Welsh Love Tokens, a digital event run by National Museum Wales this January 25, will explore the origin and use of historical items – such as Welsh lovespoons – that are connected to St Dwynwen’s Day.
Like its more globally-known equivalent, St. Valentines Day, St Dwynwen’s Day – celebrated in Wales every January 25 – has its own historical legend. St. Dwynwen was a fourth-century princess famed for her beauty; as is often the case in these kinds of stories, Dwynwen fell for a peasant boy and consequently, out of favour with her dad, King Brychan. She prayed for help, which also backfired on her: the angel who answered her call turned her boyfriend into an ice block.
More divine intervention then granted her three wishes, which she used firstly to save the boy, then to ask God to watch over all “true lovers”, and finally, to devote herself to Him by joining a nunnery as gratitude for God’s aid.
This meant she could never marry but she did become the patron saint of lovers (as well as, interestingly, sick animals), giving rise to the Welsh tradition of carving and gifting lovespoons for romantic meals. National Museum Wales’ talk on the subject will reveal past, hidden love stories via its collection of romantic items, including knitting sheaths and staybusks.
National Museum, Cardiff (digital event), Tue 25 Jan
Price: pay what you can (£5 suggested donation). Info: here
words HANNAH COLLINS
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