Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus i Bawb!
Commemorating the greatest figure in the 6th Century Welsh Age of Saints, and a day to celebrate Wales, as a whole - today marks the celebration of St David’s Day!
History of St David
St David - the only native-born patron saint of Britain and Ireland, was born in Pembrokeshire in 500 AD.
Venturing far, St David founded a number of religious communities across Wales and England, including a religious community at St Davids Cathedral in Pembrokeshire - where his remains lay.
Traditions
Canonised by Pope Callixtus in the 12th Century (making him a ‘Saint’) St David has been commemorated and Wales as a nation have celebrated St Davids Day ever since. These celebrations include parades, concerts and eisteddfodau (music festival celebrating Welsh language and culture).
Following the tradition of St David’s Day, it is common in Wales for children to attend their schools in traditional Welsh dress, flags are flown, and the Welsh national anthem is sung.
Did you know - ‘Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus’, translates from Welsh to English as ‘Happy St David’s Day’!
Welsh Fashion
One particularly admirable fashion the Welsh have on St David’s Day is the way they represent their culture through pinning national emblems to their clothes.
Wearing a daffodil - one of the most iconic Welsh emblems! Daffodils are also famous for being the chose national flower of Wales as they bloom early in the year and just in time for St David’s Day.
Another recognisable symbol used in Welsh culture is the leek vegetable. The leek has been associated with Wales for hundreds of years, and many Welsh citizens decide to pin a leek to their clothes in honour of St David’s Day.
It is said that St David himself told Welsh soldiers to wear a leek on their helmets, so they could spot each other when in battle against the Saxons, who at the time were wearing similar armour to the Welsh. The tactic succeeded and secured the Welsh army a great victory!
Another conspiracy is that the battle was fought in a field full of leeks, and that St David’s diet was predominantly of eating only leeks. Who knows - it could be all three.
Welsh National Dress
It is typically known as the classic attire in Welsh culture to wear tall black hats, woollen shawls, and bedgowns.