Gorsedd - Ranks

Ranks

There are three ranks of membership in the Welsh Gorsedd. In ascending order of honour, they are:

  • Ovates, who wear green robes,
  • Bards, who wear blue robes, and
  • Druids, who wear white robes.

The head of a Gorsedd is known as an Archdderwydd (English: Archdruid), and often wears a golden robe, and is elected for a term of three years, and is responsible for conducting the Gorsedd ceremonies during Eisteddfod week. These ceremonies are held to honour literary achievements amongst Welsh poets and prose writers. The ranks within the Breton Gorsedd are the same. In the Cornish Gorsedd (Cornish: Gorseth) there is only one rank, that of bard, and all robes are blue.

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