St David’s Day, on 1 March, is the national day of Wales. Children dress in traditional Welsh costume, people wear daffodils and leeks, and towns hold parades in honour of Dewi Sant, the patron saint of Wales. Here are 12 facts about St David’s Day.
1It is held on 1 March.
The date is traditionally the day St David died, in about 589.
2St David is called Dewi Sant in Welsh.
David was a Welsh bishop and monk who lived in the 500s and founded a monastery in south-west Wales.
3Britain’s smallest city is named after him.
The city of St Davids in Pembrokeshire grew up around his monastery. With a population of under 2,000, it is the smallest city in the UK by population.
4Two pilgrimages to St Davids equalled one to Rome.
After David was made a saint in the 1100s, the Pope declared that two pilgrimages to St Davids were worth as much as one to Rome, and three as much as one to Jerusalem.
5His last words are still quoted.
In his final sermon, David is said to have told his followers to “do the little things”, in Welsh gwnewch y pethau bychain, a saying still well known in Wales.
6He lived very simply.
David and his monks are said to have drunk only water and eaten bread and herbs. He was nicknamed “Aquaticus”, the water drinker.
7The leek is a symbol of Wales.
According to legend, David told Welsh soldiers to wear leeks in their hats to tell friend from foe in a battle against the Saxons. Soldiers of the Welsh Guards still wear leeks on St David’s Day.
8So is the daffodil.
The daffodil, which often flowers around 1 March, became popular as a national symbol in the 1800s and was promoted by the Welsh prime minister David Lloyd George. In Welsh, leek and daffodil have similar names.
9Children wear traditional costume.
Many girls in Wales go to school in traditional Welsh dress, with a tall black hat and shawl, while boys often wear rugby shirts. Schools hold eisteddfodau, festivals of singing, poetry and music.
10It is not a bank holiday.
Despite campaigns over many years, St David’s Day is not an official bank holiday in Wales.
11Cardiff holds a national parade.
A St David’s Day parade has been held in Cardiff since 2004, with thousands of people marching through the city centre.
12Traditional food is part of the day.
Many families eat cawl, a lamb and vegetable stew, and Welsh cakes, flat griddle cakes with currants.
FAQs about St David’s Day
When is St David’s Day?
Every year on 1 March.
What are the symbols of St David’s Day?
The daffodil and the leek, along with the flag of St David, a yellow cross on a black background, and the Welsh dragon.
Sources and further reading
Explore more: facts about St George’s Day and facts about St Andrew’s Day.
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