Spring Holidays.Beginning with St. David's Day on March 1st, spring in Wales is replete with fascinating holiday traditions that are not always as well known as other events, such as St. Patrick's Day. For instance, you won't find the Welsh wearing green and sporting shamrocks in early March. This is because Wales has its own patron saint, St. David, who is said to have died on March 1st around the year 589 or 590. Thus, March 1st is annually observed in Wales (and in Welsh communities around the world) with celebrations, singing, and church services.
St. David himself was an ascetic monk who later became an abbot and bishop. He helped spread Christianity throughout the pagan Celtic tribes of the area. In addition to establishing several churches throughout Wales, he also founded a monastery near modern-day St. David's, where he was buried. There are a variety of curious anecdotes and legends about his life, not the least of which is that he is supposed to have lived over 100 years.
Probably one of most widespread St. David's Day customs is that of wearing a leek (a member of the onion family) or a daffodil on one's clothing. Why? Well, the simple answer is that the leek, or cennin, is the national emblem of Wales, and the daffodil is the national flower. The leek has been a symbol of Welsh identity for centuries, and legend has it that St. David ordered his soldiers to wear leeks on their helmets in a battle against Saxon invaders that occurred in a field of leeks. Leeks were also associated with health and medicine. Even today, Welsh soldiers wear leeks in their caps on St. David's Day.
Daffodils, also containing a green stem and white bulb, are often substituted for the odoriferous leek by many Welsh. In fact, one Welsh name for the daffodil is cennin Pedr or cenhinen Bedr, Peter's leek. Another St. David's Day custom (also involving leeks) is eating traditional Welsh lamb broth or cawl. You can find a recipe in one of my earlier articles, here.
Though St. David's Day is the least familiar holiday to those outside of Wales-which is why I devoted so much space to it-there are other spring traditions that also deserve attention. Sul y Blodau, or Sunday of the Flowers, is how Welsh speakers refer to Palm Sunday. This is because, in preparation for Easter, graves are cleaned and decorated with often elaborate flower arrangements. On y Pasg, Easter, in many parts of the country people climb the highest hill in the area to watch the sun rise. And on Calan Mai (May Day)-also known as Calan Haf, the first day of summer-bonfires used to be lit, an annual tradition until the middle of the 19th century. Please visit the links at the end of this article for much more information about these and other spring holiday customs.
 |
 |
Go To Page: 1 2
