Every year on the 14th of May, people all over the world come together to celebrate the life and work of the famous Welshman.
A Welsh poet and writer, Dylan is widely considered to be one of the most important Welsh lyricists of the 20th century, and this special day was created to celebrate his legacy. His work and stature has been much debated by critics and biographers since his death, however, he has always been particularly popular with the public which secured his fame during his life and after death.
Even though Dylan spent much of his later life travelling, he based himself and his family in the Boat House in Laugharne for the last four years of his life. He chose a small shed as his retreat and wrote many of his most famous works from the space that boasts incredible views of the Tâf Estuary. fforest chief adopted a similar workspace, refurbishing the old boat shed at his home in Aberporth into an office complete with beach & sea views.
'It is the building most closely associated with the poet, and the stability of a permanent home meant he enjoyed a creative renaissance.'
Dylan Day
Special events, workshops, performances, talks & much much more will be taking place all over the country and across the pond in honour of this incredible man. For a full list of events, visit the Literature Wales website.
In the meantime, read one of our favourite passages from one of Dylan's most famous works, 'Under Milk Wood', a 1953 radio drama for the BBC that was later adapted for the stage. The date of the first transmission was on the 14th of May, which is why 'Dylan Day' falls upon this day each year.
'The sunny slow lulling afternoon yawns and moons through the dozy town. The sea lolls, laps and idles in, with fishes sleeping in its lap. The meadows still as Sunday, the shut-eye tasselled bulls, the goat-and-daisy dingles, nap happy and lazy. The dumb duck-ponds snooze. Clouds sag and pillow on Llaregyb Hill. Pigs grunt in a wet wallow-bath, and smile as they snort and dream. They dream of the acorned swill of the world, the rooting for pig-fruit, the bagpipe dugs of the mother sow, the squeal and snuffle of yesses of the women pigs in rut. They mud-bask and snout in the pig-loving sun; their tails curl; they rollick and slobber and snore to deep, smug, after-swill sleep. Donkeys angelically drowse on Donkey Down.'
- Dylan Thomas, 'Under Milk Wood'