10 things you may not know about Dydd Santes Dwynwen
Santes Dwynwen's Day, the most romantic day in the Welsh calendar, is held on January 25th, here is why we celebrate the Welsh patron saint of lovers.
How much do you actually know about Wales' most romantic day of the year?
Here is some interesting trivia you may not know about St Dwynwen and why we turn into a nation of passionate romantics for the day.
1) The name Dwynwen means “she who leads a blessed life”.
2) Dwynwen devoted herself to God's service and became a nun after she was unable to marry her Prince.
3) She 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.
4) It is 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 was seen as a sign of a faithful husband.
5) Besides from the well, there is also Crochan Llanddwyn, meaning Llanddwyn’s cauldron, which is a small wishing well that is located in a rabbit warren between Llanddwyn Island and Newborough. According to folklore, if the water of the well boils while visitors are present, love and good luck will follow.
6) You can visit Santes Dwynwen’s church on the tiny island of Llanddwyn, off the west coast of Anglesey, but you’ll have to be quick as Llanddwyn is a tidal island, meaning it remains attached to the mainland at all but the highest tides.
7) Santes Dwynwen, a fourth Century Welsh princess who lived in what is now the Brecon Beacons National Park is thought to have died in about AD465.
8) Besides from being the Welsh patron saint of lovers, Santes Dwynwen is also considered the patroness of farmers’ beasts.
9) A Welsh love spoon is traditionally given as a Santes Dwynwen’s day gift. In 2007, the world’s largest ever love spoon was carved and measures a whopping 44ft.
10) A group of Denbighshire farmers celebrated Santes Dwynwen’s Day back in 2007 by turning their milk bottles into makeshift lonely heart ads, attaching pictures of themselves to them with a message inviting people to ‘Fancy a Farmer’! It remains a mystery as to whether Santes Dwynwen’s magic was able to help these plucky farmers get a date.
The full story of Santes Dwynwen
Dwynwen, a Welsh princess who lived on Ynys Llanddwyn, Anglesey was unlucky in love, so she became a nun and prayed that true lovers have better luck than she did.
According to legend, she was the prettiest of Brychan Brycheiniog’s 24 daughters.
She fell in love with a Prince called Maelon Dafodrill but her father had already arranged for her to marry someone else.
Upset she could not marry her prince, Dwynwen begged God to make her forget him before falling asleep.
An angel visited Dwynwen in her sleep and gave her a potion to erase her memory of Maelon and turn him into a block of ice.
With her dreams coming true, Dwynwen devoted her life to God and set up a convent on the island of Llanddwyn, off the coast of Anglesey.
The remains can still be seen on the island as can Dwynwen’s well.
God offered Dwynwen three wishes. Her first was that Maelon be thawed, the second that God should meet the needs of all lovers and the third that she should never marry.
The well is now a pilgrimage for young Welsh lovers since Dwynwen’s death.
Gobeithio eich bod chi I gyd yn cael dydd hyfryd!
Best wishes,
The Alexanders Team.