Dewi Sant
St David is the patron saint of Wales and also of doves. He was recognized as a national patron saint at the height of Welsh resistance to the Normans. St David has been patron saint of Wales since the 12th century - he was canonised by Pope Callixtus in 1120. Of the patron saints of the British Isles, only St David and St Patrick had visited the country they are the patron saint for.
Legend has it, that in medieval times, St David was thought to be the nephew of King Arthur. In some stories, it is his mother who was the niece of King Arthur. Legend also says that St Patrick foresaw David's birth.
Also known as Dewi Sant in Welsh, he was born in Caerfai in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Believed to be the son to Sant, a prince of Cardigan, and Saint Non, the daughter of a chieftain, and the grandson of Ceredig ap Cunedda, King of Ceredigion. The tradition that he was born at Henfynyw (Vetus-Menevia) in Cardiganshire is not improbable. He became renowned as a teacher and preacher, founding monastic settlements and churches in Wales, Dumnonia, and Brittany. However, his birth date is quite uncertain: suggestions have a considerably wide range from 462 to 512 AD.
St David is thought to have died on March 1, 589 AD, and his remains were buried in St David's Cathedral in Pembrokeshire, which was a popular place of pilgrimage after he was canonised in 1120 AD.
His shrine was removed by Vikings in the 10th and 11th centuries, and a new shrine constructed in its place in the 13th Century.
The monastery is said to have been "filled with angels as Christ received his soul." During St David's last sermon he said words to his followers in a sermon on the previous Sunday. The Welsh Life of St David gives these as, "Arglwydi, vrodyr, a chwioryd, Bydwch lawen a chedwch ych ffyd a'ch cret, a gwnewch y petheu bychein a glywyssawch ac a welsawch gennyf i. A mynheu a gerdaf y fford yd aeth an tadeu idi" Which roughly translates to - "Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed. Do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about. I will walk the path that our fathers have trod before us." "Do the little things" has become a well-known inspirational saying in Wales.
He is usually represented standing on a little hill, with a dove on his shoulder. His best-known miracle is said to have taken place when he was preaching in the middle of a large crowd at the Synod of Brefi: the village of Llanddewi Brefi stands on the spot where the ground on which he stood is reputed to have risen up to form a small hill. A white dove, which became his emblem, was seen settling on his shoulder. John Davies notes that one can scarcely "conceive of any miracle more superfluous" in that part of Wales than the creation of a new hill.
He helped to spread the word of Christianity, and he founded around 12 monasteries in his lifetime. He also helped to suppress Pelegrian heresy, where people believed that original sin did not taint human nature and people are capable of choosing good or evil without divine aid. Monasteries founded by him were known for their extreme asceticism, where monks abstained from worldly pleasures, living on a diet of bread, vegetables, water and milk. They also did all hard labour themselves, including farming without the aid of ox to plow the fields. Over 50 churches in South Wales were dedicated to him in pre-Reformation days.
Many of the traditional tales about David are found in a hagiography, known as Buchedd Dewi - "Life of David" written in the late 11th century by Rhygyfarch. Though modern historians are sceptical, Rhygyfarch claimed it was based on documents found in the cathedral archives. Rhygyfarch aimed to establish some independence for the Welsh church, which had refused the Roman rite until the 8th century.
David's popularity in Wales is shown by the Armes Prydein of around 930, a popular poem which prophesied that in the future, when all might seem lost, the Cymry (Welsh people) would unite behind the standard of David to defeat the English; "A lluman glân Dewi a ddyrchafant" - "And they will raise the pure banner of David". Children in Wales enjoy traditional Welsh dances, sing the Wales National Anthem and Welsh folk songs and recite Welsh poems, and take part in school concerts or eisteddfodau.
Traditionally people celebrate St David's day by wearing a daffodils and leeks, recognized as the national symbol of Wales and St David's personal symbol. Festivities include eating traditional Welsh food including cawl and Welsh rarebit, and women wearing traditional Welsh dress. In Wales people, particularly children, wear traditional Welsh costume. Boys wear a white shirt, a Welsh flannel waistcoat, black trousers, long wool socks and black shoes. The outfits originated during the 18th and 19th centuries. Girls wear a petticoat and overcoat, made of Welsh flannel, and a tall hat, worn over a frilled bonnet.
The flag of St David is a yellow cross on a black background. On St David's Day, the flag of Dewi Sant and
Y Ddraig Goch (the Red Dragon, Wales's national flag), will be flown more than usual.
