St. David’s Day is celebrated on March 1. Since the first Sunday in March is in Lent, we will be celebrating David on Sunday, Feb. 27.
Known as Dewi Sant, he is the patron saint of Wales. David was a monk, abbott and Bishop. He is credited with the founding of several churches and monasteries in Wales.
St David is the son of St. Non and grandson of Ceredig ap Cunedda, king of Ceredigion. He lived an ascetic life. He ordered his followers to refrain from eating meat or drinking beer but instead maintain a diet of bread and water.
No one is certain of St. David’s date of death but March 1 has been established as his day. There is disagreement as to the year he died with the years being either 589 or 601.
His last words were believed to be: “Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed, and do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about. And as for me, I will walk the path that our fathers have trod before us.”
The symbol for St. David is the leek and the daffodil. Legend has it that the daffodil was named after him.
His day was included in the calendar of the Book of Common Prayer 1979.