Sunday 1 March 2015

St David's Day Celebrations~~~March Came in Like a Lion ~~~

 Dydd Gwyl Dewi Sant Hapus
Happy Saint David's Day

Gentle Reader ~~~ First, I wish you all, wherever you are, whatever your roots, but especially to everyone of Welsh heritage, Dydd Gwyl Dewi Sant Hapus ~ A Very Happy Saint David's Day ~~~ for today, March 1st is the Feast Day of David, the Patron Saint of Wales ~~~

Let's talk about the weather for one moment ~~~ one thing I love is the weather ~~~ no matter what it throws at us, and yes, sometimes I complain about it, but in general I love it all {except for the scorchio heat of high summer}. You have to take it as it comes, and there isn't much you can do about it so you might as well find something to like about it. I love the weather for so many different reasons ~ how it marks the slow turning of the seasons, the windswept and tormented beauty that lies within the heart of a raging storm; the calm that follows the storm; the gentle breezes of a late Spring morning as the world wakes up after a long, cold Winter; the bold colour palette of nature's paintbrush at work in Autumn ~~~ how the land looks in the different light; the billowing cotton puff clouds; the shimmering world after the rain as it sits, shining and glistening in the sun; the ever changing colours and moods of the sky; I love each season, each weather, in turn ~~~ although, as many of you know, my most favourite season of them all is Autumn ~~~ but this is not about Autumn, not today ~~~

So, I gather up all those little snippets of weather folklore along the way~~~ you know the one about red skies at night, or in the morning; or the one about Candlemas, or Groundhog Day, and so on ~~~ well, here is another one ~~~

If March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb
But if March comes in like a lamb, it will go out like a lion

Of course, unlike some sayings, there is very little foundation to this one, and if the weather comes to pass according to the rhyme then it is more a coincidence than the science of meteorology at work ~ mind, they did mention it on the weather forecast and said it could be a subtle hint


Sunrise 07:08 Sunset 18:00
Last updated 07:33
  
Weather forecast details for Sunday 1 March. Each column contains hourly forecast details for weather conditions, temperature, wind speed, wind direction, humidity, visibility and pressure.
TIME0800 HOURS0900 HOURS1000 HOURS1100 HOURS1200 HOURS1300 HOURS1400 HOURS1500 HOURS1600 HOURS1700 HOURS1800 HOURS1900 HOURS2000 HOURS2100 HOURS2200 HOURS2300 HOURS0000 HOURS
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Weather ConditionsSunnySunnyLight Rain ShowerHeavy RainHeavy RainHeavy Rain ShowerHeavy Rain ShowerLight Rain ShowerLight Rain ShowerLight Rain ShowerLight Rain ShowerLight Rain ShowerPartly CloudyLight Rain ShowerPartly CloudyPartly CloudyClear SkyLight Rain ShowerHeavy Rain ShowerHeavy Rain ShowerLight Rain ShowerLight Snow Shower
Temperature (°F)45°F46°F46°F46°F46°F46°F46°F45°F43°F43°F43°F43°F43°F43°F43°F41°F41°F41°F41°F41°F41°F39°F
Wind Speed (mph)23MPHWESTERLY22MPHWEST SOUTH WESTERLY23MPHWEST SOUTH WESTERLY25MPHSOUTH WESTERLY32MPHSOUTH WESTERLY34MPHSOUTH WESTERLY32MPHWEST SOUTH WESTERLY28MPHWESTERLY23MPHWESTERLY20MPHWESTERLY18MPHWESTERLY18MPHWESTERLY19MPHWESTERLY20MPHWESTERLY23MPHWESTERLY24MPHWESTERLY24MPHWESTERLY23MPHWESTERLY23MPHWESTERLY24MPHWESTERLY28MPHWESTERLY27MPHWEST NORTH WESTERLY







See those numbers in the circles? Those are the average wind speeds for the day, so, this year, March decided to come in like a lion ~~~ a rather big, roaring, very noisy, and very wet lion at that ~~~ the winds came in by tea time on the last day of February and blew February away with such gusto and March came hurtling in on it's heels, with every cobweb in every corner blustered away on the wuthering winds from the west ~~~ and this morning, there is a very mixed bag of strong winds, bright sunshine, and short, sharp, sudden downpours, catching out those unprepared ~~~ 

