St. David's Day (Welsh - Dydd Dewi Sant) is celebrated every 1st March in honour of our patron Saint.
It is essential to wear a leek or daffodil, our National icons, on St. David's day. When she was little, my mam tried eating her daffodil. Needless to say she was sick and wouldn't recommend it.
Eisteddfods
Schools and societies often dress up as Welsh Ladies / Rugby players and hold eisteddfods on this day. This festival of literature, music and performance is celebrated by Welsh people worldwide. I remember winning the poetry competition with this simple verse (I was only ten so be kind!)
Today, today is St. David's Day
We sing songs of joy!
Dragons, leeks and daffodils
Are the thought of every girl and boy
Oh the World is full of cheer
Because St.David's Day is here!
We also used to sing the sweet little rhyme below. Does anyone else remember this? We have a card available here.
Yn canu nawr i chi
Mae Dydd Gwyl Dewi wedi dod.
Mor hapus ydym ni!
Singing for you now
St David's Day has come
So happy are we!
St. David
Little is actually known about our saint, though he likes to travel! He was raised in Cardiganshire (his father, Sant was the son of Ceredig, King of Ceredigion) and then went on pilgrimage through south Wales and the west of England, where it is said that he founded religious centres such as Glastonbury and Croyland. He even went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where he was made archbishop.
Eventually he settled in south-west Wales in a town then called Glyn Rhosyn. This is today's St. Davids - Britain's smallest city due to the small population but impressive St. David's Cathedral.
The most famous story about Saint David tells how he was preaching at the Synod of Llanddewibrefiand. The crowd was so big many people couldn't see or hear him. He then caused the ground to rise up, so that he was standing on a hill, so more people could watch and listen to his lesson. Diolch Dewi!
St David's Day Worldwide!
Now St. David's Day is celebrated by Welsh people all over the world. Even Disneyland Paris has a Welsh Festival with Welsh choirs and rock groups alike.
So don't forget your leek or daff this St. David's day! We have some nice felt daffodils that you can wear every year on sale now - take a look here