March 2017


Saint David’s Day – what’s it all about? Andrew Colborne


Thismonth begins with the observance of Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, whose feast day is 1 March. The occasion is celebrated by Welsh people worldwide, but do the rest of us know much about this saint or why he is so revered?


David was born around the end of the 5th century AD. Descended from Welsh roy- alty, he founded a Celtic monastic community at Glyn Rhoshyn (Vale of Roses) on a far western headland of Pembrokeshire, where St David’s Cathedral stands to this day next to the small settlement of the same name granted city status by Queen Elizabeth II.


He was a renowned teacher and preacher, founding monasteries across Wales and the near continent. Around 550 AD at the Syn- od of Brefi, he was elected primate for the region fol- lowing his eloquent rejec- tion of a heretical doctrine called Pelagianism.* At one synodal gathering he performed his best known miracle while preaching to a large crowd, whereby the ground on which he stood rose up to form a small hill, while a white dove settled on his shoulder. These two attributes are often to be seen in depictions of the saint.


Tradition holds that during a battle against the Saxons, David advised the Welsh warriors to wear a leek on their armour, so as to better distin- guish themselves from their enemies. This gave rise to the present custom of wearing leeks as described further below. Later, David was recog- nized as a patron saint at the height of Welsh re- sistance to the invading Normans. However, not until the 18th century was March 1st, the pre- sumed date of his death, declared as a national day of celebration within Wales.


* A doctrine that rejected the concept of original sin and maintained that individuals take the initial steps towards salvation by their own efforts and not by the help of divine grace.


These days, St David’s Day is celebrated with dinners, parties, and eisteddfodau (recitals and concerts), particularly among children. The wear- ing of leeks and daffodils is common. Pam Wil- liams, whose family was associated with St Nico- las’ Church for many years, recalls her time growing up in Swansea after the war,‘… until the fifties, not much was going on but then we started hav- ing literature, music and art competitions at my grammar school, with a prize for the best entry and a ceremony called ‘crowning of the bard’ – as well as getting a half-day holiday! Boys and girls used to wear leeks and daffodils and some girls wore national costume. Boys preferred leeks, as daffs seemed a bit sissy … often we would dare each other to eat them!’


On a larger scale, festivi- ties are held at urban cen-


tres around Wales, notably Cardiff, Swansea and Colwyn Bay, and parades involving hundreds of citizens and schoolchildren provide the focus for a wide range of other events and activities.


Readers who are interested to learn more


about the Celtic saints would do well to take note of The Church in Abingdon, Lent Lec- tures taking place on Monday evenings


(March 6th, 13th, 27th and 3rd April) at The Salvation Army hall, West St Helen Street (20.00).


David Cole will lead a series of devotional


lectures based on his book 40 Days with the Celtic Saints (BRF, Abingdon, 2017). The


lectures will include stories from the lives of the saints, and their qualities and experienc- es will be related to our own life journey and developing relationship with God. We may even learn some more about St David, let’s see!


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