The Welsh Valentine
With Valentine’s Day approaching there will be lots of flowers and gifts sent with messages of love. Love is inspirational and we all enjoy a good love story. Every culture has its tales of happy endings and those of unrequited love. The Welsh have their own Valentine equivalent. Saint Dwynwen is the patron saint of love, a figure who symbolises this profound emotion. Dwynwen’s life is steeped in legend and resonates with romance, resilience, and faith.
Legend has it that Dwynwen was born in the 5th Century and was the prettiest of twenty-four daughters of Brychan, a Welsh king. Renowned for her beauty and piety she pledged herself to a life of religious devotion. Her path, however, took an unexpected turn when she fell deeply in love with a young man named Maelon Dafodrill. Despite their passion for each other, their union was thwarted when her father refused to allow them to marry as he had arranged a different marriage for her. Dwynwen fled her home to seek solace in prayer retreating to the small island of Llanddwyn where she prayed for guidance. According to folklore, an angel appeared to her and granted her three wishes. Dwynwen’s first wish was that Maelon be released from his love for her, the second was for the happiness of all lovers and the third was that she would be able to wholeheartedly devote herself to God’s service.
Dwynwyn dedicated her life to acts of charity and kindness founding a convent on Llanddwyn Island where she ministered to the needs of the community. Over time her reputation for compassion and skills for healing grew and she became known as the patron saint of lovers.
The legacy of Saint Dwynwen is celebrated every year in January when couples exchange love tokens. Her story, beyond the romantic connotations, is also one of resilience, forgiveness, and faith in the face of personal heartache. The spirit of the story makes us reflect that love can often be fraught with challenges but can transform lives and offer hope and solace to those who seek it. People still visit Ynys Llandwyn, the little tidal island off Anglesey to see the place where Dwynwen is said to have lived and been buried. It is a beautiful place and if Dwynwen had to be without Maelon, at least she chose a stunning location to live out her days.
If you enjoy Welsh historical fiction you might like reading ‘The Welsh Traitor’s Daughter’ and the sequel ‘The Welsh Warrior’s Inheritance’ both set for the most part in Anglesey.