Wales’ National Day

Happy St David’s Day, or Dydd Gwyl Dewi Sant to all our lovely guests, customers and friends. Tomorrow is the 1st of March, which is of course the national day of Wales, and an important date in the calendar for any proud Welsh person!

We all know that the cheery daffodil is the national symbol of Wales and will be worn across the country on St David’s Day, but just how did it come to be hailed as such an important little plant? Well it wasn’t always this way, so say the history books. During medieval times it was the humble leek that was the national symbol of Wales, of course!

Legend has it that during a battle between an ancient king and his arch enemies the Saxons, St David himself told soldiers to wear leeks so that they would recognise their fellow fighters. Another tale tells of a bloody battle in the fourteenth century when the Prince of Wales defeated the French army on a field of leeks, and so as a testament to the Prince’s brave army, Welshmen began to wear leeks in their caps on St David’s Day.

But, by the 18^th century, the Victorians had decided that a leek was by no means dignified enough (and probably too smelly!)  to be a symbol of Wales, and as daffodils always come into bloom in early Spring, the happy daff was chosen to be a new emblem of all things Welsh, and has remained so ever since.

So, why not celebrate St David’s Day in daff style and take a walk to spot some of these pretty flowers? They are easy to find across the hills and woodlands of our beautiful corner of Snowdonia. And when you’ve had your fill of daffs, why not join us at the Oakeley bar for a lovely pint of patriotic Welsh beer; all in the name of St David’s Day of course! See you soon…….