With St David’s day heading our way we though we’d start giving you some ideas for things to do. As more events come in, we’ll let you know. We’ve kept it very simple and split it into categories……
THE HISTORY
The legacy of St David well and truly lives on here in South Wales and rightly so, he was a pretty remarkable man. St David was born in the year 500, the grandson of Ceredig ap Cunedda, king of Ceredigion. According to legend, his mother St Non gave birth to him on a Pembrokeshire clifftop during a fierce storm. That spot is actually marked by the ruins of Non’s Chapel. The nearby holy well is said to have healing powers.
St David became a renowned preacher, founding monastic settlements and churches in Wales, Brittany and Southwest England – including, (possibly) the abbey at Glastonbury. He supposedly made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem brought back a stone that now sits in an altar at St Davids Cathedral, built on the site of his original monastery.
St David died on 1st March (St David’s Day) in 589, so he did live a long and purposeful life. He was buried at the site of St Davids Cathedral, where his shrine was a popular place of pilgrimage throughout the Middle Ages. His last words to his followers came from a sermon he gave on the previous Sunday: ‘Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things that you have heard and seen me do.’ The phrase ‘Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd’ – ‘Do the little things in life’ – is still a well-known and used in Wales.
He apparently performed miracles, the most famous happened when he was preaching to a large crowd in Llanddewi Brefi. The people at the back complained that they couldn’t hear him, the ground where he was standing rose up to form a hill. A white dove, sent by God, then settled on his shoulder.
Perhaps the reason he lived such a long life is that he was a teetoal vegetarian. St David and his monks followed a simple life. They ploughed the fields by hand, rather than using oxen, and refrained from eating meat or drinking beer. St David himself was reputed to have consumed only leeks and water – which is perhaps why the leek became a national symbol of Wales.
So here’s our look at what’s on, where and when. Like all our guides it will build over the weeks as we hear about more events. We’ve included things we can do at home, stuff we can get the kids involved with in particular. Of course, there has to be a bit of baking. You can’t celebrate St David’s Day without a Welsh Cake and a slice Bara Brith.
ST DAVID’S DAY EVENTS
St David’s Day: Celebrating Mansel Thomas
Centred around the music of Mansel Thomas, his contemporaries and his influence on Welsh musical life, the Royal Welsh College’s music department present an afternoon of Welsh music to celebrate the cultural life of our musical nation.
The concert is at the Royal Welsh College on Sunday 1st March at 3pm. For more details, go HERE.
St David’s Day Celebration
Also at the RWCMD, the College’s Welsh Society present an uplifting programme of Welsh favourites in the Carne Foyer. Details HERE.
St David’s Day Run
To celebrate St David’s Day join The Fix Events in Bute Park Cardiff and take on a 5k, 10k and Half Marathon run, or a mini run for little dragons.
Dress to celebrate Wales and enjoy the morning with family, friends, or colleagues whilst being part of this great event.
Running around the stunning Bute Park, and challenge yourself, run with friends, family maybe the odd daffodil, leek or dragon.
Fix are delighted to be partnered with two of great Welsh charities, Cancer Research Wales and Kidney Wales. A donation from every entry fee will be given to each charity, plus we encourage you to run and in support of them and make a difference to people across Wales.
Every entrant receives full race chip timing, a superb high quality medal to add to your collection, drinks and refreshments on the day and discount offers from the Fix as well as from their partners!
The 5k is one lap, the 10k is 2 and half is just over 4 laps. All runners will get split times for each lap.
For more details, go HERE.
National St David’s Day Parade: Cardiff
The parade is an opportunity for those who live in Wales, regardless of age, ethnic or social background, to join a dignified and imaginative celebration of Welsh heritage and culture. It’s definitely a wrap up warm, grab your camera and take the family along sort of event.
This year the Parade will once again be starting outside Cardiff City Hall gathering from 12:00pm/Midday to then be starting at 12:30pm and will be processing through the city centre it will travel down Queen Street into St John’s Street, and then ending/arriving at The Hayes at about 1:30pm followed by the National Anthem being sung loud and proud outside St David’s Hall with traditional music sessions to follow in taverns in the city centre, so whether you want to watch it or be in it, Cardiff is the best place to be on St.David’s Day either way.
