St. David's Day
Mar 1
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
St. David's Day
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Ddraig Goch (Red Dragon)Today's Musings, History & Folklore
Ddraig Goch (Red Dragon)
March 1 is Saint David's Day, the patron saint of Wales.
The flag of Wales (Welsh: Baner Cymru or Y Ddraig Goch, meaning "The Red Dragon") consists of a red dragon passant on a green and white field.
The flag incorporates the Red Dragon of Cadwaladr, King of Gwynedd, along with the Tudor colours of green and white.
The oldest known use of the dragon to represent Wales is from the Historia Brittonum, written around 830, which describes a struggle between two serpents deep underground, which prevents King Vortigern from building a stronghold. This story was later adapted into a prophecy made by the wizard Myrddin (or Merlin) of a long fight between a red dragon and a white dragon.
Click the 15th century depiction of this battle of the white and red dragon for more on this draconian legend.
And for a video of the Scottish Flowers dancing "Y Ddraig Goch" at the 14th Highland Gathering in Peine, click the video below.
