聖大衛日

Significance of the day

圣大卫出生於威爾斯西南方Caerfai的一個貴族家庭。[1][2] He was reportedly a scion of the royal house of Ceredigion,[3] and founded a Celtic monastic community at Glyn Rhosyn (The Vale of Roses) on the western headland of Pembrokeshire (威爾斯語：) at the spot where 聖戴維斯座堂 stands today.[4]

David's fame as a teacher and his asceticism spread among Celtic Christians, and he helped found about 12 monasteries.[1] His foundation at Glyn Rhosyn became an important Christian shrine,[5] and the most important centre in Wales. The date of Saint David's death is believed to be 1 March 589.[6] His final words to the community of monks were: "Brothers be ye constant. The yoke which with single mind ye have taken, bear ye to the end; and whatsoever ye have seen with me and heard, keep and fulfil."[7]

For centuries, 1 March has been a national festival. Saint David was recognised as a national patron saint in the 12th century[2] at a peak time of Welsh resistance to the Normans.[8] 教宗嘉禮二世於1120年將他封為聖人。十七世紀的日記作家塞缪尔·皮普斯 noted how Welsh celebrations in London for Saint David's Day would spark wider counter-celebrations amongst their English neighbours: life-sized effigies of Welshmen were symbolically lynched,[9] and by the 18th century the custom had arisen of confectioners producing "taffies"—gingerbread figures baked in the shape of a Welshman riding a goat—on Saint David's Day.[10]

不同於愛爾蘭的圣帕特里克节，聖大衛日並非國定假日，though there is strong support for it 成為威爾斯的銀行假日。In the past, schools have taken a half-day holiday, which continues in some parts of Wales. Saint David's Day is also celebrated in expatriate Welsh communities outside the UK.[1] Cross-party support resulted in the National Assembly for Wales voting unanimously to make Saint David's Day a public holiday in 2000. A poll conducted for Saint David's Day in 2006 found that 87% of people in Wales wanted it to be a bank holiday, with 65% prepared to sacrifice a different bank holiday to achieve this.[11]2007年時英國首相托尼·布莱尔拒絕了一項使聖大衛日成為銀行假日的 petition。

In the poem Armes Prydein (The Prophesy of Britain), composed in the early to mid-10th century, the anonymous author prophesies that the Cymry (the Welsh people) will unite and join an alliance of fellow-Celts[12] to repel the Anglo-Saxons, under the banner of Saint David: A lluman glân Dewi a ddyrchafant ("And they will raise the pure banner of Dewi").[13] Although there were occasional Welsh uprisings in the Middle Ages, the country was briefly united by various Welsh princes before its conquest[14] at different times, and it arguably had a very short period of independence during the rising of Owain Glyndŵr,[15] but Wales as a whole was never an independent kingdom for long. Henry Tudor, 2nd Earl of Richmond, who was born in 彭布羅克城堡 as a patrilineal descendant of the Tudor Dynasty of North Wales，1485年在博斯沃思原野戰役打敗理查三世後，成為英格蘭君主亨利七世 to end the 玫瑰战争.[16] Henry's green and white banner with a red dragon became a rallying point for Welsh patriotism with the memory of Saint David on his Feast Day. Henry 是都鐸王朝第一任國王，and during the reign of that dynasty the royal coat of arms included the 紅龍, a reference to the monarch's origin. The banner from Henry's victory was not adopted as the official 威爾斯國旗 until 1959.[17] 然而，聖大衛旗, a golden cross on a black background, was not part of the symbolism of House of Tudor.[18]

Saint David's Day events

Saint David's Day celebrations, Cardiff Bay, 2008

Saint David's Day Celebration, Cardiff Bay. 2009

Traditions

Water in Swansea Castle Square fountain dyed red for Saint David's Day

Children in Wales take part in school concerts or eisteddfodau, with recitation and singing being the main activities. Formerly, schoolchildren were given a half-day holiday. Officially this custom does not continue, although the practice can vary between schools.[1] The younger girls sometimes wear traditional Welsh costumes to school. This costume consists of a long woollen skirt, apron, white blouse, woollen shawl and a Welsh hat.[1]

Also, various Welsh Regiments of the British Army use aspects of Saint David's cross, Saint David himself, or songs of Saint David in their formalities during the celebrations. Many Welsh people wear one or both of the National symbols of Wales to celebrate St. David: the daffodil (a generic Welsh symbol) or the leek (Saint David's personal symbol) on this day.[1] The leek arises from an occasion when a troop of Welsh were able to distinguish each other from a troop of English enemy (some historical accounts indicate Saxon invading forces), dressed in similar fashion, by wearing leeks.[28]

The 聖大衛旗 often plays a central role in the celebrations and can be seen flying throughout Wales. Popular dishes traditionally eaten on Saint David's Day include 威尔士肉汤（）, bara brith tea loaf, 威爾斯蛋糕, lamb and 威爾士乾酪.[1]