Mae Duw yn bendithio pobl Cymru : God bless the people of Wales

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Rob2

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St David , Patron Saint of Wales​

Celebrated on March 1st

"Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" : Land of My Fathers


Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn annwyl i mi,
Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o fri;
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mad,
Dros ryddid gollasant eu gwaed.

Gwlad, gwlad, pleidiol wyf i’m gwlad.
Tra môr yn fur i’r bur hoff bau,
O bydded i’r hen iaith barhau.

( translation by W.S. Gwynn Williams )

The land of my fathers is dear to me,
Old land where the minstrels are honoured and free;
Its warring defenders so gallant and brave,
For freedom their life’s blood they gave.

Home, home, true I am to home,
While seas secure the land so pure,
O may the old language endure

Mosaic of St David in Westminster Cathedral.

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Not a great deal is known about St David. The oldest written evidence about him comes from Ireland, but there are legends about him as far afield as Brittany, Cornwall and Herefordshire. He was born some time in the 6th century, probably Henfynw in Cardiganshire. According to legend he was the son of a local chieftain and founded twelve monasteries from Croyland to Pembrokeshire. He is also said to have gone on pilgrimage to Jerusalem where he was consecrated bishop.

St David took part in two councils at Brefi in Cardigan and at Caerleon. His emblem is a dove. This is said to have originated because of his harmonising work at the Brefi meetings.

David was known traditionally as ‘The Waterman’, perhaps because he and his monks were teetotallers. The original of St David’s day daffodil has been lost. The association of St David’s day with leeks (in Shakespeare’s Henry V) is another mystery.

There are over 50 ancient St David dedications and place names all in South Wales and many more in Devon, Cornwall and Brittany.

Cwm Rhondda , taken from the name for the Rhondda Valley is a popular hymn tune written by John Hughes used for Guide me O Thou Great Redeemer .

Young Rhondda Valleys Miners of the past

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Hey, my origins are from there, too. Happy St. David’s Day! (But I’m refraining from wearing the leek.)
 
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Da iawn. Diolch yn fawr, Rob!

Older miners continued to bath at home…in a metal bath in front of the fire…even when the collieries had installed showers. A lot of these old uns refused to wash the coal dust from their backs. It ‘weakens the back, see!’ I tried to follow their example once…just the once…but, for some reason, my Mam had other ideas :roll_eyes:
 
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Shasta-Rose said:
Hey, my origins are from there, too. Happy St. David’s Day! (But I’m refraining from wearing the leek.)
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Rhondda boys wore leeks to school in the morning; usually pinned on the left chest, and stretching from belt to collar. We would nibble on the leaves throughout the morning concert (the girls wore daffodils); and then home on holiday in the afternoon! Those were the days 😋

Happy St David’s Day to you, too.
 
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Somewhat strangely, my first introduction to the Welsh was in watching the old film Zulu (one of Michael Caine’s first films, btw), which centres around the old 24th Foot, a regiment almost entirely comprised of Welshmen. There are several funny moments when it is revealed that half the men seem to be Joneses and Williamses…and of course they roar out “Men of Harlech” to keep their spirits up. 'Tis a grand moment in a fine film.

It was only later I discovered what a beautiful place it was, and the people were lovely. I could listen to their accents all day long.

Happy Feast of Saint David - and long live Wales!
 
Bixby said:
Somewhat strangely, my first introduction to the Welsh was in watching the old film Zulu (one of Michael Caine’s first films, btw), which centres around the old 24th Foot, a regiment almost entirely comprised of Welshmen. There are several funny moments when it is revealed that half the men seem to be Joneses and Williamses…and of course they roar out “Men of Harlech” to keep their spirits up. 'Tis a grand moment in a fine film.

It was only later I discovered what a beautiful place it was, and the people were lovely. I could listen to their accents all day long.

Happy Feast of Saint David - and long live Wales!
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You’re in the Will! 😀

Valley expression, meaning ‘I’m well pleased with you!’
 
‘Organ Morgan’ is a character in Dylan Thomas’ ‘Under Milk Wood’. His wife complains that it’s ‘Organ, organ, organ all the time with him!’

Valley folk have a tendency to link people to their profession, or to some personal characteristic. Here’s a local joke:

During the cold war a KGB Colonel was sent to Treherbert (Rhondda) to meet with the local agent. The Colonel arrived at the railway station, with only a porter in sight.

Approaching the porter, he says: ‘I am wanting to speak to Mr. Jones.’

‘Well,’ says the porter, ‘you might have some trouble with that. We have dozens of Joneses here, mun. There’s Jones the Milk; Jones the Baker; Jones the Papers; Jones the Butcher……well now, I’m a Jones myself, see.’

The Colonel thinks for a while, and then whispers: ‘The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain.’

‘Ahhh’, says the porter. ‘You’ll be after Jones the Spy!’
 
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I’m not of Welsh ancestry. Nonetheless, I offer this:

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 23 Session of 2019

INTRODUCED BY BAKER, DINNIMAN, BARTOLOTTA, FONTANA, ARGALL,
MARTIN, PHILLIPS-HILL, VOGEL, COSTA, BROWNE, YAW, SCAVELLO,
AUMENT, HUGHES, TARTAGLIONE, YUDICHAK, SANTARSIERO, SCHWANK
AND FARNESE, FEBRUARY 4, 2019

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, FEBRUARY 4, 2019

A RESOLUTION
Observing March 1, 2019, as “St. David’s Day” in Pennsylvania
and honoring the many Pennsylvanians of Welsh heritage.
WHEREAS, St. David is the patron saint of Wales and March 1,
St. David’s feast day, is the Welsh national holiday which is
celebrated by Welsh people throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, Starting in the 17th century, a significant number
of people emigrated from Wales to this Commonwealth seeking
religious freedom and employment; and

WHEREAS, William Penn and the Religious Society of Friends,
or Quakers, founded the heart of the first Welsh settlement in
Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, A second wave of Welsh immigration, led by a Baptist
minister, occurred in the 18th century and resulted in the
immigrants settling in Cambria County; and

WHEREAS, Since this Commonwealth and Wales both include rare
anthracite coal, many Welsh immigrants also settled in the
northeastern Pennsylvania coal region; and

WHEREAS, Many cities and towns in this Commonwealth are named
by or for people of Welsh heritage; and

WHEREAS, This Commonwealth has a concentration of people of
Welsh ancestry that is greater than any other state; and

WHEREAS, The rich Welsh traditions and culture have had a
tremendous impact on this Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, “St. David’s Day” unites Welsh people worldwide in
the celebration of their identity; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate observe March 1, 2019, as “St.
David’s Day” in Pennsylvania and honor the many Pennsylvanians
of Welsh heritage.
 
For a short time, when I was young my family belonged to St. Winifred’s Church (near Pittsburgh). I’ve since learned that it’s one of the only, if not THE only St. Winifred’s Church in the world. Outside of, perhaps, Wales.
 
on_the_hill said:
For a short time, when I was young my family belonged to St. Winifred’s Church (near Pittsburgh). I’ve since learned that it’s one of the only, if not THE only St. Winifred’s Church in the world. Outside of, perhaps, Wales.
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One of my favourite songs sung by Saint Winifred’s Choir from Stockport with Brian and Michael is Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs . 😄


St Winifred’s Well at Holywell in Wales. The oldest continuously visited pilgrimage site in the UK.

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