David, teacher, preacher, founder of monasteries and Patron Saint of Wales was said to have lived more than one hundred years, meeting his maker on March 1st, in the dim and distant year of 589.
For those of us with a drop of Welsh blood (25% in my case) or full-blown affiliation with the far outposts of craggy Wales, today's the day to 'wear' leeks in commemoration of a great Welsh victory over the Saxons.
No one ever successfully conquered the Welsh - tribal invasions over the centuries thought better of battling this small, impenetrable nation.
Named after Mars, the Roman God of War, March, in Welsh is 'Mawrth', a month in which it is said that to eat plenty of leeks and wild garlic in May, the physician will be kept at bay.
And according to the Perpetual Almanack of Folklore, "if from fleas you would be free, on March the first, let doors and windows closed be."
Comments