Here in Wales, St Dwynwen’s day is celebrated on 25th January and celebrates the life of Dwnywen, daughter of Brychen Brycheiniog. Dwynwen’s name means ‘she who lived a blessed life’ and for her, it could be said that her story ends with her doing just that.
The story goes that princess Dwynwen was the prettiest of Brychen’s 25 daughters, she fell in love with Prince Maelon and they planned to marry. Dwynwen was however forbidden from marrying her prince as her father had already promised her to another. Dwynwen was so aggrieved that she begged God to help her forget her prince. In response God sent an angel to visit her with a potion to erase Maelon from her memory and turn him to ice. God then granted Dwynwen three wishes after she prayed to him, the first of which she used to thaw her prince (much to his relief, I imagine). With her second wish she asked for God to ensure the hopes and dreams of true lovers be realised and the third was that she would never marry. God fulfilled all three and to show her gratitude Dwynwen devoted the rest of her life to God’s service.
Dwynwen founded a convent on the island of Llanddwyn, off the west coast of Anglesey. On the island is a well named after her, which became a place of pilgrimage for lovers after her death. Pilgrims would and still visit the well in the hopes it will foretell if their relationship will be a happy one. Another theory is that the well shows you the face of the person you are to marry. You can visit the well and the remains of her church on the island at high tide; walking the picturesque route to the island is a perfect way to celebrate St Dwynwen’s day.
The 25th January has been recorded as the day of commemorating Saint Dwynwen as far back as the 15th century. The celebrating of it has undergone a revival amongst Welsh people since the 1960s and it is now well established as the Welsh equivalent to Valentine’s Day. This is despite poor Dwynen not being recognised by the Vatican as an official saint any longer. The traditional gift to exchange is a lovespoon but just like Valentine’s Day, cards and other gifts are also exchanged, as well as romantic dinners, flowers, chocolates or of course, Welsh cakes.
The tale of Saint Dwynwen is one of a compassionate and strong-minded young woman, who chose not to marry if she could not marry the man of her choice. To pluck your heart strings further still, Dwynwen is also the patron saint of sick animals. So this year, why not treat your loved one to some romance on the 25th January, safe in the knowledge that this extraordinary young woman is looking after all true lovers.
words LAUREN PHILLIMORE
cover photo COYOTE GRAFIX