This is not particularly brilliant news, for March 1st is Saint David's Day ~ the feast day of the Patron Saint of Wales ~ and there are always plans to celebrate the day in style ~~~ many of these events take place outside the words 'damp squib' spring to mind ~~~ many are also held indoors, and most of the outdoor ones went on despite the atrocious weather ~~~ we are a hardy breed in Wales ~~~

The events for St David's Day do not change very much from year to year, so if you click here it will take you to what I wrote for St David's Day 2013 on my other blog Tales from a Celtic Heart {which I no longer add to, but you may like to read and see the photographs when you have time}. 

We are striving in our small village to mark the day with more than just a couple of church services for the schools, to turn the eyes of the world to celebrate the place where David was born and to bring people in to the village to learn more about David and the community he established.  Cardiff, the capital city, is where the main attention is focused, but in truth they do very little to mark the day, whereas, this year, for example, we have four days jammed crammed with a varied programme of events.

This year, there was an Eisteddfod in the City Hall on Friday, followed by lots of things on Saturday, including traditional Welsh refreshments {Cawl, Welsh Cakes, and Bara Brith} served throughout the day with an accompaniment of harp music; an exhibition by the local Historical Society; a Twmpath; the Annual Parade of Dragons; a market on the Cross Square; Community Hymn Singing in a local Chapel; lots of different guided walks by different organisations; and folk concerts in the local pubs and hostelries. The Annual Window Decorating competition was organised, ensuring windows full of daffodils and Welsh themed miscellany making the village look bright and beautiful, despite the grey days.  We are even featured on the BBC's Countryfile on Sunday evening {the link may or may not work for overseas readers, sorry if it does not}

Permission was given for arrangements of daffodils ~ our national flower ~ to be placed in the cathedral.  As it is Lent, all floral arrangements are stopped for the six weeks, but a special waiver was given to allow daffodils for the four days of celebrations of the life of David, without whom the cathedral, nor the village where I live, would be.

On Saturday, the Annual Parade of Dragons took place with the parade led by the 948 Squadron Air Corps Training Band ~~~



followed by one of the longest parades we have ever had ~~~


In fact, the parade was so long that there was nearly a traffic incident as the 948 Squadron Air Corps Training Band arrived back at the top of the Cross Square before the tail of the parade had cleared the High Street ~~~ disaster was averted at the last moment as the band held back, but I can just imagine the backlog of parade as it filed around the corners ~~~

Here are a few images from Saturday ~~~

Some delicious looking Welsh themed cup cakes on the Shalom stall on the market ~~~ I think they are really rather splendid ~~~


Everyone takes part ~~~

Window display at Mathias Hardware ~~~

Second place window display by the Candles and Crafts shop ~~~ with a handmade, wooden harp ~~~



The winning window ~ Oriel Albion Gallery ~ complete with a signed photo of the great J.P.R. Williams {one of our greatest heroes of rugby}



Close up showing the photograph of JPR and the Winner's Tropy ~~~


The Trophy, a hand carved piece of Welsh Slate ~~~ I happened to be in the Gallery visiting my friend who owns it when the Mayor, Cllr David Halse came in and surprised her with the award and tropy ~~~



This is one of my very special treasures ~ my bead bracelet. Some of you will recognise, and own, the Girlfriends bead from Susan Branch, but to day I want to focus on my Clogau gold charms, which contain a touch of rare Welsh gold.   One is the Cariad charm, the other is the daffodil.  Cariad is Welsh for Sweetheart, and my beloved Daddy called me 'his little cariad' so this charm has deep and very special meaning for me. The daffodil, of course, is the national flower of Wales, so again a meaningful charm for my bracelet.

Since I took this image, I have added the Glyn Rhosyn charm to my bead bracelet. One day, I will share an updated photo, and the reasons why this particular charm is so important to me ~~~




Finally, here is a plate of traditional Welsh Cakes for you to enjoy ~~~





35 comments:

  1. The lion is roaring here too - I hope that you have a good day.

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    1. Wild, wet, and wutheringly windy here all day ~~~ definitely a lion kind of day!

