St. David's Day

St. David’s Day is celebrated on March 1st each year, in honor of St. David, the patron saint of Wales.

St. David (Dewi Sant in Welsh) was a Welsh bishop during the 6th century who was known for his piety and his role in spreading Christianity among the Celtic tribes of western Britain. He is credited with founding a monastic community in Glyn Rhosyn (now St. Davids) in Pembrokeshire, Wales, which became an important religious and educational center.

St. David’s Day is a day of national pride for the Welsh, and it is marked by various festivities and traditions. Parades, choral performances, and the wearing of daffodils or leeks (symbols associated with Wales) are common. The leek is considered a symbol of St. David and Wales due to its association with a battle against the Saxons, where, according to legend, Welsh soldiers were advised by St. David to wear leeks on their helmets to distinguish themselves from their enemies. The daffodil, which blooms around the time of St. David’s Day, has also become a popular symbol, partly due to its similarity to the leek in Welsh (Cenhinen = Leek, Cenhinen Pedr = Daffodil).

St. David’s Day, while not a public holiday in Wales, is a day of great cultural significance. It is a time for Welsh people around the world to celebrate their heritage, language, and the contributions of Wales to the broader cultural tapestry. Schools and communities in Wales and among the Welsh diaspora hold special events and activities to commemorate the day.