Set the mood. Choose one of these invitations to create and send your invitation.
The traditional emblem of Wales is the leek, but because it's a vegetable and frankly not very pretty to look at, the Welsh people have favoured the daffodil to symbolise all things Welsh in recent times (and it makes a better buttonhole). So dress up your party like a sunny morning in springtime, with vases of fresh, yellow daffodils on all the tables.
The Welsh red dragon is the most famous dragon in the world, so employ a couple of inflatable dragons to greet your guests as they arrive, along with Welsh dragon bunting and a large Welsh dragon flag in pride of place.
Balloons should be red, white and green, to reflect the colours of the Welsh flag, as should your tablecloths, napkins and crockery. And finally, festoon your party room with red, white and green streamers.
Fancy dress can be a lot of fun. Have your guests come decked out as giant daffodils, red dragons or sweaty rugby players. The ladies can don the Welsh national costume, which consists of a red shawl and a high hat (a bit like a black top hat). Alternatively, make yours a Wig party and ask guests to come in red, green or white wigs (or hats). Finally for those who really balk at the idea of any kind of dressing up, issue them on arrival with a silk daffodil to put in their buttonhole.
The Welsh are famed for their love of music and poetry. Hold a sing-song or even hire a karaoke machine and challenge your friends to belt out some old Welsh favourites by the likes of Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey.
Rugby is beloved of the Welsh, so if you have a garden or outside space and can get your hands on a couple of mini rugby balls, encourage your guests to engage in a spot of touch rugby. (You don’t want a full-blown scrummage in your back garden — it might ruin your prized begonias.) Or if you’re confined indoors, then get your hands on a couple of DVDs featuring the greatest Welsh rugby matches of all time.
If you are planning to invite any children (or big kids!) to your party, then the services of a face painter armed with red, white and green face paints will be an easy crowd pleaser.
A huge tureen of leek and potato soup should warm things up, followed by some scrummy Welsh rarebit (basically posh cheese on toast). For a truly authentic touch, make sure you use Welsh cheese — Caerphilly or Y Fenni (also known as Red Dragon). For the gastronomically intrepid amongst you, try your hand at making some laverbread (seaweed pancakes), or if you prefer to keep it simple, mouth-watering Welsh cakes are a must.
| There are countless Welsh breweries, and unlikely as it may seem, there are actually 17 vineyards in Wales, so do a bit of research beforehand and impress your guests by offering a variety of Welsh tipples. Otherwise, make another play on the red, white and green theme, by creating cocktails in those colours and giving them suitably patriotic names. |  |
| 1. | Maybe Tomorrow / Stereophonics |
| 2. | It's Not Unusual / Tom Jones |
| 3. | Mulder and Scully / Catatonia |
| 4. | If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next / Manic Street Preachers |
| 5. | Goldfinger / Shirley Bassey
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| 6. | Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (Land of Our Fathers) / Evan & James James |
| 7. | Cwm Rhondda (Bread of Heaven) / Morriston Orpheus Male Voice Choir |
| 8. | Northern Lites / Super Furry Animals |
| 9. | Tumble and Fall / Feeder |
| 10. | Reach for the Stars / Shirley Bassey |
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