I was greeted this afternoon at the school gate by Joshua who thrust into my hand the card below. I am afraid that I had to ask the Head Teacher what it was all about. If you are a bit of a cottage burner you will know all about Saint Dwynwen but for those who are not Welsh…
Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint of lovers and also of sick animals. No sniggering at the back sheeple. In legend she fell in love with a chap called Maelon Dafodrill but for some reason could not marry him so she prayed that she would fall out of love with him. An angel provided her with a potion, Maelon turned to ice and God then granted her three requests: that Maelon be released; that, through her, God look after all true lovers; and that she remain unmarried. She then retreated to Ynys Llanddwyn, a tiny and desolate island, now uninhabited, off the west coast of Anglesey.. There she became a hermit until she died. A ruined church bearing her name still stands there today.
Anyhow, today is the sort of Welsh equivalent of St Valentine’s Day and the card, Joshua says, is for his whole family but especially his little sister Jaya