Parade flags and groups wishing to join the parade must register in advance and will need to be ready to Assemble in front of Cardiff City Hall at 12:00pm to then start at 12:30pm. Like previous years before some of the dancers and performers in the Parade will eventually be going to the afterparty in the Owain Glyndwr pub to provide everyone with more of their performances and entertainment.
For details and registration forms, go HERE.
St David’s Day at Bala Lake Railway
Celebrate St David’s Day with a free ride on the Bala Lake Railway to all residents of North Wales (just bring proof of address). But we are SOUTH WALES LIFE so if you’re planning a visit and you don’t live in North Wales you can still travel at less than half price.
St David’s Day at Bala Lake Railway is on Sunday 1st March. For more details on this beautiful stretch of track, go HERE.
Croeso – A St David’s Day Celebration
Croeso – A St David’s Day Celebration returns to Swansea city centre Saturday 28th February – Sunday 1st March.
- Food and drink
- Cookery demonstrations
- Live music
- Street entertainers
- Workshops
- Art and crafts
- St David’s Parade
- Children’s activities
- New for Croeso 2026 – the Pabell Pawb a Phopeth tent! You’re in for a treat as we bring you some top names from Welsh culture
Croeso is held in Swansea city centre around Oxford Street, Portland Street, Princess Way and Union Street – HERE
With music and live entertainment you’ll find plenty of Welsh culture to enjoy at Croeso. You can even say ‘Shwmae!’ (Hello!) and immerse yourself in the Welsh language, there’ll be plenty of help for those learning (or contemplating) Welsh.
For more details on Croeso Swansea, just go HERE.
St David’s Day – The Welsh Guards Charity
The Welsh Guards Association has very kindly been invited to celebrate St David’s Day on Tuesday 3rd March with the Battalion in Combermere Barracks, Windsor, (St Leonards Road, SL4 3DN) this year.
The Battalion will be well represented but Number 2 Company are on Op SHADER (Iraq) and Number 3 Company will deploy on Op CORDED (Zambia) soon after Saint David’s Day. The Regimental Band will, as always, be attending.
We realise this is out of Wales, but nevertheless and important occasion to celebrate. For details, go HERE.
VISIT A CASTLE
St David’s Day is the perfect time to visit one of our many castles. It would be ridiculous for us to list every single one of the 400 plus Welsh Castles, so what we thought we’d do is pick a couple at random with the hope of inspiring you. Visit Wales have so many more fantastic Castles featured.
White Castle, Monmouthshire
Named after its original white-rendered walls, White Castle is one of three fortresses – Grosmont and Skenfrith are the others – built by Norman lords in the Monnow Valley to guard the borderlands. Although it was already derelict by the 1600s, White Castle is easily the best preserved of the trio – with the bonus of a rural Monmouthshire setting.
Skenfrith Castle, Monmouthshire
Time travel fans need to visit Skenfrith – the Norman castle once played host to an episode of Doctor Who. See why this circular keep, constructed in the Monnow Valley as one of three neighbouring castles resulting from the Norman conquest of South Wales, is a repeated favourite of television crews.
Castell Coch, Cardiff
Castell Coch is a castle on top of a castle. It was originally a chieftain’s fortress in the 13th century, but was resurrected as a gothic fortress several centuries later. It is now notable for its extraordinary complex of lavish chambers, making it a repeated favourite with film and television crews.
Laugharne Castle
The magnificent medieval Laugharne Castle is forever associated with Dylan Thomas, who escaped writer’s block at the 12th century ruins. Discover his inspiration within the Victorian ornamental gardens, and relax near the Boathouse and Shed where poetry was once in motion.
Raglan Castle
Raglan Castle’s striking round towers make this fortress a singular classic, and there’s every chance you’ll be enraptured from the moment you see the astonishing gatehouse which once denied Oliver Cromwell at the end of the Civil War. Surrounded by fields, the romantic ruins even make space for a bowling green.
