Little is known about the patron saint of Wales, St David. We do know that he was born around the end of the 5th century and is widely known for helping to spread the word of Christianity as well as founding a number of monasteries which were known for their extreme asceticism- the monks abstaining from all delights as well as doing hard labour such as ploughing without the help of oxen. One of these monasteries was at Glyn Rhosyn on the site of today's cathedral in St David's in Pembrokeshire.
St David is also known for performing miracles: he restored the sight of St Paulinus, his teacher; miraculously lived after eating poisoned bread (which was given to him by his monks who were tired of austerity!); as well as making the ground rise up underneath him whilst preaching at Synod of Brefi so that the assembled crowd could hear his words.
He died on March 1st 589 AD, and is buried in St David's Cathedral. This has been a popular site of pilgrimage since he was canonised in 1120AD and it is generally agreed that undergoing two pilgrimages to his shrine is equivalent to a pilgrimage to the Vatican and three parallels a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
Across Wales, it is traditional today for children to participate in ‘eisteddfodau'- a lively festival of literature, music and performance with prizes being given out; many children will also be dressed up in Welsh national costume. Meanwhile, across the country, there will be countless parades, celebrations and cultural events.
The national emblems of Wales- the daffodil and the leek will be seen everywhere today. At Berganza, we are celebrating St David's day by displaying remarkable antique and vintage pieces of jewellery set with rare natural and unenhanced fancy colour yellow sapphires and natural emeralds with no colour enhancement- the colours of which embody these famous national emblems.
