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St David's Day
"🎵 Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mad,
Dros ryddid collasant eu gwaed."
"🎵 The land of my fathers is dear to me,
Land of poets and singers, famous men of renown;
Her brave warriors, very noble patriots,
For freedom shed their blood."
~ “Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau” (“Land of My Fathers”)
Happy St. David's Day! Wales’ national anthem, “Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau,” was written in 1856 in the town of Pontypridd in south Wales by Evan James who wrote the lyrics, and his son James James, who composed the music.
The original title was “Glan Rhondda” (“Banks of the Rhondda”), referring to the Rhondda Valley. It was first performed publicly in January 1856 at the Tabor Chapel in Maesteg.
Unlike many national anthems, “Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau” was not adopted by formal government decree. It became the anthem gradually through popular use.
St. David’s Day is the national day of Wales because it commemorates St. David (Dewi Sant), the patron saint of Wales, who died on March 1 in the 6th century. A Celtic monk and bishop, he founded monastic communities across Wales and became known for his simple living, preaching, and the famous words attributed to him: “Do the little things.”
By the Middle Ages, he was widely venerated as a national religious figure, and March 1 became a day for Welsh people to celebrate their faith, language, and cultural identity. Today it is marked with daffodils, leeks, traditional dress, music, and national pride.
The decision to adopt a tartan was taken by a Welsh society formed in Cardiff in 1967. Its aim was to emphasise the Welsh bonds with other Celtic countries, most of whom already have their own tartan. Colours represent the Welsh flag - red dragon on a green and white background. The design was based on the 18th century Lord of the Isles tartan in recognition of the fact that the Prince of Wales also holds the subsidiary title Lord of the Isles.💚 ❤️ 🤍 🐉 🏴
Saint David (Welsh: Dewi Sant), the patron saint of Wales, is traditionally believed to have been born in the late 5th century, around c. 500 AD, in what is now Pembrokeshire in southwest Wales.
According to medieval hagiographies, especially the 11th-century account written by Rhygyfarch, he was the son of Sant, a prince of Ceredigion, and Non, a noblewoman later venerated as Saint Non. Legend surrounds his birth: it is said that a great storm raged the night he was born, and that a holy well sprang up at the site—today associated with St Non’s Chapel near St Davids.
David became a renowned teacher, preacher, and monastic founder during a period when Celtic Christianity was flourishing in Britain and Ireland. He established a strict monastic community at Glyn Rhosyn (the “Vale of Roses”), the site of what is now St Davids Cathedral. The rule he gave his monks was austere: they followed a life of prayer, study, and manual labor. They ploughed the fields themselves without using oxen, drank only water, and refrained from meat—earning David and his followers the nickname “Watermen.” His emphasis on simplicity, humility, and discipline shaped the spiritual character of early Welsh Christianity.
One of the most famous stories about Saint David concerns a synod held at Llanddewi Brefi. As he preached to a large crowd, the ground beneath him is said to have miraculously risen into a hill so that everyone could hear him clearly, and a white dove descended onto his shoulder—symbolizing divine approval. This miracle secured his reputation as a leading figure of the Welsh Church. He is also traditionally linked with missionary journeys, possibly to Ireland and Brittany, helping to strengthen Christian communities across the Celtic world.
Saint David is believed to have died on March 1, around 589 AD. His final words, according to tradition, were: “Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things that you have heard and seen me do.” The Welsh phrase often associated with him—Gwnewch y pethau bychain (“Do the little things”)—remains a cherished moral reminder in Wales. He was canonized by Pope Callixtus II in 1120, and his shrine at St Davids became an important medieval pilgrimage site. Today, March 1 is celebrated as St David’s Day, marked by the wearing of leeks or daffodils, symbols long associated with Welsh identity and pride.
For more on St David's Day traditions, click the flag of Wales!