Guestling Bradshaw CE Primary School

St. David or Dewi Sant is the patron saint of Wales. He lived there in the 6th Century, helping to spread Christianity among the pagan Celtic tribes of Western Britain, where is thought to have founded religious centres such as Glastonbury. He became Archbishop of Wales, and eventually settled at Glyn Rhosyn (now called St. David’s), where he founded a strict religious community.

St. David was born on the south west coast of Wales, near the present day city of St Davids. He was educated at a monastery and became a missionary, travelling through Wales and to south west England and Brittany to spread Christianity.

One story about St. David tells of a battle, when Welshmen were trying to protect their land from Saxon invaders.  The Welsh were slowly losing, but it was difficult to tell friend from foe, as both sides wore similar clothing. St. David, then a simple monk, told the Welsh soldiers to wear a leek on their helmet to identify themselves. They attacked the invaders with renewed strength, and before long had won the battle. The leek is now a national symbol of Wales.

Another story about St. David tells how he was preaching to a huge crowd, and when those at the back complained they could not see him, the ground on which he stood rose up to form a small hill, and a white dove (a sign of God's blessing) settled on his shoulder. Shortly after, he was made Archbishop.

David founded a monastery where St Davids Cathedral stands today. He died in 589 AD and was buried in the grounds of his own monastery. He has been the patron saint of Wales since the 12th century, and his shrine is still an important place of pilgrimage. Although the feast of Dewi as a religious festival came to an end during the Reformation, the day of his death became a national festival during the 18th Century.

The celebrations include parades, concerts and food festivals. Many people wear a daffodil, a symbol of Wales, or a leek (St David’s personal symbol) on the day and the national flag can be seen flying all over Wales and amongst Welsh communities.

Primary school children in Carmarthenshire are served Cawl for lunch – a traditional stew of lamb, leeks and other vegetables, with bread and cheese. Many young girls wear the traditional Welsh costume to school to mark the occasion.

Older children (and indeed adults) often take part in an eisteddfod, rather like our music festival, with recitation, dancing and singing as the main activities.