This post was last updated on August 24th, 2024 at 03:10 pm
Why is the daffodil a symbol of Wales? It may surprise you to learn that the daffodil and leek are both national emblems of Wales. The leek was adopted first. According to legend, Welsh warriors wore leeks in their caps during battle with the Saxons, a floral token that secured the Welsh a great victory. The leek and daffodil also have similar names in Welsh. The Welsh word for leek is “Cenhinen,” while daffodil is “Cenhinen Pedr.” As time passed, the two were confused, and eventually, the Welsh made the daffodil a second emblem of Wales.
Why is the daffodil a symbol of Wales? There are a few different explanations for how the daffodil stepped into the role of the national flower of Wales. First, a bit of history on daffodils themselves. The narcissus family includes daffodils, a flower that was initially grown in southern Europe, North Africa, and the western Mediterranean. The word “daffodil” is an English word deriving from Latin. In Welsh, the daffodil is called “Cenninen pedr” and means “St. Peter’s Leek.”
Since daffodils aren’t native to Wales or the British Isles, you’re probably wondering how they got there. Ironically, the Romans introduced them. In fact, the Romans, Celtic Britain’s unwelcome guests, familiarized much of the world with these bright spring flowers. The Romans believed that daffodils, Narcissus pseudonarcissus, had medicinal properties. It turns out that the flowers have toxic effects on the body when consumed, but that’s a tale for another day. Even though the Welsh climate is less than ideal for daffodils, they’ve flourished here.
This post answers the question, “Why is the daffodil a symbol of Wales?”
Why Is the Daffodil a Symbol of Wales?
Ancient Welsh Symbols
The leek has been around as a symbol of Wales far longer than the daffodil. There are a few different theories as to why. One tale is that King Cadwaladr, King of Gwynedd, told his soldiers to wear them in battle against the Saxons. However, in another story, St. David was the one who ordered the warriors to don the plants in their helmets.
Another story tells of Edward the Black Prince in 1346, defeating the French in the Battle of Crécy. The Welsh archers fought against the French in a leek field. Afterward, they began to wear leeks in their caps every St. David’s Day as a reminder.
People have used the leek as both food and a medicinal plant in Wales since the beginning of recorded history. With this and the earlier legends, it’s no wonder that the Welsh people began associating leeks with St. David’s Day. The Tudors, who were of strong Welsh descent, popularized wearing them at St. David’s Day celebrations.
Traditional Welsh Cawl Recipe
Cawl soup (the word “cawl” is Welsh for “soup”) is a quintessential Welsh dish that uses leeks. This recipe is simple and delicious and will give you an excellent example of traditional Welsh food. If you don’t live in Wales and can’t find Welsh beef or lamb, not to worry. You can substitute local grass-fed lamb. You’ll get the best flavor using meat on the bone, even if it’s a cheaper cut of meat than you’d normally buy. Plus, you can even leave out the meat altogether and make this a vegetarian dish. It’s amazing to enjoy both ways!
Welsh Cawl Ingredients
- 1 kg (2.2 lbs) middle neck or shoulder Welsh beef, lamb, or ham hock
- 6 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes.
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 small parsnips or 1 small swede, peeled and cubed
- 3 peeled and sliced carrots
- 2 leeks, cut and sliced
- 1 small bunch of fresh parsley
- Plant-based stock
- pepper and salt as desired
Directions
1. Put the meat in a large pot, cover with vegetable stock, and bring to a boil. Let it simmer on low heat for two to three hours. Allow it to cool in the fridge overnight. This way, you can easily peel off the fat from the top the next morning.
2. Pull the meat from the bone, return it to the stock, and add the potatoes, carrots, swede, or parsnips. Simmer until tender. You can add more vegetable stock if desired. More will result in consistency like soup, and less will give you something closer to stew. Add salt and pepper to taste.
3. Now, chop the leeks into thin ringlets with a knife and mince the parsley. Add them shortly before serving so that they don’t overcook. If necessary, you can thicken the cawl with fine oatmeal or flour and water paste.
