This date is the supposed day of death of Saint David, the patron saint of Wales. It has been a national day of celebration within Wales since the 18th century. In 2007, Tony Blair, who was the British Prime Minister at that time, rejected a petition to make St David's Day a bank holiday. But the residents of Wales as well as Welsh societies throughout the world try to make the 1st of March a special day.

 

St David was a Celtic monk and bishop, who lived in the 6th century. The exact date of his birth is unknown, but it is said that a blind man was cured by the water used for David's baptism and that as a child, David was taught by a blind monk named Paulinus. He cured Paulinus of his blindness by making the sign of the cross. Because of his ability to work wonders, David was sent off as a missionary to spread the word of Christianity across Wales. In the course of his travels, David founded many monasteries and lived the life of a monk, teacher and prophet.

 

The most famous story about David tells how he was preaching to a huge crowd. The people standing far away could not hear him, but he simply spread a handkerchief on the ground and stood on it. Now the ground rose beneath him until he stood upon a hill and everyone could hear him preach. In art, St David is often depicted with a dove on his shoulder. The dove symbolises the Holy Spirit, which gave David the gift of eloquence when preaching. David died on the 1st of March in 588 or 589. He was buried in what is today St David's Cathedral in Pembrokeshire. Medieval pilgrims rated two pilgrimages to St David's worth one pilgrimage to Rome. Today, over fifty churches in Wales bear David's name.

 

St David's Day celebrations are not as boisterous as the parties the Irish have on St Patrick's Day, but every year parades are held on the 1st of March, the largest being the one in Cardiff. In 2009, the city of Swansea established a St David's Week with musical, sporting and cultural events held throughout.

 

The day begins in many Welsh primary schools with a religious service. The girls wear a petticoat and an overcoat made of Welsh flannel, and a tall hat, worn over a frilled bonnet. Boys wear a white shirt, a Welsh flannel waistcoat, black trousers, long wool socks and black shoes. The children take part in school concerts with recitation of Welsh poems and singing of Welsh folk songs. Formerly school-children had a half-day holiday on March 1st. Officially this custom is no longer in use, although the practice can vary on a school-to-school basis.

 

Both the flag of St David (left) and the national flag of Wales (right) can be seen flying throughout Wales. Eating and drinking is an important part of the celebrations, too. Cawl, a traditional Welsh stew-like dish is frequently consumed on St David's Day. It consists of meat and vegetables, usually Welsh lamb and leeks. The leek is a traditional Welsh emblem, but not just because of its taste!

 

It is said that St David advised the Welsh soldiers on the eve of battle with the Saxons to wear leeks on their helmets to distinguish friend from enemy. Because of this, on St David's day men, especially in South Wales, wear leeks on their lapels. A common alternative for both men and women in all parts of Wales is to wear a daffodil, which is in season during March. The daffodil is another Welsh emblem, supposedly because the Welsh name for daffodil is 'Cenin Bedr', which means 'Peter's leek'.

So now that you know a lot about the national day of the UK's smallest country, Wales, you would also like to read about the national days of England, Ireland or Scotland? Take a look at our magazine!

 

 

Thomas Bollwerk