A Welsh Valentine

Let me tell you the story of the Welsh version of Valentine's day, Dydd Santes Dwynwen. Saint Dwynwen or is the Welsh patron saint of lovers and is celebrated on the 25th of January. Her story is actually quite sad:

Dwynwen was the prettiest of King Brychan Brycheiniog's 24 daughters. She fell in love with a local lad called Maelon Dafodrill, but King Brychan had already arranged for her to marry another prince. Maelon took the news badly, so the distraught Dwynwen fled to the woods to weep, and begged God to help her. She was visited by an angel who gave her a sweet potion to help her forget Maelon, which happened to turn him into a block of ice.

God then granted Dwynwen three wishes. Her first wish was that Maelon be thawed; her second wish was for God to help all true lovers; her third wish was that she would never marry. In gratitude, Dwynwen became a nun and set up a convent on Llanddwyn Island, a beautiful little spot on Anglesey. Her name means, 'she who leads a blessed life'. Fall in love on St Dwynwen's Day - Visit Wales

There is a well named after her at the place that she founded the convent which became a place of pilgrimage after her death in AD 465. Visitors believed that the sacred fish or eels that lived in the well could foretell whether or not their relationship would be happy and whether love and happiness would be theirs.

Dydd Santes Dwynwen is celebrated in much the same way that Valentines day is, people send cards, gifts and messages of love. It is becoming more commonly celebrated in Welsh speaking communities.

Welsh mythology is rich in stories and legends, if you're interested in learning more, look up the Mabinogion which is a collection of eleven tales full of myth, folklore, tradition and history of the Welsh lands.

This year for Dydd Santes Dwynwen, me and my fiancé visited our jeweler friend and designed our engagement and weddings rings. We have been engaged for 1 and a ½ years, but without any rings to show for it. 💍