St David's Twmpath

Last night, on 4th of March 2008, it was my first time I've been to Student Union and joined the Welsh(twmpath) dancing guided by favourite friendly folksters- Callenig. It was St David celebration that held on 1st of March-the day to remember St David who is patron saint of Wales. In that particular function, we enjoyed the music performance from local girls The Amber Hour, followed by delicious bowl of 'cawl'(welsh broth) with bread, cheese and welshcake. It was so fun and I enjoyed the dance very much! silly me..the next morning, my back really hurt because of the dance...but it worth..

St David’s day- 1st March

St David of Wales or ‘Dewi Sant’ (in Welsh), was a saint of the Celtic Church. His Father Sant, was the son of Ceredig, King of Ceredigion. His Mother, Non is said to have been a nun who, although violated by Sant, remained chaste and after the birth of St David, lived on nothing but bread and water. St David is thought to have been born near the present town of St David's. The ruins of a small chapel dedicated to his mother, Non may be seen near St. David's Cathedral

An account of Dewi’s life was written towards the end of the 11th century by Rhigyfarch, a monk at Llanbadarn Fawr near Aberystwyth. Following Dewi’s education, he went on a pilgrimage through parts of South Wales and the West of England, where he founded important religious centres such as Glastonbury and Croyland. He settled in ‘Glyn Rhosyn’ (St Davids) after defeating an Irish chieftain named Boia, and a very detailed account is given of the strict ascetic life required in the community which he established there. Dewi went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where he was consecrated archbishop.

Many miracles were attributed to Dewi Sant. One miracle often recounted is that once when Dewi was preaching to a crowd at Llanddewi Brefi those on the outer edges could not hear, so he spread a handkerchief on the ground, and stood on it to preach, and the ground rose up beneath him, and all could hear.

He was buried in what is today St David's Cathedral in Pembrokeshire. The Cathedral became popular as a place of pilgrimage, especially after Dewi had been officially recognised as a saint of the Catholic Church by Pope Callixtus in 1120.

March the 1st, St David's Day, is now the traditional day of the Welsh. This is the date given by Rhigyfarch for the death of Dewi Sant. It was celebrated as a religious festival up until the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. In the 18th century it became a national festival among the Welsh, and continues as such to this day.

The celebration usually means singing and eating. St. David's Day meetings in Wales are not the boisterous celebrations that accompany St Patrick's Day in Ireland. The custom is to celebrate with traditional songs and poems in a Welsh evening called ‘Noson Lawen’.. Y Ddraig Goch, the Red Dragon, is flown as a flag or worn as a pin or pendant, and either leeks or daffodils are worn, both of which are traditional emblems of Wales. Children in schools, mainly girls, will dress up in traditional Welsh national costume (see below). A more modern tradition has become the wearing of Welsh rugby shirts. St David's Day is now celebrated by Welsh people all over the world.