Welsh Blankets
St Dwynwen's Day - Dydd Santes Dwynwen
St Dwynwen's Day - 25th January
Saint Dwynwen is the Welsh Patron Saint of Lovers and is Wales' own version of St Valentine’s Day. It is celebrated each 25th January in Wales, 3 weeks before Valentine’s Day. It is the most romantic day in the Welsh calendar.
Saint Dwynwen's Day is celebrated with the giving and receiving of cards and presents. A Saint Dwynwen card saying "Rwy'n dy garu di" means "I Love you" in Welsh. You can show your proud Welsh heritage and point of difference by celebrating Saint Dwynwen Day as opposed to Valentine's Day!!
Happy St Dwynwen's Day in Welsh
Happy Saint Dwynwen's Day in Welsh is "Dydd Santes Dwynwen Hapus"!
Celebration Days and Festivals in Wales
All these days are listed on the "Celebration Days in Wales" page below.
Saint Dwynwen's Story
Who was Santes Dwynwen?
Her name, Dwynwen means "she who leads a blessed life". Her home was in what is now the Brecon Beacons National Park area of Wales. She lived during the 5th century and was, according to legend one of if not the prettiest of Brychan Brycheiniog's twenty-four to thirty-six daughters, yes 24 to 36, depending on which story you believe.
Anyway, the story is that Dwynwen fell in love with a guy called Prince Maelon Dyfodrill, but her father had already promised that she should marry someone else. Dwynwen fell asleep and was visited by an angel who appeared carrying a sweet potion designed to erase all memory of Maelon and turn him into an ice block.
Distraught, Dwynwen fled to the woods, where she pleaded with God to make her forget Maelon. God responded to Dwynwen’s grief and then granted her three wishes. Firstly, she wished that Maelon be thawed, secondly that God meet the hopes and dreams of true lovers and third that she should never marry. All three of her wishes were fulfilled and to give her thanks Dwynwen devoted herself to God's service for the rest of her life. She became a nun who founded a convent on Llanddwyn Island on the west coast of Ynys Môn.
Llanddwyn Island and Saint Dwynwen
Llanddwyn island is a 'must visit' place in Wales - if you are anywhere near to this stunningly beautiful place, it is definately worth a visit.
Llanddwyn is a tidal island is near to the village of Niwbwrch (Newborough) off the West coast of Anglesey. The views are spectacular: across the water, the peaks of Snowdonia rise up from the Menai Strait and the Llŷn Peninsula points all the way to Ireland. So maybe it is unsurprising that the island is also the setting for one of Wales’ greatest love stories.
In 1879, a plain cross was erected in Saint Dwynwen’s memory, followed by the Celtic cross in 1903.
Saint Dwynwen died in 465AD and on Llanddwyn Island a well was named after her as a place of pilgrimage. Visitors to the well believed the sacred fish that lived in the well could predict whether or not their relationship would be happy. When visiting and looking into the well if the fish is seen swimming around and lively then it is a sign of a faithful and devoted husband! Besides from the well, there is also Crochan Llanddwyn, meaning Llanddwyn’s cauldron, which is a small wishing well that is located between Llanddwyn Island and Newborough. According to folklore, if the water of the well boils while visitors are present, love and good luck will follow.
Saint Dwynwen Day - Llanddwyn Island Map (sat nav postcode LL61 6SG)
Llanddwyn is a tidal island in the south west of Anglesey. Anglesey (Ynys Môn) is Wales' largest island, off the north west coast of Wales.
FelinFach Gift Cards by Email or by Post
Shopping for someone else but not sure what to get? Give them the gift of choice with a FelinFach gift card, available online from £10.
Our gift cards are the perfect gift for St Dwynwen's Day to say "Rwy'n dy garu di - I love you"! Our gift cards are available from £10 and are NOT time limited. They can also be used in part with any remaining balance kept for another day.
- Gift Cards - by Post: - Physical gift cards will be posted to you or the recipient of your gift - your choice.
- Gift Cards - by Email: - Electronic gift cards will be sent by email to you or the recipient and are sent immediately on purchase.
About FelinFach
Located in Pembrokeshire Wales, our ethos is defined in the three words...
NATURAL TRADITIONAL HANDMADE.
- Hand woven iconic Welsh blankets.
- Hand dyed yarn, dyed with natural dyes only - no exceptions!
- Hand poured candles, candle accessories, Candle Making Workshops and soapery.
- Natural Dyeing Craft courses.
- Yarn shop, yarn bowls, project bags, tools and accessories for knitters and crafters.
- Welsh Gifts, made in Wales, handmade in Wales.
We are a proud supporter of Americymru the Campaign for Wool, Global Welsh and Red Dragon America.
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Last updated 18th January 2025
