You may know that Dewi Sant is the patron saint of Wales but how much more do you know about him? He was born about 520 AD in a cottage on the Pembrokeshire cliffs overlooking St. Bride's Bay, to noble parents. Legend says that a hurricane was blowing at the time, which no one who has been to those parts might find too difficult to believe !! However, it's said that, throughout that storm, the cottage was bathed in sunlight - a very auspicious beginning.

After ordination to the priesthood, he undertook missionary journeys and visited the Holy Land, where he was consecrated bishop. Returning to Wales, he founded many churches through South Wales but his first was at Glyn Rhosyn, where the cathedral and town of St.. David's stands today. He became one of the most important leaders of the Celtic Church, powerful at synods that sought to suppress heretic religions but so gentle by nature that, despite his stern self-denial and the rigid discipline of his monastery, disciples flocked to learn from him.

Most of our knowledge of Dewi Sant comes from his biography, written around 1090 by the renowned Welsh scholar Rhygyfarch from tales passed down through the generations. One legend says that, whilst preaching in the village of Llandewi Brefi, the earth rose beneath his feet so that he was standing on a hill above the crowd - Celtic eloquence literally moving mountains !! On this same hill today lies the eighth century Idnert Stone whose inscriptions are the first written references to Dewi Sant.

He was also credited with performing many miracles, such as healing the blind, sick and lame. It is said that many Welsh wells today were formed when water burst from the ground during his healing ministries. There are also several miraculous objects and relies associated with the Saint. One of them is the Bangu Bell in Glasgwm Church in Powys, given by Saint David and believed to have supernatural powers - God's vengeance would descend upon anyone treating it with irreverence.

David died in 589 on March 1st. but it was more than 500 years later, in 1120, that he was canonized by Pope Callixtus. Nearly 300 more years were to pass before Archbishop Arundel ordered the Church to celebrate St. David on that day each year.

In recognition of this, Welsh people often sport a leek or daffodil on March 1^st. both nowadays adopted as national emblems. The leek has been worn from the early sixteenth century but it's true origins are unclear. Popular legend has it that St. David, leading the Welsh into battle, ordered his men to wear the leeks growing locally in their helmets as a distinguishing mark when fighting against the pagan English. It’s association with David is more likely based on leeks traditionally being an essential part of Welsh diet, especially during Lent. It was widely used in divination and held to be a symbol of purity and immortality - the food of saints. Daffodils are not botanically linked to leeks but are known in Welsh as Cenhinen Pedr - Peter's Leek - and, through this association, have become a popular, and less pungent, choice of buttonhole to celebrate Saint David - Dewi Sant.