St David's Day: Ten things to know about the patron saint of Wales

Wales celebrates St David's Day on March 1 each year to honor the country's patron saint, St David, a significant religious figure who established numerous communities and gives his name to Britain's smallest city. The celebrations across Wales commemorate the greatest figure in the Welsh Age of Saints, though much of what is known about him comes from writings centuries after his lifetime. Despite limited historical records, St David remains a central cultural and religious symbol in Welsh identity, with his legacy including numerous churches, monastic settlements, and the enduring tradition of celebrating his feast day. The historical understanding of St David has evolved significantly over the centuries, with early depictions showing him as a powerful archbishop, which doesn't align with his actual life as a humble religious leader. According to author Martin Crampin, the image of St David transformed in the last century to portray him more as a hermit or scholarly figure, better reflecting his likely character. This evolution demonstrates how historical figures' representations can change based on contemporary values and perceptions. Despite these changes, St David's importance to Welsh identity has remained constant, with his shrine at St Davids Cathedral being so significant that Pope Callistus II once declared two pilgrimages there equivalent to one to the Vatican. St David, originally named Dewi, was born to royalty with his father being Prince of Powys and his grandfather King Ceredig, though his exact birth date between 462-515 AD remains uncertain. Legend tells of his miraculous birth during a storm on a clifftop in Pembrokeshire, where lightning struck the rock, splitting it in two. As a religious leader, he founded monastic settlements in Wales, Brittany, and southwest England, and was known for his austere lifestyle as a vegetarian teetotaler who lived only on leeks and water. Despite his royal heritage, he chose a life of service, leaving behind numerous churches and a rock from Jerusalem that now sits in an altar at St Davids Cathedral. His final words, 'Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things,' continue to inspire Welsh people today, with the Welsh phrase 'Gwnewch y pethau bychain' remaining well-known in Welsh culture.