St Dwynwen’s Day - 25th of January
Saint Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint of friendship and love
and Saint Dwynwen’s Day, Dydd Santes Dwynwen, is celebrated on 25
January.
Dwynwen, the daughter of Brychan Brycheiniog, the King of Wales,
lived during the 5th century and was renowned for her beauty. As
the legend goes, Dwynwen had fallen in love with Maelon Dafodrill,
but her father had already made arrangements for her to marry
someone else. When Maelon discovered this he lost his temper,
turned on Dwynwen then left her. Heartbroken, Dwynwen turns to God
and asks him to release her from her feelings for Maelon.
Three Wishes
In a dream, an angel who provides her with a magic potion visits
her. Maelon drinks the potion and is immediately turned to ice.
Dwynwen then prays for that Maelon be released; that, through her,
God looks after all true lovers; and that she remains unmarried.
Her requests are granted and in order to show her gratitude Dwynwen
decides to devote the rest her life to God.
St Dwynwen’s Day has grown in popularity recently and many Welsh
speakers now prefer to celebrate their relationship on this day in
January instead of St Valentine’s Day which is held in
February.