Villagers in a tiny Welsh community are celebrating the new millennium for a second time, thanks to a tradition which dates back hundreds of years.

Locals in the Gwaun Valley near Fishguard in Pembrokeshire, joined the rest of the country in celebrating the arrival of the 21st century on 31 December.

But they are popping the champagne corks again on 13 January when the new millennium arrives, according to the ancient Julian calendar.

The double celebration is the result of the 200-strong rural community's decision to stick with the Julian system instead of switching to the Gregorian calendar with the rest of Britain in 1752.

For more than 200 years, locals in the Welsh-speaking valley have held their own New Year's Eve celebrations in line with the old calendar.

The celebration - called Hen Galan - has been carried from generation to generation and is still marked in villages throughout the valley.

Local Baptist minister the Rev Alwyn Daniels said the community would celebrate the millennium arrival with the rest of Britain.

But he added: "In a way, we will have two New Year's Eves because the community will still celebrate Hen Galan on January 13.

"We will have two bites at the cherry by celebrating the new millennium twice."

Calendars switched

Mr Daniels said the Hen Galan celebrations will involve local children touring farms and houses to sing as well as community get-togethers in pubs and homes.

He added: "These days people do celebrate the arrival of the New Year on January 1 like everyone else, but we also keep with the tradition of celebrating Hen Galan.

"I'm sure some of the local youngsters will go out singing on January 1, but they will be told in no uncertain terms to come back on Hen Galan because it has more significance for people here."

The Julian calendar was abolished amid public outcry in 1752 and replaced with the Gregorian calendar, which was approved by Pope Gregory XIII nearly 200 years earlier.

But the people of the Gwaun Valley resisted the change - as did a remote island off the coast of Scotland.

'An extra celebration'

Local resident Muriel Morris, 67, of Pontfaen, said: "We would not want the tradition to die out because it is part of the history of the valley.

"Years ago the children used to have a day off school for Hen Galan, but that doesn't happen any more.

"But the whole village will take part in Hen Galan on January 13. It is an extra celebration for us because we will also celebrate on January 1.

"I would say that Hen Galan is still more important to most people in the Gwaun Valley and I'm sure it will be the big celebration for us again this year."