of Wales.
The people of Wales number nearly 3 million. Some Welsh are descended from prehistoric peoples of continental Europe who colonized Wales thousands of years ago. Many others trace their ancestry to such late settlers as the Celts， Romans，Anglo-Saxons， Normans and English. Today， Wales has two official languages Welsh and English. Welsh， one of the oldest languages in Europe， is still the daily language spoken in many sections of western and northern Wales.
Wales is a mountainous country interspersed with lakes and valleys. In fact， the country is well known for its farmlands，mountains， valleys and rivers considered to be of such scenic beauty that one-fifth of the country is classified as national parkland. The highest mountain in Wales， Mount Snowdon is located in the northwest. The country boasts no large towns or cities. Most people live in the towns， cities and industrial areas of south Wales noted for its coal mines. The remainder of Wales is mainly rural and is， therefore， only sparsely populated for those areas which are too mountainous and rugged to grow many crops. Apart from coal and of course agriculture the only other natural resources of Wales are water and the woodlands.
In rural areas， many people live in whitewashed stone cottages and farmhouses consisting of only one or two rooms. Today many picturesque old cottages have been turned into vacation homes. Housing in the coal-mining areas generally consists of row houses with slate and stone walls. The Welsh are known for their long tradition of sheep farming. Sheep freely roam the hillsides and the valleys which were once woodlands. Throughout the United Kingdom dogs have long been used to help farmers and hunters in their work. Like the hero of our tale， Beddgelert， dogs are also traditionally very popular as pets.
Family and kinship are extremely important to the Walsh who lavish affection on their children. Most families of today have between one and three children. Welsh families spend a lot of time at home. Special occasions are spent with members of the extended family. However， life in rural areas tends to be very insular. On Sunday， many people attend church；afterward they have Sunday dinner， the most important meal of the week. For ordinary casual and formal occasions， the Welsh wear typical Western-style clothing.
Dating from the 18th century， one of the most popular aspects of traditional Welsh culture is the National Eisteddfod， a festival in which performers compete. The festival is held annually but alternates between North and South Wales. Participants compete in all aspects of music， literature，
drama and art during one week in August. In addition， there are a series of dramatic performances and concerts all conducted in the Welsh language with simultaneous English translations.贝德格勒特（威尔⼠）⽂化背景
威尔士什么时候被英格兰合并
贝德格勒特是威尔⼠的⼀个民间故事，故事的主⼈公是⼀只舍命救主⼈的义⽝。事实上，威尔⼠有⼀个⼩镇的名字就叫贝德格勒特，为的是纪念这只狗的英雄事迹。威尔⼠的⽂化⾥充满了神话与传说。例如，这个国家的象征就是⽕龙，⼀种神话中的动物。在威尔⼠的民族传统中，每座⼭、每条河、每个湖、还有很多农场和村庄的历史都确实跟仙⼥，魔法或者恐怖怪兽的传奇有关系。
威尔⼠以诗⼈和歌⼿之乡闻名于世。威尔⼠⽂学和⾳乐的传统是欧洲最古⽼的传统之⼀，可以追溯到1，000多年前中世纪的吟游诗⼈。威尔⼠⼈把不列颠的传奇⼈物亚瑟王和的魔术师墨林，跟中世纪威尔⼠的《传说故事集》中⾥的⼈物相提并论。传统的威尔⼠⽂化⼗分强调⼝述或⽂字形式的诗歌和散⽂。声乐，尤其是合唱，也在这个国家的⽂化遗产中扮演着重要⾓⾊。
威尔⼠⼈深为⾃⼰的⽂化传统⽽⾃豪。虽然与英格兰合并已有400多年，威尔⼠⾃⼰的语⾔、⽂学和传统仍旧保持着活⼒。
威尔⼠位于⼤不列颠岛的西部，是联合王国的四个成员之⼀。在威尔⼠语⾥，威尔⼠被称作 “⾟姆如”，意思是“同胞”。加的夫是威尔⼠的⾸府，它也是威尔⼠的城市。
威尔⼠的⼈⼝将近三百万。部分居民是⼏千年前居住于欧洲⼤陆、⽽向威尔⼠殖民的史前民族的后代。许多其他的居民的祖先可以追溯到后来的移民，如凯尔特⼈、罗马⼈、盎格鲁-撒克逊⼈、诺曼⼈和英格兰⼈。今天，威尔⼠有两种官⽅语⾔：威尔⼠语和英语。作为欧洲最古⽼的语⾔之⼀的威尔⼠语，⾄今仍是威尔⼠西部和北部很多地⽅的⽇常⽤语。
威尔⼠多⼭，⼭峦之间散布着湖泊和⾕地。事实上，这个国家以农场、⼭⾕和河流⽽闻名于世，它们的风景是如此之美，以⾄于威尔⼠五分之⼀的疆⼟都被辟作国家公园。威尔⼠的⼭是位于西北部的斯诺登⼭。这个国家引以⾃豪的⼀点就是没有⼤城市，⼤多数威尔⼠⼈住在镇上、⼩城市⾥，或者盛产煤矿的南部⼯业区。其他的威尔⼠⼈主要是乡间居民，⼈⼝分布稀疏。因为多⼭和地势崎岖不平⽽不适合⼤量种庄稼的地区。威尔⼠的⾃然资源，除了煤炭和当然会有的农业之外，剩下的就只有⽔和林地了。
在乡村地区，很多⼈住在⽤⽯灰涂墙的⽯头农舍⾥，或者仅有⼀两个房间的农场住房⾥。今天，很多优美如画的古⽼农舍已被改为度假屋。煤矿区的住房基本上由⼀排排⽤⽯板和⽯头砌墙的房⼦所组成。威尔⼠⼈以悠久的牧⽺传统⽽著称。⽺在曾经被森林覆盖的⼭坡上和⼭⾕⾥⾃在地游荡。在联合王国各地，狗长期以来被⽤作农场主和猎⼈的帮⼿。就像我们这个故事中的主⼈公贝德格勒特⼀样，狗作为宠物传统上也颇受⼈们的喜爱。
家庭和亲情对于那些疼爱孩⼦的威尔⼠⼈来说是格外重要的。如今，⼤部分的家庭有⼀到三个孩⼦。威
尔⼠家庭在⾃⼰的家⾥度过很多的时光，⼀家⼈会同⼤家庭中的其他成员⼀起庆祝特别的场合。然⽽，乡村地区的⽣活总会很有岛国的特点。很多⼈星期天都要去教堂做礼拜，然后享⽤周⽇⼤餐，这是他们⼀周中最为重要的⼀顿饭⾷。在⼀般的休闲或者正式场合，威尔⼠⼈会穿带有典型西部式样的⾐服。
从18世纪开始，传统威尔⼠⽂化中最为流⾏的⽅⽅⾯⾯⾥，有⼀⾯就是全国性的诗歌与⾳乐⽐赛会，这是⼀个由很多表演者参赛竞技的节⽇。此节⽇每年举⾏，地点轮流设在威尔⼠南部和北部。在⼋⽉的⼀个星期⾥，参赛者进⾏在⾳乐、⽂学、戏剧和艺术⽅⾯的竞赛。此外，还有⼀系列完全使⽤威尔⼠语，配以英语同声翻译的戏剧表演和⾳乐会。（柯平葛竞译，转载请注明出处。本⽂收⼊译林出版社《北欧民间故事集》）