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……
First of all, some useful phrases to use on the day….
- Bore da (Boh-reh dah) – Good morning
- Prynhawn da (Prin-houn dah) – Good afternoon
- Croeso I Gymru (Croy-so ee Gum-ree) – Welcome to Wales
- Diolch (Dee-olch) – Thank you
- Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus (dee-the goil De-wi ha-peece) – Happy St David’s Day
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 1 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 Concert
Llandaff Cathedral will have a night filled with wonderful music. In celebration of St David’s Day the guest artists are all Welsh. A variety of music will be presented by Tongwynlais Temperance Silver Band, Cor Caerdydd, and Llandaff CIty Primary School.
The aim of this St David’s Day concert is to raise awareness and funds for the work of Christian Aid. There will be an opportunity to hear something of the work of Christian Aid, and proceeds of the night will go to Christian Aid as well as towards cost of the venue.
They look forward to celebrating St David’s Day with you! The concert is on Saturday 1st March from 7:30pm. Tickets are free and you can reserve a spot HERE.
St. David’s Day Celebration Folk Concert
There’s a night of folk music and celebration in honour of St David’s Day! The event will be held at St Michael’s Church, Tintern Parva, a beautiful venue seeped in history.
Welsh Folk band, Caws a Bara, led by Ian Thomas guitarist, with Tracey Hales on violin and cello and Geraint Robert on the Welsh bagpipes and woodwind will raise your spirits and make you tap your feet to lively tunes and immerse yourself in the rich culture of Wales.
Whether you’re a folk music enthusiast or just looking for a fun night out, this concert is sure to delight. Don’t miss out on this special evening of music and merriment!
The concert is on Saturday 1st March in St Michael’s Church, Tintern in Chepstow. It starts at 7:30pm with tickets costing £13.70. To find out more, go HERE.
A St. David’s Day Celebration of Culture with Sally’s Angels
Join Simply Singers Wales, Sally’s Angels Bassaleg and Hospice Harmony in ‘The House’, Bethel Community Church for a musical celebration of culture from Wales and beyond.
This St. David’s Day Concert will be supporting Boomerang Cardiff and featuring a programme of rich cultural music.
The event is on Saturday 1st March at 7:30pm at Bethel Community Church in Newport. You can find out more HERE.
St David’s Day Fayre
Come and celebrate all things Welsh at the fun-filled event in the Pontyclun Community Centre and Car Park. Join in an afternoon of food, crafts activities and music. It’s the perfect way to embrace Welsh culture and have a great time with friends and family.
Indulge in locally made delicacies, shop for unique handmade crafts, and enjoy live performances throughout the day. Whether you’re Welsh or just Welsh at heart, there’s something for everyone at Pontyclun’s St David’s Day Fayre
The fayre is held in Pontyclun Card Park and for more details go HERE.
St David’s Day Run
To celebrate St David’s Day join everyone in Bute Park Cardiff and take on a 5k, 10k and Half Marathon run, or the 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, join in and challenge yourself, run with friends, family maybe the odd daffodil, leek or dragon.
The event is 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 at the Fix as well as from the 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.
ST DAVID’S DAY RUN is on Saturday 1st march starting at 9am at Bute Park in Cardiff. For more details, go HERE.
So start digging out those daffodil hats and Welsh jerseys because their favourites will win a St David’s Day Run hoody.
ST David’s Day Parade
The organiser say – this non-military 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. This year the meeting point is the Boulevard de Nantes end of King Edward VII Avenue, between Cardiff City Hall and the Law Courts.
The parade is on Saturday 1st March. Meeting is at 12noon for the parade at 12:30pm.
For details and registration forms, go HERE.
Carmarthen St David’s Day Celebrations
Every year the Town Council organises activities and entertainment to celebrate St David’s Day.
The event is staged in partnership with local schools and with support from Carmarthenshire County Council and Menter Gorllewin Sir Gar. In a typical year the event will include choral works, recitations, clog dancing and harp recitals.
In addition, entertainers on stilts roam the streets. A particular feature of the day is the transmission of the Good Will Message from the children of Wales to the world, as the message passes through Carmarthen on its way to Cardiff.
No more details available as yet, but when they are go HERE.
St David’s Day at Bala Lake Railway
Celebrate St David’s Day with free travel if you live in North Wales and a reduced fare for others (You will need proof of address to obtain free travel).
