Happy Saint Dwynwen's Day

Who's Saint Dwynwen, you ask? She's the Welsh patron saint of lovers. She's also the patron saint for injured animals. Which goes to show they were already multi-taking back in the 5th century.

Here's St. Dwynwen's story (or at least one version of it).

Dwynwen was a virtuous and pretty girl. In fact, she was the prettiest of her father's twenty-four daughters. Apparently, the picture above doesn't do her credit. Anyway, Dwynwen was bopping around, doing whatever girls did back in the 5th century (eating rabbit? picking daffodils, polishing her dad's armor?) when she met this really cute guy named Maelon Dafodrill. Maelon was new in town, recently arrived from the north. Dwynwen and Maelon fell in love. No doubt you saw that coming.

However, Dwynwen's dad, Brychan Brycheiniog, wasn't all that impressed with Maelon plus he'd already arranged a marriage to a prince for Dwynwen.

Hearing the word "no," annoyed Maelon. Let me interject here to say that Maelon was one of those guys who was super cute on the outside, but a major jerk on the inside. We've all dated at least one. Back to the story. Maelon was seriously annoyed that he couldn't marry Dwynwen. So, he had his way with her (you never know who's reading this blog), then skipped town, probably heading back up north.

Poor Dwynwen. She fled to the woods. An angel showed up and granted her three wishes. Dwynwen wished she'd never lay eyes on Maelon the Jerk again. Then she wished that she'd never have to get married. And, finally, she wished for the opportunity to help others wallowing in relationship pain. Also, somewhere in all of that, Dwynwen drank a potion to erase the memory of Maelon. And Maelon was briefly frozen into a block of ice, but then allowed to thaw.

What happened to Dwynwen? She sailed off in a boat to the east coast of the island of Anglesey where she became a nun and founded a convent. You can make a pilgrimmage to Llanddwynwen and visit its remains. There's a well with either a magic fish or magic eels that can predict the future of your current relationship. Might be worth it.

So, dear friends, Happy Saint Dwynwen's Day! Or...Dwy'n dy garu di!

Note to Mr. Summy: When celebrated in Southern California, Saint Dwynwen's Day involves the giving of chocolates, flowers and a sushi dinner out.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwynwen
http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/02/13/valentines-day-traditions-around-the-world/#wales
http://www.davidmorgan.com/stdwynwen.html
http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/faq/stdwynwen/

My Town Monday: Celebrating Valentine's Day, Korean-Style

Happy Monday and Happy Valentine's Day!

I had a completely different My Town Monday post scheduled for today. However, when I got up this morning, I found the note below taped to the kitchen door.

A mysterious note from Child #4! What was she up to?

She had quietly gotten up early to make me a special Valentine's Day breakfast! For the non-discerning eye (that would be me at 7 am before my cup of tea!), the vegetable patty is cut in the shape of a heart.

Depending how long or how closely you've followed this blog, you may or may not know that we adopted Child #4 as a baby from Korea. As I stood in the kitchen, munching on my special breakfast and sipping my tea, I wondered what life would've been like on St. Valentine's Day if Child #4 (this child of mine who wrote out her class Valentine's cards a month ago, who dressed in pink and red this morning) were still in Korea.

So, I did a little internet research. It would seem the Koreans borrowed a savvy business idea from the Japanese which is to celebrate two Valentine's Days. In fact, the Koreans took this one step further: they have THREE Valentine's Days!

On February 14 (Valentine's Day), Korean females give chocolates or other small gifts to the significant males in their life.

On March 14 (White Day), Korean males give chocolates or other small gifts to the significant females in their life.

On April 14 (Black Day), friends who don't have a significant other and didn't celebrate Valentine's Day or White Day, get together and eat jajang noodles. These are either black noodles or noodles served with black bean paste. I'm not sure. Anyway, Black Day is not as popular as Valentine's Day and White Day. Hmpf! I can think of several times in my life when I would've been thrilled to celebrate Black Day!

Here is a picture of black noodles (from google images). I have never tried this dish, but now must!

So, Happy Valentine's Day wherever you are! May you receive a treat!

For links to more My Town Monday posts, please pop over to to the official My Town Monday blog.




sources:
http://www.topics-mag.com/internatl/holidays/valentines/celebrating_korea.htm
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2932205