Encyclopaedia

ALMANACS

Printed almanacs in Welsh first appeared in London in 1681 and their appeal remained undiminished until the late 19th century. The almanac normally contained miscellaneous information, an astronomical and astrological guide, prognostications of the weather, lists of fairs, markets and festivals, a chronology of historical events, a list of law terms, selections of poetry and literature, and a wide variety of advertisements. The most successful almanacers such as Thomas Jones (1648-1713) of London and Shrewsbury constantly introduced fresh ideas and information in order to appeal to new readers, and almanacs, together with ballads, were the cheapest and most avidly read publications on the market. The almanac both reflected and sustained the traditional superstitions and magical practices which were an integral part of the popular culture. It also helped to revive the eisteddfodic tradition. Both Thomas Jones and Siôn Rhydderch (the first to publish an almanac in Wales) used the almanac to publicize eisteddfodau held in local taverns. Their successors – Evan Davies, John Prys and Cain Jones – made a comfortable living from publishing almanacs and other popular miscellanea, but the most popular and successful 19th-century almanacs were the Holyhead almanacs published by John Roberts and his son Robert, both of whom pursued a thriving trade in pirated editions.