Residents of North Wales will be able to enjoy a free ride on the Bala Lake Railway on Saturday 1st March to celebrate St David’s Day.
Everyone else qualifies for a discount on full return tickets. For more details on this beautiful stretch of track, go here. RAILWAY
Croeso Swansea
Croeso is a festival celebrating all things Welsh held in Swansea’s city centre on Friday 28th February February to Saturday 1st March. This year’s event will feature the best of local Welsh culture including…….
- Food and drink
- Cookery demonstrations
- Live music
- Poetry
- Street entertainers
- Workshops
- Art and crafts
Head to Swansea’s St David’s Place to hear the wonderful sounds of Welsh music before moving to Oxford Street where you can sample the best of Welsh food, drink, and handcrafted goods. Don’t miss the cooking demonstrations!
With music, poetry, 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. CROESO
The Welsh Guards Charity
They are based in London but want to direct you to their website as they do some really fantastic charitable work.
The Welsh Guards Charity was formed in 2013 as a result of amalgamating several different Regimental Charities and Funds. The Welsh Guards Afghanistan Appeal, which was started in 2009 because of the significant numbers killed in action and injured on the Battalion’s first tour to Afghanistan in 2009, is also part of the charity.
With further deaths and casualties on the Battalion’s second tour in 2012, the Appeal grew into a nationwide appeal with an immense amount of success and support, including from the Worshipful Company of Drapers, former Welsh Rugby Union Captain Ryan Jones, the Peterson Family, Walk on Wales and our families and friends raising very large sums of money.
You can find out more about the Welsh Guards Charity 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. CADW 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
Kathryn Gunter used to run The Market Bakery in Abergavenny market. It’s a very traditional bakers, providing a wide selection of breads and homemade cakes, including Welsh cakes, Bara Brith and Teisen Lap.
Kathryn says that a lot of tourists that visit Abergavenny are coming to Wales for the very first time, and very often have never tasted a Welsh cake before. She says it’s so exciting when people sample them straight from the griddle. To see their faces light up with delight makes her very happy.
Ingredients
Makes 10-12 cakes | Prep 10 minutes | Cook 4-5 minutes each
- 8oz / 220g self raising flour
- 2oz / 55g caster sugar
- 4oz / 110g margarine or butter
- 1 or 2 handfuls of sultanas
- 1 or 2 free-range eggs depending on mixture
Method
- Sieve flour into bowl, then add margarine or butter, rub in finely together.
- Add sugar and sultanas and mix.
- Add 1 egg and mix. The consistency needs to be bound together, so if too dry add another egg.
- Roll out on a floured board, to about a quarter inch thick.
- Cut using a 2 inch (5cm approx) cutter, then cook on a greased pan, or bake stone, on a medium heat for about 4 to 5 minutes each side.
- The exact cooking length will depend on what you are cooking your Welsh cakes on, but keep a close eye – too short a period and they won’t be cooked in middle, and cooked for too long and they will be dry. When touched during cooking they should feel springy, but not wet to the touch (no mixture should come out of the middle).
- Once cooked dust with caster sugar and enjoy.
This recipe is © Kathryn Gunter.
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
Ingredients
- 1kg middle neck or shoulder Welsh lamb, Welsh beef or ham hock
- 1 onion – roughly chopped
- 6 medium potatoes – peeled and chopped
- 3 carrots – peeled and chopped
- 1 small swede or 2 parsnips – peeled and chopped
- 2 leeks – washed and sliced
- 1 small bunch fresh parsley
- Vegetable stock
- Salt and pepper to taste
Method
- Place the meat in a large saucepan, cover with water and bring to the boil. Simmer for 2-3 hours over a low heat. Leave overnight to cool and the following day skim off any fat that has risen to the surface.
- Cut the meat off the bone and return to the stock then add the potatoes, carrots, swede or parsnips and simmer until cooked. Add more vegetable stock if required at this point. Season with salt and pepper.
- Finally add the shredded leeks and just before serving throw in the roughly chopped parsley. You can thicken the cawl if required with a paste made with flour and water or fine oatmeal.
- Note It is better to use a cheaper cut of meat on the bone so that maximum flavour is obtained. You can also serve the meat separately to the vegetable soup.
This recipe is © Dudley Newbury.
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……..
