Monday, March 01, 2021

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus

Or to put in another way, "Happy St. David's Day." Here it is March 1 and time to acknowledge the patron saint of the Welsh --- and to wear a daffodil in your lapel, your hat or your hair, much as the Irish will wear a shamrock later in the month.

The alternate to a daffodil would be a leek and while these are readily available in the produce departments of most grocery stores, they're considerably more problematic as items of apparel.

David (Dewi) was born into an aristocratic family in Caerfai, southwest Wales, and founded a Celtic monastic community at Glyn Rhosyn, Pemrokeshire, then approximately 11 others.  Famed as a teacher and as an ascetic, he is believed to have died on March 1, 589, hence the date of St. David's Day. He was canonized by Pope Callixtus II in 1120.

I doubt that any local celebrations are planned, but a small parade through the streets of Lucas would be appropriate since Lucas County's not inconsiderable dose of Welshness can be traced to the families who began arriving at Lucas and its then-neighbor, Cleveland, to work in the coal mines during the late 1870s. Labor leader John L. Lewis remains our most famous Welsh native son.

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