St. David's Day, published 1 March 1895

"St. David’s Day is celebrated by the Welsh people in honor of the patron saint, David.  This great and good man, it is said, was born in Pembrokeshire, South Wales, in the latter part of the fifth century.  Historians claim for him a royal lineage on both sides and trace it on his mother’s side through seven generations to a sister of the Virgin Mary.  He was extraordinarily endowed by nature and received a very liberal education, besides being a pupil of the eminent scholar Paulinus for 10 years."

"St. David was a religious and devout man, and he consecrated his life and energy to the work of the ministry.  Being a very magnetic man and an influential and gifted public speaker, also a possessor of large means which he liberally divided with the needy, made him the most respected a popular man of his time.  He was the organizer of religious movements, established monasteries, etc,. and also was in various ways a public benefactor.  With all these worthy qualities in a man, it is no wonder that the warmhearted appreciative Welsh people honor his and love his memory."
"St. David’s Day, the first of March, has often been celebrated in recent yeas by holding the long established Eisteddfods on that day." 

"The meaning of the word “Eisteddfod” is “a sitting,” “a session,” or “a setting to be,” and was anciently applied to a sitting or congress of the Bards; it is therefore an institution of the Bards.  In other words, it is the pivot on which the whole system of Bardism turns and the national life of the Cmri.   The Bard is a professional poet or musician and a member of the Bard’s order, one whose works have been passed upon and accepted at the sessions of Eisteddfods."

"There is no authentic record of when or where the first Welsh Eisteddfod was held.  Tradition dates it back to some two thousand years B.C.  It is generally agreed by historians, however, that there was one held in St. Mellons, Wales, in the year 517."


Deseret Evening New, 1 March 1895, reprinted Chronicles of Courage, Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Salt Lake City, Utah 1996, page 16-19

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