St Davids Day - 1st March
St Davids - the 1st March, was celebrated by all ages across the country yesterday in commemoration of the patron Saint of Wales. Why is it celebrated on march the 1st? That is the day the patron saint of Wales died in 589. From that day forward this day has been celebrated by millions of people for hundreds of years and was made a national holiday in the 18th Century.
According to Wikipedia David became a pupil of Saint Illtud at Llantwit Major like Rhygyfarch, the late 11th century author of the saint's life story, wrote that David and his brother Sandde were sons of King Ceredig, founder of Ceredigion. David was said to have been conceived through violence and his poor mother 'Non', the daughter of Lord Cynyr of Caer Goch (in Pembrokeshire), gave birth to him on a cliff top during a violent storm. The site is marked by the Chapel of St Non. David was educated at Whitland in Carmarthenshire under Saint Paulinus of Wales and was baptised by St. Ailbe.
St David was well-known as a preacher and for teaching his ways throughout Wales, other areas of Great Britain and travelling as far as Jerusalem and Rome to be anointed. St David had set up numerous monasteries and churches. Most famously the St David's Cathedral which stands on the site of the monastery he founded in the 'Glyn Rhosyn' valley, in Pembrokeshire.
Simplicity and purity we fundamental aspects of St Davids life. He encouraged followers and monks to only drink water, to not eat meat, to pray and read each evening and live a life of asceticism or chastity. It has also been written that St David was associated with the miracle at the Synod of Llanddewi Brefi. In which the crowd who had gathered to hear him speak could not hear or see him well. As they complained the ground beneath his feet rose up creating a hill so that everyone could experience his teachings loud and clear. As this happened a dove a settled on his shoulder and the dove has since been said to be the symbol of St David.
It is believed St David lived to be over 100 years old and his legend continues hundreds of years on. This national day is one of the biggest events in the calendar of Wales, with cities and towns holding parades, fetes, concerts, as well as children dressing up in welsh costumes, eating cawl and leeks, all to celebrate this great tradition and the story of our patron saint of Wales - St David.
Photograph by 'Guardian Cardiff' - Flickr.com
1 Comment – Postiwch sylw
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Rhoddwyd sylw 26 mis yn ôl - 6th March 2010 - 11:40am
hi , i`m sue webster ,just joined swoosh today so exploring the site at the moment . i`m part welsh/scots but live in engalnd but have a lot of friends in the Rhondda valleys so come quite a bit .
i`m a fan of aston viila football club, pontypridd rugby club and wales and scotland , love singing in the band at st matthews church and in walsall choral society , am a keen birdwatcher, love wildlife and animals , collect stuff , active in michelin i-spy club, member of girlgiuding uk , student at wolverhampton university doing creative and professional writing and english--am student rep and now running for environment officer in the uni elections .i`m in the christian union.
i have a lovely cat called Angus. well , hope to make some friends on swoosh , bye for now sue .