Whilst no where near as popular as the more famous St Valentines Day, St Dwynwen’s day is slowly becoming more popular. Now you can buy cards and gifts centered around this historic Welsh festival.
Here in Cardiff St Dwynwen’s day is barely heard off however if you were to venture to some of the more rural parts of Wales you would surely find that this day is wildly celebrated. Some towns hold very lavish celebrations holding concerts and festivals to mark the Welsh Patron Saint of Love.
The story goes that Dwynwen fell in love with Maelon Dafodrill, but unfortunately her father had already arranged that she should marry someone else. In her grief Dwynwen fled to the woods, where she begged God to make her forget Maelon. After falling asleep, Dwynwen was visited by an angel, who appeared carrying a sweet potion designed to erase all memory of Maelon and turn him into a block of ice. God then gave three wishes to Dwynwen. First she wished that Maelon be thawed, second that God meet the hopes and dreams of true lovers and third that she should never marry. All three were fulfilled, and as a mark of her thanks, Dwynwen devoted herself to God’s service for the rest of her life.
