At some point in our lives, we’ve all tip-toed towards the letterbox on February 14th in excited anticipation of receiving an anonymous Valentine’s Day card. In the UK (and in many other countries) it is customary to shower one another with romantic Valentines Day gifts. However, in Wales we could actually declare our love a little earlier in the year – on St Dwynwen’s Day, which falls on January 25th.
The number of people celebrating St Dwynwen’s Day has increased in recent years, with more and more of the population choosing to use the day to tell their loved ones how much they mean to them. If you’re not one of these people, then read on to find out about St Dwynwen, Wales’ very own patron saint of lovers…
A love that wasn’t meant to be…
In a tale which goes back to the 5th century, Dwynwen fell in love with a prince but sadly, her father had already arranged for her
to be married to another suitor. Dwynwen was so upset that she she begged God to make her forget him. Then, after falling asleep, Dwynwen was visited by an angel with a potion designed to erase all memory of the prince and turn him into a block of ice.
God then gave Dwynwen three wishes. Her first was for the prince to be thawed. Her second was for God meet the hopes and dreams of true lovers. And for her third wish, she asked that she should never marry. All three were fulfilled, and as a mark of her thanks, Dwynwen devoted herself to God’s service for the rest of her life.
Dwynwen set up a convent on Llanddwyn Island, just off the west coast of Anglesey; the remains of which can still be seen today, along with Dwynwen’s well. It’s believed the well is home to sacred fish who can predict whether couples’ relationships will succeed. If the fish are seen to be active when visiting the well, it is a sign of a faithful husband. According to folklore, if the water of the well boils while visitors are present, love and good luck will follow.
Celebrating St Dwynwen’s Day…
Whether you choose to uphold the Valentine’s Day tradition, or mark St Dwynwen’s Day instead, at Slate House we offer a wide range of options when it comes to romantic gifts. For us, there’s nothing quite like a personalised gift to show someone how much you care. That’s why we offer the option to engrave any of our Welsh slate products with a special message of your choice. In this instance, our Welsh slate love hearts are a very popular choice.
What’s more, we also stock a variety of Welsh wines, chocolates, fragranced soy candles and natural soaps. There is something for everyone and we’re proud to say that each and every product is made in Wales. If you’re feeling romantic, take a look at our website www.slate-house.co.uk or pop to our shop in Neath. If a unique and special gift is the order of the day, we can certainly help you to find one.
And if it turns out that your trip to the letterbox is in vain this year, just remember that you don’t have to wait for someone else to treat you!
