BEING WELSH

Being Welsh…

The term “header” or “ ‘eader” is often used in the south Wales valleys to describe someone who is comically stupid. It is often assumed that it is simply a derivation of the term 'headcase' or similar words.

Not many people realise that it is an old literary term derived from the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen's play Hedda Gabler. I won’t give away the plot here just in case that you are reading it, but after the the book was first published in 1891 people started to refer to ‘deranged’ people humourously as “ A Hedda”.

It is as a classic of realism, nineteenth century theatre and world drama. A 1902 production starring Minnie Maddern Fiske (no relation) was a major sensation on Broadway and following its initial limited run was revived with the same actress the next year.
So the next time someone says to you "He's a bit of a 'eader" please mention Henrik Ibsen.