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| Celtic Cross Ireland by Geoffrey Sutton 2019 |
When touring the UK you may find a celebration of a national saint. This post lists the days. Of course, if you are an American, you probably know St. Patrick's Day.
1 March is for Wales
St David's Day
St David is the patron saint of Wales with a history dating to the 500s when he was the founding bishop of Glastonbury Abbey. He may have been born at Henfynyw in Ceredigion. St David's Cathedral is on the site of a monastery he founded in Pembrokshire. He is pictured with a white dove on his shoulder. The date of his death is not known but 1 March is the traditional date and St David's Cathedral is the traditional burial site.
Look for the Welsh symbols of daffodils and leeks. And feast on Welsh rarebit. Expect to hear Welsh music.
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| Welsh Flag |
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| Flag of St David by Stemonitis |
17 March is for Northern Ireland
St Patrick's Day
St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and recognised as a missionary in the 400s. He may have been born about 386 in Wales. He was captured and sold as a slave by the Irish. He escaped and responded to a call to be a missionary to Ireland. St Patrick's Day is the traditional date of his death in 461.
The legends include his use of the shamrock during his sermons and banishing snakes from the island. Expect to see parades, green decorations, and plenty of Guinness.
(Of course, the Republic of Ireland celebrates too but they aren't part of the UK.)
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| St Patrick burial site/ Photo Geoffrey Sutton 2019 |
23 April is for England
St George's Day
St George is the patron saint of England and venerated as a Christian martyr. According to tradition, he was a Roman soldier of Greek heritage. His bones are buried in a tomb at the Church of St George in Israel. The 23 April is the traditional date of his death in 303.
The famous legend is portrayed in many pictures of St George slaying a dragon.
The day is celebrated with parades. In London, the main place to be is Trafalgar Square. Expect to see English food and the English flags flying.
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| English Flag |
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| St George Fresco Credit (wikimedia) |
30 November is for Scotland
St Andrew's Day
St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland and some other nations too. He was one of the original 12 disciples of Jesus and brother of St Peter. The estimated data of his life are from about 5 to 60. There is a shrine at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland. In church tradition, he died by crucifixion on an X-shaped cross.
In Scotland, St Andrew's Day is a feast day and time for a ceilidh (party) or perhaps a Scottish soup like cullen skink. The St Andrew's Cross is in the national flag of Scotland.
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| Scottish Flag |
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