This is Wales' national day which celebrates all things Welsh and Welsh. Although there have been several attempts in the past to suppress and eliminate the culture and language of our country, to this day, the Welsh identity is still here. From our traditional folk culture and legends, to our rugby and football teams and our diverse and innovative music scene, the purpose of the day is to pay attention to what shapes contemporary Wales.
The History
The title bears the name of the patron saint of Wales, Saint David. Dewi was a monk who traveled Wales sharing the stories of the Bible and according to the story, when speaking to a huge crowd in Llanddewibrefi, he raised the ground from under him so that everyone could see and hear him. He set about building a monastery which is now recognized as Ty Ddewi Cathedral in Pembrokeshire.
Dewi's main message when talking to others was to do the little things and he was known as one who spread friendship throughout Wales.
The Celebrations
Nowadays, it is a tradition to wear Daffodils on St David's Day in order to express pride in our Welsh identity. There are celebrations all over the country and here at Undeb Aber, we host Welsh Language Week which is an opportunity to share Welsh culture and traditional Welsh foods such as cri cakes and leek soup. There is also an annual parade in the town to celebrate.
All over the country, some would hold an Eisteddfod, which is a day of competitions including singing, dancing, creative writing and much more. Annually, UMCA will take part in the Intercollegiate Eisteddfod, which is a weekend of competition between Welsh universities - be it through choral or sports competitions. Last year, it was the privilege of UMCA to invite the Eisteddfod in Aberystwyth where Aber won the Eisteddfod on David's Day. This year, we will travel over to Cardiff in an attempt to keep the Intercollegiate shield in Aber for another year.