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  2. Another lovely post.
    happy Saint David's Day Deborah, we love Welsh cakes here. I can just smell them with melted butter.
    Fondly Michelle

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    1. Thank you, Michelle ~ warm and fresh off the griddle, thickly spread with butter ~ yum!

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  3. it's nor roaring here in Southern Ontario {{{SIGH}}} Love the cupcakes and of course all the daffodils.... Happy Saint David's Day.

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    1. Thank you Gill! Hopefully your spring will arrive soon.

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  4. This was very enjoyable post! My maiden name (Davy) has attachments to my Welsh roots
    so I think I shall attach myself to your celebration, plus this is my birthday month and the daffodil
    is my B-Day flower! So we are kindreds :-D!!
    Have a wonderful day XXOO, Many Blessings and warmth Linnie

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    1. Yes, Linnie, Davy is a good Welsh name. Although Cornish born, Sir Humphry Davy invented the Davy lamp which saved the lives of many a Welsh miner. Of course, Wales and Cornwall are two of the six Celtic nations so we are all connected!
      Happy Birth~month Kindred!

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    2. and.. there is also a "Davy" in Laura Ashley's maiden line so I've staked root claims on her!! (as well as Sir Humphry)! Smile

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  5. Thank you for the view of the parade, do you say anywhere on your blog which town you are in?

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  6. Dydd Gwyl Dewi Sant Hapus!! What a wonderful peek into your weekend of celebrations in west Wales, Deb! What fun to see the Parade of Dragons and to walk through the village, peeking in the shop windows. From now on, when the daffodils bloom in my Midwest garden, I will always think of my Welsh friends! Enjoy the rest of your weekend celebration! ♡

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    1. Let's hope your daffodils won't be too much longer! You need spring to spring quickly now. We had a lot of fun yesterday ~ thankfully, because the weather really stopped play today ~~~Waving~~~

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  7. What a beautiful post dear Deb... and wishing you a most wonderful day today celebrating!... your little village is so quaint and pretty!... love seeing all of the shop windows. And your special charm bracelet is precious!... love the old folklore sayings about the weather too... I trust in them more than our weathermen!... xoxo... Julie Marie

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    1. Thank you Julie Marie ~ coincidence, but on the BBC programme {which is on as I reply} they used the same words to describe the village "quaint and pretty" ~ they also used remote! ~~~Deb

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  8. Deb, what a lovely celebration of St David! I loved the parade and your videos were perfect. The cupcakes are beautiful with the daffodils!
    I love that your Daddy called you "his little cariad"--so special! Your bracelet holds beautiful charms that are full of meaning--so lovely.
    You do have wind in your fair shire--I hope you are safe and sound and cozy in your home enjoying your evening. ♥

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    1. Hello Martha Ellen ~ and thank you ~ yes we do have more than our fair share of wind in the Shire! Easing up now, but there is nothing we can do about it! ~~~Deb

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  9. Dydd Gwyl Dewi Sant Hapus, Deb! What an outstanding blog!! So interesting! I loved the parade videos and the windows of your quaint town. How darling the little shops!! I want you to know I am wearing your Welsh/American flag pin today to celebrate with you! Even though I am not out and about! We had an ice storm here and things are mucky and slippery out there. But getting back, what a lovely heritage and festive time. Love the daffodils, too! Thanks so much for sharing this glimpse of life for you there in your village!! Best greetings from across the Pond! Jane xo

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    1. Thank you Jane, for your kind words and greetings! Ice storms are dreadful things, and we had our fair share of hail yesterday {why some things got cancelled} Even so, most went ahead as you can see. ~~~Deb

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  10. Happy St David's Day! I remember it from my time at uni, when I was doing a play, a French play ironically enough. Some of the actors were Welsh and on St David's Day they had thrown daffodils to the audience at the end of the performance. Each actor clad in the Welsh flag. I wish I had some of those Welsh themed cupcakes or Welsh cakes to celebrate. Maybe next year. Oh and Autumn is my favourite season too.

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    1. I have to smile, Guillaume, at the thought of Welsh actors throwing daffodils to the audience! What a sight that must have been. Maybe next year I will decorate cup cakes myself ~ they look too good to eat!

