St.David’s Day Events Across the World

St David’s Day Around the World – Festivals and Events

It’s not just in Wales that St.David’s Day is celebarted you know. Evbents, festivals and celebrtaions are going on this week across the World from California to Hong Kong. Even Mickey Mouse is getting in on the act.

Who Was St.David the Patron Saint of Wales?

Dewi Sant or St David of Wales, is thought to have been born near the present town of St David’s. He is believed to be the son of ‘sanctus rex ceredigionis’. This is believed to be Sandde or Sant, prince of Powys and the son of King Ceredig, the founder of Ceredigion.His mother is thought to be Non, daughter of a Chieftain of Menevia whose Kingdom included what is now the town of St David’s in West Wales. His mother is said to have given birth on a cliff top in the middle of a violent storm. The exact year of his birth is unknown, with estimates ranging from 462 to 515 AD.

David became the Abbot of  St David’s and died on 1st March 589. A.D.  Many miracles were attributed to him. One miracle often recounted is that once when Dewi was preaching to a crowd at Llandewi Brefi those on the outer edges could not hear, so he spread a handkerchief on the ground, and stood on it to preach, whereupon the ground rose  upbeneath him, and all could hear.

He was buried in what is today St David’s Cathedral in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, the smallest City in Wales and the United Kingdom, having a population of nearly 1600 on the last electoral roll. His holiness was such that medieval pilgrims equated two pilgrimages to St David’s were worth one pilgrimage to Rome.

March 1st , St David’s Day, is now the traditional day of the Welsh.  March 1 is the date given by Rhygyfarch for the death of Dewi Sant, was celebrated as a religious festival up until the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. In the 18th century it became a national festival among the Welsh.

Welsh costume Y Ddraig Goch, the Red Dragon, is flown as a flag or worn. School boys usually where a leek which has become an emblem of Wales, and sometimes eaten before they finish their school day. More recently the boys have taken to wearing the Welsh rugby team jersey. The girls wear traditional Welsh costume.  St David’s Day is now celebrated by Welsh people all over the world.  The traditional Welsh greeting is Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus! Happy Saint David’s Day!

Here’s a more comprehensive look at goings-on around the world:

USA

New York – St David’s Day Dinner (March 7th)
Arranged by the Welsh Society for the first Sunday in March.

Chicago

Cawl & Cocktails (March 1st)
Organised by the Chicago Tafia, this night offers traditional Welsh food and a pub quiz with prizes donated by Welsh companies.

Chicago – St David’s Day Banquet (March 6th)

The Cambrian Benevolent Society prove how strong the Chi-town Welsh contingency is with this afternoon luncheon.

California – IRFT Radio St David’s Day Special (February 28th – March 2nd)

This internet-based radio station has been inviting Welsh bands to submit songs. Every song played over this weekend will be by a Welsh artist!

Denver – Colorado Welsh Society St David’s Day Celebration (March 7th)

Performances by the society’s choir as well as a brass band, followed by dinner.

Minneapolis – St David’s Day Centenary (March 6th)

The St David’s Society of Minnesota mark their 100th year of celebrating St David’s Day with a lunchtime banquet followed by live music.

Canada

Toronto – Male Voice Choir St David’s Day Concert (March 1st)

Bringing traditional four-part male harmony to Canada.

Europe

France – St David’s Welsh Festival, Disneyland Paris (March 5th-7th)

For this 3-Day festival, visitors to the park are invited to celebrate all things Welsh; even Micky and Minnie will be resplendent in their traditional Welsh garb!

Spain – Museu d’Història de Catalunya Networking Event (March 4th)

The theme will be education and will build on the existing relationship that Wales has with Catalunya.

China

Further afield, you can find Wales Week in Chongqing, China,

Japan

Welsh Cultural Festival in Japan

Hong Kong

St David’s Day Ball in Hong Kong.

If any of the above interest you, contact us now