WALES

Map of the United Kingdom

MAP of WALES

The Welsh Flag

Facts about Wales Capital: Cardiff with inhabitants. Major cities: Newport, Swansea, Pembroke, Cardigan, Aberystwyth, Holyhead. Area: Wales is as big as Switzerland – 20,779 square kilometres. Population: 3 million inhabitants. Most of the people live in the south. Currency: Pound Sterling

Facts……… Highest point in Wales: MountSnowdon, 1,085 metres. National flower: the daffodil

Facts…… Agriculture: Farming and sheep- farming

Facts…… Industry and natural resources: Coal mines, steel works and oil refineries. Most of the mines are closed down now.

Language: Welsh. There are schools where teachers and pupils only use Welsh. Furthermore, there is a special Welsh TV channel called S4C.

National sport: Rugby

The Patron Saint of Wales: St. David National holiday: the 1st of March, St. David’s Day

As with many historical figures, there is little factual information available about St David (or Dewi Sant as he is known in Welsh). Most of what we do know comes from an unreliable biography written in about 1090 by Rhygyfarch, son of the then Bishop of St David’s. David was born at Henvynwy, Cardiganshire at some time between 454 – 542 AD. His parents were Nonna, daughter of Gynyr of Caergawch and King Sant, son of King Ceredig and it has been suggested that he was the nephew of King Arthur. He was baptised at Porth Clais by St Elvis of Munster and even at this early stage he was linked with miracles, when a blind man was cured by the baptismal water. His early education was received from St Illtyd at Caerworgorn in Glamorganshire following which he became a priest and spent 10 years studying at Ty Gwyn, under St Paulinus before becoming a missionary and embarking on a pilgrimage through South Wales and the West of England. He is said to have founded or restored 12 monasteries, including Glastonbury, Bath and Leominster, before settling at Menevia (St David’s) in South Wales, which was known for its strict asceticism of its rule, based on that of the Egyptian monks, with only one daily meal and hours of unbroken silence. During a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, David was consecrated as Bishop of Menevia and on his return to Wales he was named as Archbishop of Wales at the Synod of Brevi (Llandewi Brefi), Cardiganshire in 550. David died in either 589 or 601 at Menevia and was buried there. However, in about 966 his remains were taken to Glastonbury. Many miracles were attributed to him with the most notable being that he made the ground rise underneath him whilst preaching at the Synod of Brevi so he could be seen and heard by all. It is also said that, at his succession, a white dove was seen to settle upon his shoulders as if it were a blessing. This is why he is usually represented standing on a hill with a dove on his shoulder. Another legend is that, during a battle against the Saxons, David advised his soldiers to wear leeks in their hats so that they could easily be distinguished from their enemies, which is why the leek is one of the emblems of Wales. In 1120 David was officially recognised as a saint in by Pope Callistus II. Following this he was declared patron saint of Wales and his feast day determined as 1 March. In 1398 it was ordained that this day was to be a religious festival which would be kept by every church in the Province of Canterbury. However, this tradition came to an end with the Reformation in the 16th century. During the 18th century St David’s Day became a Welsh national festival and since then has been celebrated by schools and cultural societies throughout Wales. It is the custom to wear a daffodil or a leek and for young girls to wear the Welsh national costume.

The History of St. David’s Day The Welsh national holiday celebrating the patron Saint of Wales is traditionally celebrated on March 1, the day Dewi Sant (as St. David is called in Welsh) died in the year 589. Dewi Sant was canonized in 1120 by Pope Callactus II, and March 1 was added to the church calendar. Dewi Sant was an Archbishop in Wales, where he established many churches and founded his own monastery at Glyn Rhosyn (Rose Vale) on the banks of the small river Alun where the cathedral city of St. David stands today.

Traditional Welsh Garb