Plans to Resurrect Historic Wrexham Bank Holiday For Day of Celebrations in 2018

Calls have made to bring back Wrexham’s very own Bank Holiday for a day of celebrations next year.

The almost forgotten tradition of Dydd Llun Pawb (Everybody’s Monday) dates back to the late 1800s and was unique event to Wrexham.

Following the Spring market everyone was given the Monday off in order to descend on the town, which was wildly animated with street entertainment, food stalls, musical acts and surreal side shows.

Now there are hopes to recreate the fascinating event from the town’s history, with artists Marc Rees and Lisa Heledd Jones resurrecting Dydd Llun Pawb for the first Monday in April 2018 – which looking ahead shows the celebrations will take place on Easter Monday.

The inspiration behind recreating Dydd Llun Pawb comes as a result of research by the two artists, who currently creating work on behalf of Oriel Wrecsam ahead of the opening on the new arts and market facility next spring.

It is hoped that the event will see the town filled with entertainment, music, fairground rides, street food and giant souvenirs.

Marc explained: “I believe that a celebratory event such as Dydd Llun Pawb could galvanise the community and help reinstate and reaffirm Wrexham’s identity which, as we’ve discovered, is something that locals strongly feel has been lost.

“So what better way than to reintroduce a unique old custom particularly associated with the town and reimagine it for now and make it a positive, playful and accessible occasion for all.”

Jo Marsh, Arts Lead Wrexham Council added: “We’re delighted to be working with Lisa and Marc on the Dydd Llun Pawn project, which will form a significant part of our final year of off-site programme.

“The project embodies the ethos of our vision for Oriel Wrecsam: as a useful institution which re-examines and reinvigorates the town’s culture and identity, through a programme of highest quality visual and performing arts.

“Dydd Llun Pawb is the perfect start to that journey, and I have no doubt that the project, and the stories and links created by it, will inform the programme at Oriel Wrecsam People’s Market way beyond the opening in Spring 2018.”

Organisers are now looking to collect people’s weird and wonderful stories of Wrexham through workshops, events, the Dydd Llun Pawb website and social media.

Within the year they’ll be transforming six of those tales into brand new souvenirs made by local and national artists that will be scaled up by community groups to form the heart of an unusual Parade that will kick start Dydd Llun Pawb.

You can submit your own Wrexham stories online, by emailing [email protected], or Facebook. Alternatively you can join the project too on twitter (@dyddllunpawb) and Instagram.com/dyddllunpawb. Please use the hashtag #wearewrexham