The 1st of March is an exciting date in the Welsh calendar. It’s a day to celebrate the Patron Saint of Wales, St David. St David was a bishop who lived in the 6th century. He founded many religious centres across Britain and Wales, later making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem where he became an archbishop.
St David was also known as a worker of miracles. One famous story tells how the ground rose beneath him so that a gathered crowd could see and hear his preaching. Today, St David’s Day is a time of national pride, marked with parades, fairs and free entry to some of the country’s finest heritage sites.
This year, we’re celebrating in our own way, by honouring the trees and plants that are important or symbolic to the Welsh people.
The leek
The legend that made the leek a national emblem of Wales involves St David himself, making it the oldest symbolic plant of Wales. The story goes that St David led his troops into battle against invading Saxons in a field of leeks. He told his soldiers to wear a leek in their helmets to distinguish friend from foe.
Why not celebrate St David’s Day by adding leeks to your lunch or dinner? These versatile winter vegetables are delicious in soups, gratins and delicate tarts.
The daffodil
The daffodil, sometimes called “Peter’s leek”, is the national flower of Wales and has been an emblem of the country since the 19th century. No one is completely sure how it gained this status. Some say it’s because the Welsh words for leek (cenhinen) and daffodil (cenhinen Bedr) are similar, so over time the two became closely linked. Others note that St David’s Day sits at the start of spring, just as daffodils burst into bloom, making them a natural symbol for the day.
Whether you’re marking St David’s Day or simply want to bring some early sunshine to the garden, you can’t go wrong with a drift of these cheerful yellow blooms.
The yew
You may not instantly associate the yew with Wales, but one yew in particular holds an important place in Welsh history. In the churchyard of St Cynon’s in the village of Defynnog stands a remarkable yew, thought by some to be the oldest tree in Britain, possibly even Europe, around 5,000 years old.
Yew trees are extraordinary organisms with an ability to regenerate that many species lack. The Defynnog yew has stood witness to a vast sweep of Welsh history. Despite the yew’s resilience, remember that most parts of the tree are highly poisonous to humans and animals, so do take care around them.
To all our Welsh friends, happy St David’s Day!
Image credits
- Field of Leeks by “My name’s axel” (Flickr)
- Daffodils and sky by Tambako the Jaguar (Flickr)
- Yew berries by liz west (Flickr)