We’ve all heard of St Valentine’s Day on 14 February, but in Wales we’re proud to have our very own day of love – Dydd Santes Dwynwen (St Dwynwen’s Day) on 25 January. Here we give you an insight into the history behind it.
The story of St Dwynwen
St Dwynwen – in Welsh Santes Dwynwen – lived in the fourth century and was a Welsh princess. She lived in southern Wales, in what is now known as the Brecon Beacons National Park (Bannau Brycheiniog) and was said to be the prettiest of King Brychan Brycheiniog’s 24 daughters!
According to the story, Dwynwen fell in love with a young prince called Maelon Dafodrill who lived locally. However, King Brychan had in fact organised an arranged marriage for her and she was to marry another prince.
When Maelon found out that Dwynwen was betrothed to someone else, he took the news very badly and was distraught. Poor Dwynwen was so upset by his reaction that she ran away into the woods where she prayed for God to help her.
An angel then visited Dwynwen and gave her a potion that was said to help her forget all about Maelon, but in fact it turned him into a block of ice. Seeing her distress, God then granted Dwynwen three wishes. She thought hard about them and then firstly wished that her true love Maelon be thawed, her second wish was for God to meet the hopes and dreams of all true lovers, and her third wish was that she would never marry.
With these wishes granted by God, Dwynwen decided to show her thanks by becoming a nun. She founded a convent on Ynys Llanddwyn (Llanddwyn Island) – which is on what we now know as Anglesey – and lived there serving God. Here she prayed for true lovers to have greater luck than she did.
Celebrating Love
In Wales it’s the 25 January that is seen as the most romantic day of the year, with Santes Dwynwen recognised as our patron saint of lovers – the Welsh equivalent of St Valentine.
There was also a well named after Dwynwen at Llanddwyn, which became a place of pilgrimage after her death in AD 465. According to legend visitors to the well believed that the sacred fish or eels in the well could foretell whether love and happiness would be theirs.
While not everyone celebrates the day, it is becoming increasingly popular and today Santes Dwynwen’s Day cards are readily available in Wales. Why not join in? It’s always good to share a special day with loved ones.