Saint David's Day - Patron Saint of Wales. Dewi Sant 1st March 589

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Saint David's Day (Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant) - 1st of March

The red dragon (Ddraig Goch) is the Welsh flag. According to legend, King Arthur also flew the red dragon on his battle standard. It was also displayed by Henry VII at the Battle of the Roses, moreover, when he became King of England in 1485, he decreed that the Red Dragon should be the official flag of Wales.

Technically the Welsh Red Dragon is passant, in contrast to the English lion which is rampant.

History of Saint David Daffodil for St David's day

Saint David is the patron saint of Wales, (Dewi Sant in Welsh). He lived in the 6th century and died on Tuesday 1st March 589. Understandably, there are few contemporary written records of Saint David's achievements, however scholars are satisfied that he was a real person.

500 years later there are written records by Rhigyfarch and also by the most famous chronicler of this era, Gerald of Wales (Giraldus Cambrensis). They show that David was canonised in 1120 by Pope Callixtus II and thus became an proper and official Saint. Relatively few other 'Saints' can both trace their ancestry and claim papal blessing.

One of the most important royal families in West Wales was that of Cunedda and it is probable that St David was the son of Non and the King of Cerididion. According to his biographers, David was born at Capel Non; whether this chapel 'Non' was named after his mother before or after he was born is not clear.

The Welsh in general, and Gerald of Wales in particular, are great story tellers. One of my favourite sagas is that of Llanddewi Brefi.

According to legend St. David was trying to speak to a large crowd when one the men at the back piped up 'we cannot see you'. Whereupon the ground on which St David was standing rose, up and formed a hill. As a result of St. David's miracle, everyone had a good view and could hear his sermon. This famous spot is to be found in the village of Llanddewi Brefi.

Saint David was based in a monastery in the Glyn Rhosyn valley of Pembrokeshire. After several re-buildings, this monastery is better known today as St. David's Cathedral. Records show that Saint David, was active and dynamic. As well as busying himself founding monasteries in Wales, Brittany and possibly Cornwall, he found time to make pilgrimages to Jerusalem and Rome. His missionary and monastic deeds may also account for his other nickname, Dewi Ddyfrwr. Dewi = David and Ddyfrwr means water drinker.

While the Cornish and Breton languages are struggling, Welsh is a Celtic language in the ascendancy. Part is because it is still taught is primary schools, part because it has it's own TV Channels from the 1960s.

Another positive sign is that 66% of people who live in Wales would like March 1st - St David's Day to be a public holiday. The majority would willingly give up the May Day holiday in favour of a day off to celebrate St David's Day.

The Welsh Leek

While the Red Dragon is the national flag, Wales has two other emblems, the leek and the daffodil.

Interestingly, the leek also features on the back, or tails of the one pound coin. Hence when we had to toss a coin for kick-off I always called 'Tails for Wales'.

As a boy, my Mother would make colourful cloth leeks so that I could proudly pin one to my lapel without the accompanying stench of a real leek. There is a nuance - no more than that - for girls to wear daffodils and boys to wear leeks on St David's Day.

The Welsh Daffodil

There is a link between the leek and the daffodil, it is that in Welsh the daffodil is St Peter's leek Cenhinen Bedr. Botanically there is wild subspecies of Narcissus pseudonarcissus called the Tenby daffodil, however most Welshman are more than happy to wear the larger common garden daffodil, simply because it's bigger and cheaper!

St David's day is on March the 1st. Each year I judge the arrival of spring by how many real daffodils bloom before St David's day.

St David's Day Celebrations Around the World

Welsh enclaves are not as famous, numerous or boisterous as of those of the Irish in Boston. However their are places around the world where they do celebrate 1st of March - St David's Day.

Pennsylvania is more associated with Quakers, but actually, many were Welsh Quakers who settled in the 'Welsh Tract' and this is why they honor March 1st in that part of America. What attracted the Welsh to Pennsylvania was the coal; after all, they had mining experience from the valleys back home.

Strangely, Pennsylvania was nearly called 'New South Wales'. Meanwhile the Australian 'New South Wales' despite it's coal, does not retain strong Welsh links. In fact, many of these coal miners came from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and then they formed a Newcastle, a Gateshead and a Hexham in Australia. Although New South Wales is not a particular Welsh stronghold, their are plenty of Welsh enclaves in Australia, for example in Victoria.

Perhaps the most famous Welsh emigration was those brave souls who boarded the ship 'Mimosa' to Patagonia. One attribute that this community retains is Welsh hymn singing, they never miss a chance for a Cymanfa Ganu either on St David's Day or at the various Eisteddfods.

Other hotspots for celebrations include Hong Hong, Toronto Canada and New Zealand.

Footnote:
According to Rhigyfarch, St David's last words were: 'Be steadfast brothers, and do the little things'

Saint David's Day - Patron Saint of Wales

Saint David's Day (Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant) - 1st of March

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The Red Dragon of Wales (Ddraig Goch)

History of Saint David

The Welsh Leek

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The Welsh Daffodil

St David's Day Celebrations Around the World

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