It’s St David’s Day, which means that it’s the perfect opportunity to do something Welsh. In his last sermon, Dewi Sant said:
“Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things.”
It’s little things that I'm hoping to do – and am encouraging you to do – today. You might notice that Visit Wales is encouraging everyone to do random acts of Welshness, too. So, here are six, small, easy Welsh activities you could do today:
1. Say something in Welsh
Perhaps you are a fluent Welsh speaker, or maybe you learned it in school and haven’t spoken it much since, or it might be that you are a learner. Whatever level of Welsh you have, try using some today as you go about your everyday tasks, even if it’s just a word – diolch (thanks) or iechyd da (cheers [good health]). If you’re a complete novice, why not try learning? Say Something In Welsh is a great app or you could try Duolingo, or find a class online or near where you live.
2. Cook a Welsh dish
It would be remiss not to mention Welsh food, and the Welsh Kitchen archive is open to everyone this month. That’s 65 recipes on hand to help you rustle up some Welsh-inspired cuisine. Here are some of the classics:
Welsh cakes
Welsh rarebit
Laverbread cakes
Teisen lap
Cawl
Bara brith
3. Wear a daffodil
Daffs are such cheery flower and one of Wales’s national emblems. No one is quite sure how the yellow bloom came to be so closely associated with Wales, but one theory is down to its Welsh name, ‘cenhinen Bedr’ or ‘Peter’s leek’. Leeks have been associated with Wales for much longer and perhaps the daffodil, and its blooming around St David’s Day seemed a good alternative symbol.
4. Listen to or sing some Welsh music
Music is a staple part of Welsh culture and also of this newsletter. Head to the ever-growing Welsh Kitchen playlist on Spotify or pop on your favourite Welsh singer or band and bring a little sound of Wales to your day.
5. Buy a locally made Welsh product
From love spoons to chocolate, clothing to vermouth, there are so many wonderful Welsh producers out there. I’ve featured one in nearly every newsletter since I started writing them. Help support Welsh independent businesses by adding a Welsh product to your basket.
6. Visit something Welsh
If you are in Wales, then why not head to a local sight, event, exhibit or show? I can’t wait to see a new exhibition at Newport Museum and Art Gallery, about the city’s rock music history: NEWPORT ROCK COLLECTING - 40 Years of music: An audio archive of experiences in Newport. There are events happening across the globe. Take a look at the Wales Week website to see if there’s something going on near you.
To celebrate St David’s Day, I’m offering 30 per cent off paid yearly subscriptions for all of March – that’s just £14 for the year.