March 1 is an important day for Welsh people, and those who claim Welsh ancestry across the world. The first day of spring is also St David’s Day, a day when celebrates its patron saint and all things Welsh. It’s a day when many Welsh people were the national flower of Wales – the daffodil - and participate in a number of celebrations. Here are a few interesting facts about St David’s Day you may not know.
1. St David’s Day falls on the anniversary of the death of St David in 589 AD, however it was not until the 18th century that it was declared as a national day of celebration in Wales. It is thought that David lived to be over 100 years old.
2. One reason for his reported longevity may be down to his strict diet and lifestyle. David did not drink alcohol or eat meat. He was known as David the Waterdrinker – or Dewi Dyfrwr in Welsh – due to his simple lifestyle.
3. On St David’s Day, Welsh people traditional eat a type of stew known as cawl which contains lamb and leeks.
4. David’s most famous miracle involves him standing on a handkerchief and making a small hill rise up beneath his feet so that he could address a large crowd that had gathered to hear him preach.
5. It is estimated the 1.8 million Americans can claim Welsh ancestry, which is around about half the current population of Wales itself. Canada has half a million people of Welsh descent while over 125,00 Australians and around 10,000 New Zealanders have some Welsh blood.
For more interesting facts about countries and their customs check out the books at www.vujar.com.
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