Saint David’s day
Today, 1st March, is Saint David’s day. Saint David is the patron saint of Wales. Saint David’s day is less famous than Saint Patrick’s day around the world, but it is celebrated every year in Wales. Saint David was a missionary who founded twelve monasteries in the late 500s.
Many children mark the day by wearing traditional Welsh costumes to school and many people will wear a badge with a Welsh symbol such as a daffodil (a yellow flower that grows in Spring) or a leek (a long green vegetable that is part of the onion family).
Welsh has a long tradition of singing and poetry and many schools will have an ‘eisteddfod’ around this time which is a big competition for singing (usually in Welsh) and poetry (in Welsh or English).
Wales is a bilingual country – many people speak Welsh and English, all the street signs are in both languages and all children learn Welsh at school. Here are a few Welsh words for you to learn today:
Bore da – Good morning
Shwmae? – How are you?
Cymru – Wales
Croeso – Welcome
Hwyl – Goodbye
Dydd Gŵyl Dewi – Saint David’s Day
Dydd Gŵyl Dewi hapus, pawb! (Happy Saint David’s Day, everyone!)