Visit any where in Wales on March 1, St David’s Day, and you’ll see children wearing traditional Welsh national costumes or Welsh rugby shirts, wearing bright green leeks and yellow daffodils turned into colourful accessories.
St David’s Day or Dydd Gwyl Dewi (Sant) Hapus in Welsh is always a special time in Wales, when local communities come together to celebrate the culture and qualities of Wales. And there’s plenty happening locally from wonderful Welsh choirs to lots of delicious locally-made foods.
It’s all in honour of Dewi Sant – St David – but not much is actually known about the patron saint himself.
Who was St David?
Legend has it that he went on a pilgrimage, which led all the way to Jerusalem, where he was made an Archbishop. His miracles, though, happened closer to home – people began making their own pilgrimages to St David’s Cathedral, which he founded in West Wales, after word swiftly spread of his ability to make the earth rise beneath him, suggesting a power which could ward off the invading Normans.
St David’s Day celebrations
Almost 900 years after he was pronounced a saint, St David’s Day is the unmissable highlight of spring in Wales.
Events
Go on a guided walk
The Crickhowell Walking Festival takes place around the beginning of March each year and lasts nine days. It consists of a number of guided walks of various grades, all led by local experienced guides. There is something for every level of walker, whether you are happy trekking all day across the tops of the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons or would rather keep to paths and the lower slopes. They have some St David’s Day Specials
Welsh themed walk, followed by Welsh tea at St Edmund’s Church, Crickhowell. No booking required for tea, donations welcomed. Booking required for walk (£6) through www.crickhowellfestival.com
Glimpsing Glaciers. Talk by NP Geologist, Alan Bowring, on the effect of the Ice Age in the Brecon Beacons. The Bear, 7.30pm. Tickets £6
Wales’ foremost triple harpist, Robin Huw Bowen, will be at St Edmund’s Crickhowell on Sunday 28th February at 7pm. Tickets from the church or www.crickhowellfestival.com. £8.
Take a Stroll through Dinefwr and indulge in some locally sourced Welsh Food.
Enjoy a walk through the historic designed landscape or climb to Dinefwr Castle and take in the vast, panoramic view of the Twyi valley and Dinefwr estate.Retire to our Billiard Room tearooms in Newton House and enjoy a real taste of Wales as you take in the view of the historic designed landscape at Dinefwr.Traditional Lamb Cawl,Welsh Rarebit with Chutney,Homemade Bara Brith,Fresh off the plank Homemade Welsh Cakes. This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.
Things to do
Visit one of CADW many attractions - with free entry on St David’s Day
Ken Skates, Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, said: “Wales is a country teeming with fascinating heritage, from its historic buildings to its iconic stories. It is extremely important that we ensure our heritage sites are accessible to everyone inside and outside of Wales to explore and enjoy.
“By opening sites for free, we’re able to give people across Wales the chance to explore their local monuments and learn more about their heritage in honour of our Patron Saint.”
The following sites, which normally charge for admission, can be entered for free on March 1:
Bronllys Castle
Brecon Gaer - Roman Fort
Dinefwr Castle
Carreg Cennen Castle
Tretower Court and Castle
Blaeavon Ironworks
Llantony Priory
Cadw also has over 100 unstaffed monuments open for free all year across Wales – Visitors are welcome to explore these sites all year round – find a site near you at cadw.gov.wales/daysout.
Local Food
Buy some great local Welsh foods, with hampers from Black Mountains Smokery and Authentically Welsh;Their Crickhowell Cracking Hamper will introduce you to some of Crickhowell’s delicious local artisan foods.
Why not treat yourself on this special day and visit a Welsh pub or restaurant here in the Brecon Beacons that have made the 2016 Michelin Star Guide.
The National Botanic Gardens of Wales-Free entry for three days – the perfect proposal
The National Botanic Garden is having a three-day free-for-all in honour of Wales’ patron saint. Admission to the Garden is FREE on Sunday February 28, Monday February 29 AND on Tuesday March 1st as part of the Wales-wide St David’s celebrations. On St David’s Day itself, music will fill the air at the Garden with music from harpist Shelley Fairplay, local folk duo Fiddlebox and the Carmarthen Ukulele Choir.David added: “Free entry to the national garden on and around St David’s Day with a fabulous programme of Welsh music, craft and food is the perfect way to celebrate our patron saint.” Admission to the Garden is (usually) £9.75 (including Gift Aid donation). Entry is FREE for Garden members and parking is FREE for all.The Garden is open 10am to 4.30pm and last entry is at 3.30pm.For more information about this or other events, call 01558 667149 or email [email protected]
The Bear Hotel will be celebrating in style, as it will be decked out in hundreds of daffodils for St Davids Day, with traditional Welsh Cawl on the menu.
The Manor Hotel in Crickhowell will be running a Welsh Menu to coincide with Crickhowell Walking Festival and St David’s Day. The Castle Hotel in Llandovery is also running a week long St David’s Day Menu.
Clams Cakes have recently launched their new site and have a special St David’s Day basket available for just £10.95. It includes a bara brith cake and 6 large welsh cakes.