Dwynwen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Dwynwen |
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St Dwynwen's Church, Llanddwyn
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| Died | c. 460 Ynys Llanddwyn |
| Venerated in | Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Major shrine | St Dwynwen's Church, Ynys Llanddwyn, Anglesey |
| Feast | 25 January |
| Patronage | Lovers in Wales Sick animals |
Saint Dwynwen is a special Welsh saint. She is known as the patron saint of lovers. This means she is like a protector for people in love. People in Wales celebrate her every year on January 25th. She lived a long time ago, in the 5th century. Sometimes, she is also called Dwyn or Donwen.
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The Story of Saint Dwynwen
The story of Dwynwen has been told for many years. It mixes with old Welsh folktales. Because of this, there are a few different versions of her story. Dwynwen is thought to be the daughter of a king named Brychan Brycheiniog. He lived in the 400s. Her mother might have been Rigrawst. Dwynwen lived in a place called Anglesey.
In her story, a young man named Maelon Dafodrill fell in love with her. But Dwynwen could not marry him. This was either because she did not love him back, or her father had already promised her to someone else. Dwynwen was very sad about not being able to be with Maelon. She prayed to God to help her stop loving him.
An angel then appeared and gave her a special potion. When Maelon drank it, he turned into ice! God then gave Dwynwen three wishes. Her first wish was for Maelon to be set free from the ice. Her second wish was for God to help all true lovers through her. Her third wish was that she would never have to get married.
After her wishes came true, Dwynwen was very thankful. She decided to live a quiet life away from everyone. She went to a small island called Ynys Llanddwyn. This island is off the coast of Anglesey. She lived there as a hermit until she died around the year 460 AD. Some stories say she went there because she was afraid of a ruler named Maelgwn Gwynedd.
People say that Dwynwen also learned about healing plants. She could cure many illnesses. People from all over Wales would come to her for help.
Ynys Llanddwyn: Dwynwen's Island
Dwynwen chose to live on a small island. This island is called Ynys Llanddwyn. It is a tidal island, which means it can be reached by foot at low tide. The closest town to it is Newborough.
On this island, Dwynwen built a church. This church became known as Llanddwyn. Today, you can still see the old ruins of her church on Ynys Llanddwyn.
Honoring Saint Dwynwen
St Dwynwen's Church on Ynys Llanddwyn became a very important place. Many people visited it during the Middle Ages. There was a holy well there. People believed that the way sacred fish moved in its water could tell them about their love lives. Famous Welsh poets like Dafydd ap Gwilym wrote about Saint Dwynwen. They also wrote about the people who came to visit Ynys Llanddwyn.
Later, after a time called the Reformation, people stopped visiting her shrine as much. The church fell apart because of many sandstorms. People who still wanted to pray in the area started visiting Saint Elian's Well instead.
In the 1800s, the Anglican Church became interested in old traditions again. Around 1879, a simple cross was put up to remember Dwynwen. In 1903, a beautiful Celtic cross was also put up near the church ruins. This was also to honor Dwynwen. Today, the island is part of a nature reserve.
Dwynwen's Special Care
Dwynwen is also known as the patron saint of sick animals. This means she is believed to look after animals that are unwell.
Dydd Santes Dwynwen: Welsh Valentine's Day
Dydd Santes Dwynwen is the Welsh name for St Dwynwen's Day. It is like the Welsh version of Valentine's Day. It is celebrated on January 25th each year. This day celebrates Dwynwen, the Welsh saint of lovers.
Calendars from the 1400s show January 25th as the day to remember St Dwynwen in Wales.
Celebrating Today
In the 1960s, a student named Vera Williams wanted to bring back the celebration of St Dwynwen's Day. She asked for special cards to be designed, like Valentine's Day cards. Local newspapers liked the idea. By 2004, celebrating January 25th as a day for Welsh lovers was very popular. Even the local council, Gwynedd Council, started promoting it.
The celebration of St Dwynwen's Day has grown a lot recently. Special events like concerts and parties are often held. People also exchange Dydd Santes Dwynwen greeting cards. While it is not as popular as St Valentine's Day in February, more and more Welsh people know about St Dwynwen.
In 2003, the Welsh Language Board worked with the supermarket Tesco. They gave out 50,000 free cards in Welsh stores. One card had a special heart inside, and the person who found it won a prize. The board also suggested other ways to celebrate. These included organizing a love-themed concert, having a singles night, or making a romantic meal. People could even write a love poem to read at a local pub.
Dwynwen's Lasting Memory
Dwynwen's name is still remembered in places today. You can find places like Ynys Llanddwyn and Porthddwyn on Anglesey in Wales. There is also a church called Sen Adhwynn in Advent, Cornwall.
A Welsh composer named Joseph Parry wrote a song called "Dwynwen." It was for male voices and was performed in 1896.
See also
- Adwen, a related saint from Cornwall
