What is hiraeth?

Hiraeth is a Welsh word that is often described as a deep, nostalgic longing for a place, person, or time that is lost, or perhaps never was. It conveys a sense of wistfulness and homesickness, but it goes beyond the physical feeling of missing a home. Hiraeth encompasses a broader emotional yearning for the past or an idealized sense of belonging or identity that is irretrievable. It can also be associated with a sense of incompleteness or a search for a missing piece in one's life. The concept of hiraeth is deeply embedded in Welsh culture and literature and resonates with feelings of nostalgia, cultural memory, and the passage of time.