Happy St. David’s Day (Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant Hapus)

vgaitskell
2 days ago
3 min read

Updated: 34 minutes ago

A Day of Dragons, Saints, and Song

Annually on March 1st we celebrate St. David’s Day, the national holiday of Wales — a land of red dragons, warrior kings, miracle‑working saints and wizards, and one of the richest musical traditions in the Celtic world. On this day we also honour the Welsh members of our Fall Celtic Festival community who are carrying their ancient heritage forward.

St. David (Dewi Sant) -- Patron Saint of Wales

St. David, born in the shadowy 5th or 6th centuries after Rome withdrew from Britain, is remembered as a leader, monk, traveller, and orator. Legend says that while he preached to a vast crowd, a white dove descended upon his shoulder, his voice became supernaturally amplified, and the ground rose beneath his feet, lifting him up on a hill above the multitude. He died on March 1st in either 589 or 601. (Ancient chronicles disagree on dates.)

Leeks and Daffodils — Symbols of Battle and Spring

Traditionally a leek, one of Wales’s oldest emblems, was worn on St. David’s Day, some say to honour St. David, who lived austerely on leeks and water. Others say the custom began with the 7th‑century warriors of King Cadwaladr of Gwynedd, who wore leeks to mark themselves in battle so they could tell friend from foe in the frenzy of combat. Still others link the symbol to Edward, Prince of Wales — called the Black Prince — whose archers triumphed over the French in a field of leeks in 1346. Over time, the leek was gradually replaced by the golden daffodil, which blooms across Wales each spring around St. David’s Day and is known in Welsh as Peter’s leek (Cenhinen Bedr.)

The Red Dragon — Born of Prophecy, Carried Through the Centuries

Few national symbols stir the imagination as much as the red dragon (y ddraig goch) of Wales. A medieval monk wrote the tale of young Merlin (the wizard of King Arthur fame) who revealed to King Vortigern that two dragons — one red, one white — slept beneath his fortress. When the dragons fought, the red one rose victorious. Merlin prophesied that this victory foretold the endurance of the Welsh people against invading armies.

In fact, the dragon symbol is older still. It flew on Welsh battle standards as early as the 5th century, and today blazes across the Welsh flag as a symbol of strength, heritage, and the enduring spirit of Wales.

Wales Celebrates

Across Wales and the diaspora, people celebrate their Welsh heritage on St. David’s Day with:

Parades
Concerts showcasing the legendary musical and choral traditions that have earned Wales the nickname “Land of Song”
Poetry and theatre, honouring language and storytelling
Folk dancing, community gatherings, and traditional costumes echoing centuries of tradition

Welsh Food — Hearth, Home, and Heritage

St. David’s Day is also a feast of Welsh flavours. Here are a few suggestions to try:

Cawl — A hearty stew of meat, leeks, and root vegetables
Cawl cennin — Leek and potato soup (cennin = leeks, plural)
Faggots — Traditional seasoned meatballs, served hot or cold depending on regional custom
Caerphilly cheese — Hard, crumbly, mild, and buttery‑tasting
Welsh cakes — Sort of a cross between tea biscuits and pancakes: chewy outside, soft inside, lightly spiced, studded with currants, and griddled to golden perfection. Perfect comfort food with a cup of tea