10 things you don't know about St Dwynwen and why we celebrate the Welsh patron saint of lovers

Santes Dwynwen's Day, the most romantic day in the Welsh calendar, is held on January 25

Santes Dwynwen’s Day, the Welsh equivalent of St Valentine’s Day, is our very own version of the most romantic day of the year.

It is held on January 25 every year and celebrates the Welsh patron saint of lovers.

But how much do you actually know about Wales' most romantic day of the year?

Here is some interesting trivia you may not know about St Dwynwen and why we turn into a nation of passionate romantics for the day.

Twr Mawr Lighthouse, Llanddwyn Island (Image: UGC TNW)

1. The name Dwynwen means “she who leads a blessed life”.
2. Dwynwen devoted herself to God's service and became a nun after she was unable to marry her Prince.
3. She 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.
4. It is 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 was seen as a sign of a faithful husband.
5. Besides from the well, there is also Crochan Llanddwyn, meaning Llanddwyn’s cauldron, which is a small wishing well that is located in a rabbit warren between Llanddwyn Island and Newborough. According to folklore, if the water of the well boils while visitors are present, love and good luck will follow.
6. You can visit Santes Dwynwen’s church on the tiny island of Llanddwyn, off the west coast of Anglesey, but you’ll have to be quick as Llanddwyn is a tidal island, meaning it remains attached to the mainland at all but the highest tides.
7. Santes Dwynwen, a fourth Century Welsh princess who lived in what is now the Brecon Beacons National Park is thought to have died in about AD465.
8. Besides from being the Welsh patron saint of lovers, Santes Dwynwen is also considered the patroness of farmers’ beasts.
9. A Welsh love spoon is traditionally given as a Santes Dwynwen’s day gift. In 2007, the world’s largest ever love spoon was carved and measures a whopping 44ft.
10. A group of Denbighshire farmers celebrated Santes Dwynwen’s Day back in 2007 by turning their milk bottles into makeshift lonely heart ads, attaching pictures of themselves to them with a message inviting people to ‘Fancy a Farmer’! It remains a mystery as to whether Santes Dwynwen’s magic was able to help these plucky farmers get a date.

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/st-dwynwen-day-love-valentine-14136276