Welsh cawl tastes even better the following day after cooking. The extra time allows the flavors to blend. In some areas of Wales, people serve cawl in wooden bowls with wooden spoons. On the side, consider adding some bread. Bara Planc (Bakestone Bread) is a hearty loaf that dates to medieval times. You might also try adding some Welsh cheese, like Black Bomber by Snowdonia Cheese Company, the winner of the “Best British Cheese Brand” title seven times over!
What Does the Daffodil Represent in Wales?
In all this time-honored celebration of leeks, how and when did the daffodil come along? After all, daffodils are the new arrivals on the scene compared to leeks. The answer is a bit muddy. Some believe the daffodil’s adoption as a national emblem of Wales was an understandable accident. The similar sounding names of “Cenhinen” and “Cenhinen Pedr,” coupled with the fact that daffodils naturally bloom around St. David’s Day, make for a foreseeable confusion.
The daffodil first became popular in Wales when Welshman David Lloyd George, Prime Minister of the UK during World War I, advocated for them. Several newspaper articles written at the time tell of his putting forth the idea that the daffodil should be used as a Welsh symbol. He is also said to have worn the flower at the 1911 investiture (a ceremony that gives a person a certain rank) of the Prince of Wales.
We may never know the true story. Whatever you choose to believe, the daffodil represents spring, new beginnings, St. David, the patron saint of Wales, and the optimistic Welsh spirit that has endured through the centuries.
More About Saint David
Saint David (Dewi Sant) was a monk born between 462 and 515 AD. He founded a monastery that spread Christianity to the pagan Celts in Wales at the time.
Legend has it that St. David and his monks were vegetarians. They managed to complete all of the fieldwork by hand and abstained from animal flesh. Additionally, the enduring story is that St. David sustained himself on only water and leeks.
It is believed that before he passed away, he said to his disciples, “Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things that you have seen and heard me do.” In Wales, many people still repeat and try to live by the proverb “Do the little things in life” (Gwenwch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd).
According to legend, Saint David traveled to Jerusalem on a special pilgrimage and returned with a stone. You can still see the stone today at St. David’s Cathedral in Pembrokeshire.
Other Welsh Symbols and Meanings
When we think of Wales, the first thing that often leaps to mind is The Red Dragon—“Y Ddraig Goch” in Welsh. Historians have traced the Red Dragon’s use as a symbol to the reign of King Cadwaladr, who was the King of Gwynedd in 655 AD.
According to the Mabinogion, a collection of Welsh stories, the Red Dragon symbolized the Celts, and the White Dragon symbolized the Saxons. The tale tells of the Red Dragon being victorious in an epic battle.
The Red Dragon also represents the Old Welsh god Dewi (who was later replaced by St. David). Dewi was a more serpent-like dragon than the current version.
Today we see Y Ddraig Goch on the national flag of Wales. The colors of the House of Tudor, green and white, were later added to the background.
Welsh Love Spoons
In Welsh tradition, it’s customary for a man to offer his beloved a love spoon as a present. Usually, he makes a love spoon from wood. This large spoon, suitable for wall hanging, is frequently adorned with love-related motifs he intricately and ornately carved.
The carvings provide a way for a gentleman to express his love. The more elaborate the decoration, the more he could display his talent and effort in crafting it.
The custom of gifting love spoons dates back to the 17th century. The St. Fagan’s Museum in South Wales houses the oldest love spoon found, which dates to 1667.
Love spoons aren’t as prevalent in Welsh society as they once were. However, couples can still present them as a sign of affection on special days like anniversaries and St. Dwynwen’s Day, a holiday similar to Valentine’s Day.
Daffodil: A Symbol of Wales
Enjoy, and never forget about “gwenwch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd”—a phrase that reminds us to “do the little things in life!”
This post answered the question, “Why is the daffodil a symbol of Wales?”
You may also enjoy the Copper and Cobalt Trilogy, a fantasy series set in North Wales. Click here for all eReader formats: Universal Book Link and here for Amazon Kindle and paperback: Amazon
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