Saint David’s Day is the feast day of Saint David, the patron Saint of Wales, and falls on 1st March each year.
The first day of March was chosen in remembrance of the death of Saint David.
The date was declared a national day of celebration within Wales in the 18th century.
Saint David’s Day has regularly been celebrated, although it is not an official holiday.
In 1485, Henry VII of England, whose ancestry was partly Welsh, became King of England after victory at the battle of Bosworth field; his green and white banner, with a red dragon, was adapted in1959 to become the new flag of Wales.
Children in Wales take part in school concerts or eisteddfodau, with recitation and singing being the main activities.
Many Welsh people wear one or both of the national emblems of Wales on their lapel to celebrate St David.
The daffodil a generic Welsh symbol which is in season during March.
The leek, Saint David’s personal symbol. The leek arises from an occasion when a troop of Welsh were able to distinguish each other from a troop of English enemy dressed in similar fashion by wearing leeks.
The association between leeks and daffodil is strengthened by the fact that they have similar names in Welsh, Cenhinen (leek) and Cenhinen Pedr (daffodils).
Younger girls sometimes wear traditional Welsh costumes to school. This costume consists of a long woollen skirt, white blouse, woollen shawl and a Welsh hat.
Welsh people are very proud of where they come from and especially when it comes to the rugby.
Written by Thereza