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    2. Thank you for replying, and for commenting on my blog! It was quite a sight.

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  11. It looked like an excellent parade and I love the way the shop windows are decorated. We don't have any daffodils blooming here yet, but I did have one crocus bloom way back on Candlelmas day. March came in like a big, wet snowy lion here in St. Louis today. Even wet and snowy, I am so glad that it is finally March.

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    1. Hello Susie ~ the parade dragons are all made by the local school children but more and more schools from further out in the region join in each year ~ it is wonderful that there is such participation. Let us all hope, now, that March will leave like a lamb?

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  12. Here in central Indiana USA, March 1st brought 10 inches of snow with it. I am trying to take your advice and enjoy something about it. I enjoyed that I didn't have to get out in it, but instead sat by a fire all day and relaxed. I had plans to crack the whip and make the whole family help paint my office. I guess snow is good for something. No whip cracking today. I am new to your blog and to learning about Wales. Thanks for the tour.

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    1. Hello ~ I'm so pleased you found us and sitting by the fire is a great positive ~ cosy and warm. I hope you enjoyed relaxing! So happy you enjoyed the little tour of my village's celebrations ~~~Deb

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  13. Another fantastic post, Deb! So much to love about it...seeing and hearing the parade is priceless. It made me smile to hear the joy. It must be so much fun to compete for the best window display for the shop owners.
    The food looks so good...I am hungry now, got any left? :-) I won't comment on your temps, I'm too envious. But I will say "sorry" about your winds.We are covered in ice here.
    Your bracelet is just lovely and the memories involved with the charms is wonderful.

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    1. Thank you, dear friend! Yes I do feel a complete charlatan for moaning about our weather so much when I know what you are going through there. Spring just *has* to be not very far away now ~ it is such a shame when wind stops play. ~~~Deb xo

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  14. Another wonderful St. David's Day blog Deb!
    It is cold and damp here today. A good day for baking. I will have to look up the stew recipe too. I suppose you aren't using the meat these days.
    My poor daffodils may not make it. They started coming up two weeks ago, and then we had several snow and ice storms. Yes…snow at the beach!!!
    My husband was stationed in Cornwall before I met him and he loved it! I will have to look up the six nations.
    I bet St. David was glad that he didn't have to chase any snakes! :-/
    ~~~Margot OX

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    1. Hello Margot ~ thank you. No, I make a vegetarian version nowadays. Don't give up on your daffidowndillies ~ they are quite hardy and may just be a little behind this year. Oh, I remember having snow over Christmas in Virginia Beach in 1986 and also driving in from Richmond in dire weather in 1985! I don't think I was ever so cold!
      Now, that must have been St. Mawgans? We were stationed at NAVFAC Brawdy!
      Make sure you look up the six Celtic nations, not the RBS Six Nations Rugby!!! ~~~Deb

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    2. Yes it was St. Mawgans, and I am a bit jealous. I love to see the scenry of Cornwall in Doc Martin.
      So your guy agreed to retire to your Wales?
      We grew up in WI, and it is FREEZING. My brother-in-law says this must be what HELL is like. LOL
      I keep forgetting to tell you. I love your drawing on the top of your blog!
      Margot~~~

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  15. I enjoyed seeing a bit of your village, Deb. I've had Welsh cakes before....at a Celtic fair in Virginia. And I know someone with the last name of Halse. I didn't realize it was Welsh. I liked your introduction about the weather. You have a way of telling a tale about something mundane as the weather that makes it highly interesting!

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    1. Hello Cathy ~ thank you for your kind words ~ If you like how I write a tale, you should hear me talk ~ lol
      My cousin, who lives in Reston VA, often attends Celtic and Welsh fairs ~ gosh, you may even have met without knowing as she often volunteers on stalls.
      I don't know if Halse is Welsh, in fact, Google has it down as Old English for 'long neck'!

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  16. I always love it when March arrives .......Spring is here or at least just around the corner.

    Thanks for sharing great photo's

    All the best Jan

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  17. Tell your sister to let us know when the Celtic Fairs are going on here in VA. Fun, fun!

    Margot~~~

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