St David’s Day celebrates Wales’ patron saint every year on March 1, the date of his death in 589 AD. The feast day typically sees people holding parades and wearing daffodils or leaks, the country’s national symbols. Leeks are worn in remembrance of St David who it is said offered life-saving advice on the evening before the battle against the Saxons in the 6th century. Legend has it that he advised his fellowmen to wear leeks in their caps so they could easily distinguish one another when fighting.
If you are celebrating St David’s Day today, the most common form of greeting is to wish someone a Happy St David’s Day!
In Welsh, the phrase is Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus, which is pronounced dee-the goil De-wi ha-peece.
What will people do to celebrate St David’s Day tomorrow?
Big crowds turned out for The National St David’s Day Parade in Cardiff.
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Other festivities include eating the national dish of Welsh rarebit, which is essentially cheese on toast with some Worcestershire sauce on top.
Who was St David?
There is much historical folklore surrounding the patron saint but he is believed to have been a Welsh bishop during the 6th century.
St David became known for his preaching, journeying to Jerusalem to spread his teachings.
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He was most famous for performing a miracle at the Synod of Brefi.
The religious man is reputed to have risen above a hill in front of a watching crowd.
St David is believed to have lived for more than 100 years.
He was made a patron saint in the 12th century after being canonised by Pope Callixtus II in 1120.