St David's Day: what it is, when it is, and why every Dave should care
The one day a year officially about a Dave. It's not a bank holiday. Yet.
The short version
- St David's Day (Dydd Gŵyl Dewi) is on 1 March. It celebrates Saint David, the patron saint of Wales.
- Saint David was a 6th-century Welsh bishop, traditionally said to have died in 589. His best-known teaching is "Do the little things" (Gwnewch y pethau bychain).
- The symbols of the day are the daffodil and the leek. It is not a public holiday, although there have been calls to make it one.
St David's Day is celebrated on 1 March each year, in honour of Saint David, the patron saint of Wales. In Welsh it's Dydd Gŵyl Dewi. For Daves everywhere, it's the closest thing to a name day you'll get, and the Society encourages you to take full advantage.
Who was Saint David?
Saint David, or Dewi Sant in Welsh, was a bishop who lived in the 6th century. He founded a monastery in the far west of Wales, where St Davids Cathedral now stands, and traditionally he died on 1 March 589. His community was famous for its strict, simple life: hard work and plain food.
The place named after him, St Davids in Pembrokeshire, has city status thanks to its cathedral. With fewer than 2,000 residents, it's the smallest city in the UK.
What does "do the little things" mean?
Saint David's best-remembered words come from his last sermon. Translations vary, but tradition records them roughly as: "Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things that you have seen me do." In Welsh, Gwnewch y pethau bychain ("Do the little things") is still a well-known saying. It's good advice for anyone, and a reasonable motto for a Dave.
Why do people wear daffodils and leeks on St David's Day?
The leek is the older symbol. Legend says Saint David told Welsh soldiers to wear leeks in their caps during a battle with the Saxons, so they could tell friend from foe. Whether that happened is another matter, but the leek has been a Welsh emblem for centuries.
The daffodil became popular later, possibly helped by a coincidence of language: the Welsh for leek is cenhinen, and the Welsh for daffodil is cenhinen Pedr. Daffodils also bloom around 1 March, and they're nicer to pin on a jumper.
How is St David's Day celebrated?
- Wearing a daffodil or a leek. We recommend the daffodil if you're going to be indoors.
- Children in traditional Welsh dress at school, and school concerts called eisteddfodau.
- Parades, including a national parade in Cardiff.
- Food: cawl, a Welsh lamb and vegetable stew, and Welsh cakes.
Is St David's Day a bank holiday?
No. St David's Day is not a public holiday in Wales or anywhere else in the UK, although there have been regular calls to make it one. The Society of Daves supports these calls, for reasons that are entirely selfless.
How should a Dave celebrate St David's Day?
We suggest:
- Wear a daffodil, and tell anyone who asks that it's your day.
- Eat a Welsh cake.
- Do one little thing, as Saint David would have wanted.
- Send a Dave you know a message. There's always one.
Looking for a present? Our gift guide for Daves has a section for St David's Day, and a Society gift membership can be scheduled to arrive on 1 March. Curious what Saint David is called in other languages? See David in other languages.
Frequently asked questions
When is St David's Day?
St David's Day is on 1 March every year.
Is St David's Day a bank holiday?
No. St David's Day is not a public holiday in Wales or the rest of the UK, although there have been calls to make it one.
Why do people wear daffodils on St David's Day?
The daffodil and the leek are both national symbols of Wales. The leek is the older emblem, linked to a legend about Saint David. The daffodil became popular later, and the Welsh words for the two plants are similar: cenhinen (leek) and cenhinen Pedr (daffodil).
What did Saint David say?
His best-known teaching, from his last sermon, is "Do the little things" (in Welsh, Gwnewch y pethau bychain).
Sources
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