March 1 is the feast day of St. David, a sixth-century monk and bishop who became the patron saint of Wales. His diocese is traditionally believed to have been at Mynyw, where he had his monastery, now known as St. David's. He was a talented orator, renowned for his sermons, and he is usually shown being inspired by the Holy Spirit, in the shape of a dove on his shoulder, and standing on a hill, preaching.March 1 is the unofficial day of Welsh independence, so in solidarity with all of our Welsh friends, we will wear a leek in our hat and a daffodil on our lapel in honor of Dewi Sant. You may remember that the trouble that Pistol encountered when he mocked Fluellen's leek in the last act of Shakespeare's Henry V. It is the symbol of Henry's Welsh heritage, noted with pride by Fluellen in Act IV:
Cymru am byth!FLUELLEN
Your majesty says very true: if your majesties is remembered of it, the Welshmen did good service in a garden where leeks did grow, wearing leeks in their Monmouth caps; which, your majesty know, to this hour is an honourable badge of the service; and I do believe your majesty takes no scorn to wear the leek upon Saint Tavy's day.
HENRY V
I wear it for a memorable honour;
For I am Welsh, you know, good countryman.
FLUELLEN
All the water in Wye cannot wash your majesty's Welsh plood out of your pody, I can tell you that: God pless it and preserve it, as long as it pleases his grace, and his majesty too!
Thank you, Mr Downey, for honouring our Saint's Day.
ReplyDeleteA true Welshman is a music lover indeed.
A Jones, Pwllheli, Cymru.