Words by Paige Thomas
Love, loss, and redemption are common themes in modern romance tales, but what about stories of a more archaic origin? The story of Dwynwen’s Day goes back to the 5th century in Wales and tells us about the heart-wrenching tragedy of a Welsh princess named Dwynwen who sacrificed her chance at love to protect the happiness of others.
Dwynwen was said to be the most beautiful of King Brychan Brycheiniog’s 24 daughters and caught the eye of the northern prince Maelon Dafodrill. The two fell in love quickly and wished to marry, but the king had already promised Dwynwen to another and so their union was denied. Although Dwynwen loved Maelon, she did not wish to disobey her father. Heartbroken and facing the reality of her situation, she ran away into the woods to wallow in her despair.
Dwynwen wept among the trees, cold and alone, until suddenly, an angel descended from the heavens to speak with her. The angel offered a sweet potion that would allow Dwynwen to forget Maelon and with him her pain, however, when she drank the elixir Maelon turned at once to ice. Whether it was in pity for her agony or to reward her loyal servitude, God granted her three wishes. Dwynwen used her first wish to thaw Maelon, her second was to ensure that she would never marry, and her third and final wish was that God would help all couples in love so that they would not have to suffer as she had.
In thanks for the gift of the three wishes, Dwynwen dedicated her life to God, travelling to the coast of Anglesey where she opened Dwynwen’s Church on a small peninsula. The church is now seen as a holy site and is still to this day visited by lovers who wish to pay homage to St Dwynwen in thanks for watching over them. Throughout the church’s history, the site has been a popular one for pilgrimage by lovers young and old, with people often leaving offerings to the patron saint upon their arrival. During the Tudor period, the church even became one of the richest in Anglesey due to its popularity by association with the story of St Dwynwen.
It is even said that on the island, stands a well aptly named Dwynwen’s Well, having magical eels that can tell couples if their love is destined to last. Some folk tales instruct lovers to test the longevity of their relationship by scattering breadcrumbs and a handkerchief onto the surface of the well and say that if they are moved by the eels that live within, the love will last and prosper. Others say that merely seeing the eels partake in activity near the surface signals good fortune in love. Either way, it is a well-loved tradition that people still partake in to this day.
Today, on January 25, Dwynwen’s Day is still celebrated in Wales and in fact, has been increasing in popularity in recent years with many people likening it to Valentine’s Day. It is a time for loved ones to show their appreciation for each other, often by trading gifts, cards, and other tokens of affection. What can be taken from the story of St Dwynwen though, as in many folk tales, there are lessons to be learned.
The story of Dwynwen teaches us that love is a cause worth dedicating yourself to. Dwynwen’s story shows us how she dedicated her life to all the lovers of the present and the future. She teaches us that to make a relationship last, dedicating your time to it is essential, after all, love is one of the best things that people do, and everyone is capable of it.
Another key takeaway from this story that people should reflect on is the selflessness that Dwynwen shows in dedicating her life to ensuring that all relationships of those truly in love are prosperous. Although she was not able to live out a life full of romantic love herself, she wanted to ensure that all those whose love was true were able to be together. This selflessness is a quality that we should strive to have in our relationships, as loving someone else is often seen as putting another person before yourself. To make sure that St Dwynwen’s sacrifice was not in vain, we should all aim to be selfless for those whom we love.
Cardiff is an excellent place for anyone wishing to celebrate love with the ones they hold dearest. One of the most popular ways for couples to celebrate is by gifting each other love spoons. These are carved wooden spoons that symbolise the unique love that a couple has for each other, for instance, featuring a lock or key in the carving often signifies that the love shared is a safe one and will be kept well. While it used to be the tradition to carve these spoons oneself, today it is more common for love spoons to be bought from shops such as Castle Welsh Crafts, found opposite Cardiff Castle.
By celebrating Dwynwen’s Day, not only are we ensuring that her memory lives on and that her sacrifice is appreciated by all who benefit from it, but we also work ourselves into her story, making hers a tale that spans centuries.
Read more about Dwynwen’s Day in Cardiff Life Magazine: Issue 291, which will be released in early February.