Traditions, Festivals & Celebrations around the UK: St David's Day

When is St. David's Day?

St David's Day is celebrated on 1^st March every year.

Who is St David?

Saint David is the patron saint of Wales.

Very little is known about St David for certain. The little information there is - is based on an account of his life written by Rhigyfarch towards the end of the 11th century therefore we are unsure how much of the historical manuscripts are fact as opposed to legend.

St David (Dewi Sant) was born towards the end of the fifth century. He was a Celtic monk / abbot and bishop who also became the archbishop of Wales. During his life he helped spread the word of Christianity to pagan tribes across Wales and western England.

It is claimed that Saint David was a tall and physically strong man who allegedly ate a very frugal diet of bread and herbs. It is also claimed that he drank only water.

The most famous story about Saint David tells how he was preaching to a huge crowd and the ground is said to have risen up so that he was standing on a hill and everyone had a better chance of seeing and hearing him.

St David’s Day Celebrations

Cardiff:

Parades are held throughout Wales to celebrate St David’s Day with the largest parade being held in Cardiff. The parade is formally attended by either the Queen or the Prince of Wales and is a mixture of both folklore and military tattoo. Other than the parade – celebrations include concerts & festivals.
Colwyn Bay:

An annual parade through the town centre is now held with several hundred citizens and schoolchildren taking part with other events centred around the parade.

Prestatyn:

Prestatyn closes the top of the High Street – this is to allow local schools to participate in Welsh singing and local fundraising.

Swansea:

St David's Week festival was inaugurated in Swansea in 2009 with a variety of musical / sporting and cultural events being held throughout the city to mark the national day.

Disneyland Paris:

Organises yearly events to celebrate St. David's Day which include a Welsh themed week of fireworks / parades and Disney characters dressed in traditional Welsh attire.

Los Angeles:

St. David's Day Festival - National Day of Wales is the largest annual event of its kind in the United States encompassing an eisteddfod (this is a Welsh festival of music / literature and performance) / Celtic marketplace / classes and a concert.

What are the national emblems of Wales?

The national emblems of Wales are dragons / daffodils and leeks.

Dragons:

The dragon has come to symbolise the fiery Welsh nation who are proud and defiant in the face of adversity (usually in battles with the English).

Legend claims the symbol of the red dragon was sported on a crest by Arthur - son of Uthr Bendragon. It has been said that the father saw a dragon in the sky predicting his son would be king.

Other trains of thought believe the dragon symbol probably found its way into Wales via Rome - when the Roman legions arrived on Welsh shores sporting the mythical / fire-breathing creature as an emblem.

During the Medieval era Welsh poets would compare their brave leaders to dragons and between 1485 and 1603 the dragon formed part of the arms of the Tudor dynasty.

The dragon re-surfaced again in the 19th century when it appeared as the royal badge for Wales in 1807. From then onwards the red dragon was frequently used as a symbol in Welsh patriotic societies and was finally officially recognised by the Queen in 1959.

St David's Day is commemorated by the wearing of daffodils or leeks. Both plants are traditionally regarded as national emblems.

Leeks:

There are many explanations of how the leek came to be adopted as the national emblem of Wales – a few are:

· One is that St David advised the Welsh on the eve of battle with the Saxons to wear leeks in their caps to distinguish friend from foe.

· It was believed that eating leeks encouraged good health and happiness

· Shakespeare mentions in Henry V that the Welsh archers wore leeks at the battle of Agincourt in 1415.

Daffodils:

In total contrast the daffodil is a much younger emblem that gained popularity in the 19th century. Women were especially fond of the bright / cheerful flower as an emblem of Wales.

At the beginning of the 20th century it became even more closely associated with the Principality when Welshman and British Prime Minster David Lloyd George wore it on St David's Day and at ceremonies to mark the investiture of the then Prince of Wales.

What is the National Dress of Wales?

On St David's Day some children in Wales dress in their national costume which consists of: