Dydd Santes Dwynwen hapus!
Happy St Dwynwen’s day!
St Dwynwen’s Day has finally come around and it has been growing in popularity year by year. St Dwynwen is our Welsh patron of true lovers is a day to shower your partner with love, affection and gifts!
Obviously most people celebrate Valentine’s day on the 14th February but being a nation of romantics we need to two days to express our love for one another.
If you don’t know anything about St Dwynwen’s day, then read on and spread the Welsh love today!
The history…
In a tale which goes back to the 5th century, Dwynwen fell in love with a prince but sadly, her father had already arranged for her to be married to another suitor. Dwynwen was so upset that she she begged God to make her forget him. Then, after falling asleep, Dwynwen was visited by an angel with a potion designed to erase all memory of the prince and turn him into a block of ice.
God then gave Dwynwen three wishes. Her first was for the prince to be thawed. Her second was for God meet the hopes and dreams of true lovers. And for her third wish, she asked that she should never marry. All three were fulfilled, and as a mark of her thanks, Dwynwen devoted herself to God’s service for the rest of her life.
Llanddwyn remains
Dwynwen set up a convent on Llanddwyn Island, just off the west coast of Anglesey; the remains of which can still be seen today, along with Dwynwen’s well. It’s believed the well is home to sacred fish who can predict whether couples’ relationships will succeed. If the fish are seen to be active when visiting the well, it is a sign of a faithful husband. According to folklore, if the water of the well boils while visitors are present, love and good luck will follow.
The celebrations…
Its not too late to pop into our Swansea store to pick up a last minute gift for your special someone and don’t forget, all of our gifts are perfect if you are a Valentine’s day celebrator too!
Have a look at our St Dwynwen’s Day Gift Guide for ideas!
