St Dwynwen's Day

Photo © Rob Jones

Hands up who knows all about Welsh Love Customs?

Oh, just me then.

Today - 25th January - is St. Dwynwen’s Day - Wales’ equivalent to St. Valentine.

Wait, Wales has its own lovers Day? So who was this Dwynwen then?

She lived: 5th century. Died 465AD

Patron Saint of Sick Animals and Farmer’s Beasts

Motto: 'Nothing wins hearts like cheerfulness'.

Her story as follows:

Dwynwen was the most beautiful daughter of Brychan Brycheiniog, son of King Anlach and his wife Marchel of Garthmadru. His name either mans Bitter or Freckly, or bitter about being freckly. Nevertheless he was married three times and according to some reports had 63 children.

According to legend, Dwynwen was due to be married but fell in love with another man, Maelon. She begged God to make her forget him. So an angel pitched up and gave her a potion which erased all memory of her fancy man and encased him in a block of ice.

God then gave Dwynwen three wishes. First she wanted Maelon thawed out. Secondly she asked for all the hopes of true lovers should come true. The third was that she would never marry. (Oh, Dwynwen, you could have had it all.)

She devoted the rest of her life to God and founded a convent at Llanddwyn Island on Anglesey which later became a place of pilgrimage.

Note: There’s a sacred fish in a well which can foretell whether a relationship will be happy or not.

There’s another well, the water of which can cure warts.

And what do you have to do to mark this special day?

It’s certainly nothing compared to St. Valentines Day - no flowers or hearts, or chocolates.

There are options, but many are no longer practical. It seems that romance in Wales died out with the industrial revolution. However you could if you so wish:

Give your beloved a Love Spoon.

In olden days the man would carve an ornate love spoon while sitting with his intended in front of the fire, suitably chaperoned - whittling furiously. They are usually decorated with keys to symbolise the key to a man’s heart, wheels to show industriousness, and beads to show many kids the couple will have.

Look into the Future

Rhamanta is the art of looking into the future. You had to romantically put a shovel on top of the fire with two grains of wheat on it. As they heat up, the grains twist and grow and eventually pop off the shovel. If they jumped off together then wedding bells were in the air. Separately and it was a non-starter. remember this was Pre-TV.

Jump the Broom Stick

Couples are required to jump over a broomstick wedged into a door frame. It’s a fertility rite, to show how big a family you were going to have.

Be Tricked by a Maid

This is done on Christmas Eve or on three defined Fairy Nights (looks in diary, can’t find.). A fire is made up, and a feast laid out. The girl goes and washes her underwear in a handy spring. Then it’s left to dry by the fire. Leave the door unlocked and go to bed. In theory, her future husband will be attracted to eat the feast. Not sure where the underwear comes in. Seems a risky strategy, especially if the goat gets in.

Listen to the Birds

It is said to be lucky to be woken by birdsong on your wedding day. It’s not lucky to be congratulated first by another woman.

That’s all fine but are there any food related activities?

Yes….

Take a shoulder of mutton and drill nine holes into it. Put it under a young lady’s pillow, with her shoes arranged in a T-shape at the foot of her bed. Say an incantation. The girl will dream of her future husband. I’d be circumspect about anyone who sleeps with a chop under her pillow.

And … it was tradition to go round the posh houses asking for Cheese for the reception later.

All you ever wanted to know about St. Dwynwen.

RJ