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Hiraeth, there's no English translation.

TheCatWoman

Hiraeth means a sense of belonging and home comming, a sense of self with the landscape. Obviously most Welsh people feel it towards somewhere in Wales they feel bonded with, but it could be anywhere really and of course it's not just Welsh people that feel it. 

There are a few places that make me feel this, here on Anglesey, obviously, but also south Dorset around Weymouth, it's like I know this land, it makes my soul feel young, I can feel the generations of people who have lived and loved in this landscape. It's more than just liking somewhere or happy holiday memories but something deeper and more ancient.

Anyone else know this feeling?

Parents

  • I couldn't say, not having been there, but I have heard that people often feel the same sense of place when visiting Africa, because we spent so long there in evolutionary time. It just feels right.

    I have only once been to Wales, but I did arrive by hot air balloon!

  • in reply to Martin
    Martin said:
    I have heard that people often feel the same sense of place when visiting Africa, because

    I have heard the same thing said many times. I have visited several African countries and I felt at home in some of them, but I would have needed to stay for several weeks longer to say if I would choose to live there rather than in Ireland.

    It’s interesting what you say about the sense of place being because we evolved there, given that our bodies have adapted in different ways to cope with the change of environment around the world. I would love to know if it really is due to our African ancestry or is it because people who choose to visit Africa are interested in the things that the continent offers, eg, climate, wide open spaces, wildlife, people, culture etc. 

    Fascinating stuff. I would love to be in a position to return to Africa and consider the topic again there. 

Reply
  • in reply to Martin
    Martin said:
    I have heard that people often feel the same sense of place when visiting Africa, because

    I have heard the same thing said many times. I have visited several African countries and I felt at home in some of them, but I would have needed to stay for several weeks longer to say if I would choose to live there rather than in Ireland.

    It’s interesting what you say about the sense of place being because we evolved there, given that our bodies have adapted in different ways to cope with the change of environment around the world. I would love to know if it really is due to our African ancestry or is it because people who choose to visit Africa are interested in the things that the continent offers, eg, climate, wide open spaces, wildlife, people, culture etc. 

    Fascinating stuff. I would love to be in a position to return to Africa and consider the topic again there. 

Children
  • in reply to TheCatWoman
    TheCatWoman said:
    obviously mines a cat

    Maybe yours is a Big Cat?

  • in reply to ArchaeC

    I think we all have spirit animals, who teach us things and protect us, obviously mines a cat, maybe your's is a Mountain Gorilla?

    I have so many issues around travel, I've only ever been to France twice, Turkey once and Ireland once. Both the passports I've had have only been used once before running out. Apart from Turkey the only time I've ever had to produce it was comming back to the UK

  • in reply to TheCatWoman

    The countries that I’ve been to aren’t always very hot, especially if you choose the season. June to August in Kenya or Tanzania have a high of around 20c - 25c, but I know that is still too hot for you.

    The animals on safari were the draw for me, and when we were among the lions, and the elephants, I felt I could stay in that moment for ever. 

    I would love to go gorilla trekking in Uganda. When I watch footage of mountain gorillas it makes me cry. Maybe there’s an ancestral connection, and if so, does that mean we could be drawn to more primitive ancestral states of life, pre-primate? Probably talking nonsense.

  • in reply to ArchaeC

    I've heard the same about Africa too, but I've never wanted to go there, North Africa maybe, but not the places where we evolved, I like the idea of a safari to see the animals, but not enough to make the effort, it would be to hot for me anyway, being a cold adapted northern flower, I'd wilt and die in the African sun.