Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 176, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1919 — DAY HONORED BY WELSHMEN [ARTICLE]

DAY HONORED BY WELSHMEN

March the First Known the World Over as Anniversary of the Country's Patron Saint. The first day of March.has long been observed as a special day by the people of Whies and is called St. David’s day in honor of the good St. David, patron saint of the Welsh, who lived in the sixth century. St. David was said to have been the son of a prince of Cardiganshire. Wales, and Is accredited with the working of many miracles, especially among the poor of the country. It was said that when the saint first went into the fields to preach to. his followers the ground on which he w’as standing began to rise until it assumed a goodly height, and henceforth was his pulpit. For hundreds of <ears the Welsh wore sprigs of leek —a plant with broad bluish-green leaves and yellow flower clusters —in their hats as a symbol of recognition of the day. This custom was brought about, some say, from the fact that in a battle of the Welsh against their old enemies, the Saxons, St. David had ordered all Welshmen to go into battle ’wearing their native leek, not only to distinguish them from their enemies, but to bring them good luck. Other writers argue that the badge was worn'more as a fraternal sign and because' leek was grown in every Welsh garden and was the favorite vegetable of a true Welshman. Writers of the last century depict a typical Welsh garden as a garden of onions, garlic and leek. Homely incidents are told of Welshmen assisting each other in farm!ng-and eating their leeks together, a ceremony symbolic of hospitality and good fellowship.