Since I hailed from Wales, I wish all my Welsh poos – Happy St. Dwynwen’s Day!
May’s comment: Dwynwen means “she who leads a blessed life”. Well, think that describes Miss Darcy.
So what is the story of St. Dwynwen?
“St Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint of lovers, which makes her the Welsh equivalent of St Valentine.
Dwynwen lived during the 5th century and fell in love with a prince called Maelon Dafodrill but, unfortunately, her father, who had 24 daughters, had already arranged that she should marry someone else.
Dwynwen was so upset she could not marry Maelon that she begged God to make her forget him. After falling asleep, Dwynwen was visited by an angel, who appeared carrying a sweet potion designed to erase all memory of Maelon and turn him into a block of ice.
God then gave three wishes to Dwynwen. Her first wish was that Maelon be thawed; her second that God meet the hopes and dreams of true lovers; and third, that she should never marry. All three were fulfilled, and as a mark of her thanks, Dwynwen devoted herself to God’s service for the rest of her life.” – Excerpt from Wales Online
It is also Burns Night – more later …
