March 01
St. David's Day
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St. David (Dafydd or Dew) was a
sixth century Celtic monk and the patron saint of Wales He
is remembered
for converting the pagan tribes of Wales to Christianity, similar to another
Welshman's (St Patrick) conversion of the pagan tribes of Ireland during the
previous century. March 1 was declared a national day of celebration
in Wales in the 18th century and is still a major patriotic and
cultural festival in Wales and around the world. A poll
conducted for Saint David's Day in 2006 found that 87% of the Welsh wanted
March 1st to be a bank holiday, with 65% prepared to sacrifice a different
bank holiday to ensure this. A petition in 2007 to make St David's Day a
bank holiday was rejected by Prime Minister Tony Blair.
St David's Day is invariably
celebrated by Welsh societies throughout the world with dinners, parties,
recitals and concerts. On St. David's Day the David fanatics wear
either a leek or a daffodil, similar to the wearing of a green carnation on
St. Patrick' day. Women generally wear the daffodil (the Welsh national
flower) and men the leek (Saint David's personal symbol). Leeks are also
worn by Welsh rugby fans at international rugby games.
The legend of the David and the leek began
during a battle of Heathfield in 633 AD between the Welsh and the Saxon
invaders. The Welsh were slowly losing. In the heat of the battle, it was
difficult to tell friend from foe. David was ministering the the wounded and
cried out "Welshmen, you must mark yourselves so that you can better
tell who is Saxon and who is Welsh." The monk plucked a leek plant from the
ground and continued, "Here, wear these so you will know that any soldier
who does not have a leek is your enemy."
Although the soldiers thought that David's order was ludicrous,
he was perceived a a holy man so they went
along with it. Soon every Welsh soldier was wearing a leek on his helmet.
Believing that God would now protect all those who wore a leek, the
Welsh attacked the Saxons and won the battle. Shakespeare commented on the
legend as "an ancient tradition begun upon an honorable respect" (Henry
V, Act V, Scene 1). David died on March 1st,
589. His remains were buried at what is now the Cathedral of St. David's in Pembrokeshire, west Wales. Pope Callactus II canonized David in 1120. |
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Every year parades are held in Wales to
commemorate St. David. The largest of these is held in Cardiff .In the town
of Colwyn Bay in north Wales, an annual parade through the centre of town is
now held with several hundred men, women and and children taking part.
Children take part in school concerts or eisteddfodau, with
recitation and singing being the main activities. Formerly, a half-day
holiday was afforded to school children. Officially this custom does not
continue, although the practice can vary on a school-to-school basis.
National St David's Day Parade
in Cardiff |
Public celebrations of St David's Day are becoming more commonplace. In many
towns an annual parade through the center of town is now held (see above).
Concerts are held in pubs, clubs, and other venues. It is invariably
celebrated by Welsh societies throughout the world with dinners, parties,
recitals and concerts. On this day many people wear daffodils (Cenin Bedr.
or literally :Peter's leek"), the traditional national flower of Wales.
In 2003 in the United States, St. David's Day was recognized officially as
the national day of the Welsh, and on March 1 the Empire State Building was
floodlit in red, green and white, the national colors of Wales
St. David's Day is celebrated with leek dishes.
In North Wales one eats a bowl of
Cawl Cennin
(leek and lamb soup) for strength and luck. Leeks should be purchased as
fresh as possible. Never buy leeks wrapped in plastic or cellophane. Select
leeks with a clean white slender bulb, at least two to three inches of
white, and firm, tightly-rolled dark green tops. The base should be at least
1 inch in diameter, although most are much larger, usually 1&1/2 to 2&1/2
inches. The younger the leek, the more delicate the flavor.
Although there isn't a film on St. David's life,
there is a great historical film clip of a St. David's Day Parade in 1936 on
YouTube with
f Prince Edward (Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII, Duke of Windsor)
presenting leeks to men, officers and veterans of the Welsh Guards |
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