Caerphilly Castle
The largest castle in Wales, and the second-largest in Britain, Caerphilly Castle was locked within water defences when it was built by the English during the 13th century. The outside is the place, among an array of delights, to see four siege engines, and the inside has a hallowed, majestic feel.
WELSH RECIPES
We’ve kept this traditional and easy to follow. Visit Wales have got some great recipe videos and the results are delicious.
WELSH CAKES
For the recipe go here. WELSH CAKES
WELSH CAWL
Cawl is traditionally a hearty dish made of meat and any vegetables available. There are many recipes often handed down through the family and vary from town to town throughout Wales.
TO get the recipe, go here. CAWL
BARA BRITH
Delicious when spread with salted butter, Bara Brith is a rich fruit loaf made with tea. Here’s our recipe for this traditional Welsh tea-time treat.
This is not the real traditional recipe for Bara Brith but this recipe is used all over Wales and makes a beautifully moist cake as the dried fruit are soaked overnight in tea. It’s best stored for a couple of days before eating, allowing the flavours to develop.
Serves 8-10 slices | Prep 15 minutes | Cook 1 hour
Ingredients
400g mixed fruit (e.g. sultanas, raisins, currants)
300ml strong hot tea
250g self raising flour
1 tsp mixed spice
100g dark brown muscovado sugar
1 free range egg, beaten
honey to glaze
Method
- Put the dried fruit in a bowl and pour over the tea, mix in the sugar and stir well to dissolve. Leave to soak for at least 6 hours or overnight.
- Next day, sift the flour and spice into the soaked fruit (no need to drain the tea) and stir in the egg. Blend well together.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C /Gas 4. Line a 900g loaf tin with baking/parchment paper and pour in the mixture.
- Bake for approximately 1 hour until the cake has risen and cooked through. Leave to cool on a rack and store for 2 days before eating. Serve sliced with butter.
- This mixture can be doubled to make 2 loaves and will keep for up to 7 days.
- Warm a little honey to drizzle over the surface of the warm cake for a glazed topping.
ROAST LEG OF WELSH LAMB
Cook potatoes in the tin around the roast and make a gravy using the juices. The only other thing you need is some fresh veg for a fantastic Sunday lunch with the absolute minimum of fuss.
Ingredients
Serves: 12
- 4 cloves garlic, sliced
- fresh rosemary sprigs
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 (2 to 3kg) whole leg of lamb
Method
Prep:10 min › Cook:1hr 20min › Ready in:1hr 30min
- Cut slits in the top of the leg of lamb every few inches, deep enough to push slices of garlic down into the meat. Salt and pepper generously all over the top of lamb, place several sprigs of fresh rosemary under and on top of the lamb.
- Roast at 180 C / Gas mark 4, until the lamb is cooked to medium well. Do not overcook; the flavour is best if meat is still slightly pink.
Tip:
As a rule, roast a leg of lamb for 15 minutes per 500g (1 1/4 lb), plus 10 minutes more. Allow it to rest for a good 15 minutes before serving to ensure the juices redistribute, making a perfect roast.
Shortcut:
Pushing sliced garlic into a leg of lamb can be time consuming. Make this recipe even easier by chopping the garlic and sprinkling it over the lamb along with the rosemary leaves, salt and pepper.
TO DO AT HOME
Things To Colour In
We can’t predict the weather but let’s be honest, we all love a bit of colouring in, especially if we’re ‘helping the kids.’ Download a selection of Wales related things to colour in, there’s also a map and a game to enjoy. The link is at the foot of the page.
Pin The Tail On The Dragon.
Print a Welsh Dragon on cardboard with the tail area visible. Then cut off the pointed tail area. Each player must cut out a circle from white card and colour it in appropriately. Stick some blue-tack to the back of each tail and write each players name on their tail. Each player is to be blindfolded before they take their turn at attempting to pin the tail on the dragon.
Here’s one the kids can colour in before playing the game.
Colour & Fill In The Map
And no cheating – put the phone down……..
