For centuries the first of March has been a national festival. As St. David was recognised as a national patron saint at the height of Welsh resistance to the Normans. So today is the feast day of Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, and falls on 1 March each year. The date of March 1st was chosen in remembrance of the death of Saint David on that day in 589, and has been celebrated by followers since then. The date was declared a national day of celebration within Wales in the 18th century.
Children take part in school concerts or eisteddfodau, with recitation and singing being the main activities. while the public take to towns for an annual parade with concerts held in the pubs, clubs and other places. Many of us wear one or both of the national emblems of Wales on their tops to celebrate St. David: the daffodil (a generic Welsh symbol which is in season during March) or the leek (Saint David's personal symbol) on this day. The association between leeks and daffodils is strengthened by the fact that they have similar names in Welsh, Cennin (leek) and Cenhinen Pedr (daffodil, literally "St Peter's leek").
In South Wales (My home), males usually wear leeks while young girls wear daffodils. Then we have the traditional Welsh costumes that we used to wear to school. These costume consists of a long woollen skirt, white blouse, woollen shawl and a Welsh Hat, like the picture below
And since I'm a proud Welsh lady and sad that we could not be home for it i decided to bring the day to us by making Welsh cakes with the boys and doing a Leek and Potato Soup for dinner.
Next year we have a holiday planned which will bring us back to wales around this time so the poor boys will end up wearing a welsh costume once in their lives but for now i will miss home dearly and teach my boys parts of our tradition from here in germany and of course enjoy eating Welsh cakes like the bunch we made in this picture.
Nos da!!
In case your wondering we said Good night which is pronounced: nohs dah
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