Daffodils

According to legend, Dewi was preaching one spring in Llanbedr in North Wales and the fishermen out on the sea wanted to hear his words. Dewi prayed for assistance. Suddenly thousands of little yellow trumpets started to grow out of the ground. Within seconds the fishermen could hear every word clearly. Since then, the yellow flowers have appeared every year in Wales. The daffodil was championed as the emblem of Wales by Lloyd George, a Llanystumdwy man.

The Leek

According to the legend, the Welsh were engaged in a fierce battle against the Saxons – who were considered to be pagans. Unfortunately the Welsh were losing ground – mainly because it was so difficult to tell who was who.

Dewi’s advice was that every Welshman should wear a leek plucked from the field of battle. This was done and soon the Welsh were victorious.

Dewi's Birth

Dewi’s birth had been foreseen 30 years earlier by St Patrick and when Dewi was born two strange things happened.

Non, his mother, had been using a stone as a pillow. When Dewi appeared the stone split in two.

Then, suddenly, a new fountain appeared by her feet.

The Ground Rises in Llanddewibrefi

According to legend, Dewi was in Llanddewibrefi and a crowd of thousands had gathered to hear him. Unfortunately, those at the back couldn’t even see him. Suddenly, the ground where Dewi was standing rose up until all could both see and hear perfectly.

Dewi Sant (St David)

According to the legend, Dewi was the son of Non, the daughter of Gynyr and Sandde (or Sant), the King of Ceredigion. Non became a nun soon after the birth and went to Brittany to live. According to one story, Sandde was the nephew of King Arthur.

After being taught by Peulyn, Dewi decided to live a simple life eating only bread and water. He became known as Aquaticus (the Water Man) because of this. He set about establishing a monastery near what is now St David’s.

Peulyn’s Sight

Peulyn was Dewi’s teacher. He suffered from terrible headaches and one morning he woke to find that he was completely blind. He heard a Voice telling him that his sight would be restored by one of his own pupils. Samson and Gildas both tried without success. Then Dewi touched the old teacher’s eyes and his sight came back immediately. According to legend the miracle happened on Mynydd Llanllyfni near Caernarfon.

Dewi's Birth

Dewi’s birth had been foreseen 30 years earlier by St Patrick and when Dewi was born two strange things happened.

Non, his mother, had been using a stone as a pillow. When Dewi appeared the stone split in two.

Then, suddenly, a new fountain appeared by her feet.

St David’s Cathedral

Dewi had established a monastery here by 589 but it was constantly destroyed and rebuilt in the following centuries. It remained, however, an important centre.

William the Conqueror came to St David’s to pray in 1081 and by 1123 Pope Calixtus II had declared that St David’s was an acceptable destination for pilgrims. Two trips to St David’s were worth one trip to Rome. Three trips to St David’s were worth a trip to Jerusalem! Work on the present Cathedral commenced in 1181.

The Flag of Dewi Sant

The Church in Wales in 1939 decided that they needed a flag and adopted the flag of the see of St David’s – with some variations. The main change was the decision to have a black cross on a yellow background instead of a yellow cross on a black background. No-one is sure why this change was made. The banner was used until 1954 in some churches in Wales.

In 1954, the Church in Wales adopted a new flag which was completely different. However, St David’s flag remained popular in many quarters and flag manufacturers went back to the original yellow cross on a black background.