St Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint of lovers and we honour her with her own day.
Dwynwen lived during the 5th century and legend has it she was one of the prettiest of Brychan Brycheiniog’s 24 daughters and fell in love with Maelon Dafodrill but her father had arranged to wed her to someone else.
Distraught Dwynwen begged God to make her forget him. After falling asleep Dwynwen was visited by an angel who appeared carrying a potion to erase all memories of Maelon and turn him into a block of ice. God then gave Dwynwen 3 wishes which she asked for Maelon to be thawed, that God meet the hopes and dreams of true lovers and that she will never marry. She then founded a convent on Llanddwyn in Anglesey where a well was named after her and has become a place of pilgrimage.
Why wait until Valentine’s day to show those you love how special they are to you and say ‘Rwy’n dy garu di’ – I love you.
