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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. 

  • 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.

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

    Maybe yours is a Big Cat?

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