One of the sweetest traditions in Wales during Christmas is Tynnu Cyfaith, the practice of pulling toffee.
This method involves cooking toffee to a hard stage, then pulling it until it’s glossy and light.
Tynnu Cyflaith This treat is not only delicious but also provides a fun family activity during the festive season and some still keep the tradition alive today.
The ingredients (sugar, butter, and water) had to be boiled, and once ready, the mixture would be poured onto a greased slate or stone.
Then came the fun and challenge, as everyone greased their hands and tried to pull and twist the taffy until it was the right colour and shape. This was, of course, a matter of skill, and there was plenty of joking around as well.
Unsurprisingly, this tradition inspired poetry, as seen in a Christmas poem from the late Victorian era (1890) by Trebor Mai of the Conwy Valley, which reflects the spirit of the time:
Y Gwyliau sy’n dod a’i gelyn glas, A’i gyflaith, a’i bwdin, a’i ŵyddau bras Daw’r plant i enyn chwerthiniad iach I’r aelwyd gynes yn Nghymru bach
– Trebor Mai, quoted from y Cymro, 18 September 1890
The holidays bring their bright foe, With taffy, pudding, and fat geese in tow, The children arrive with healthy cheer, To the warm hearth in little Wales here.
