What flower is the symbol of Wales? Why the symbol of Wales is the daffodil

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Flowers and plants became symbols of states much earlier than the official emblems of the country - the flag and coat of arms - appeared. The peoples themselves chose objects that reflected their national identity and were the personification of history, feats, and achievements. Some countries are characterized by the phenomenon when each of the regions or territorial units chooses its own symbol. For example, in the United Kingdom, England has a rose, Scotland has a thistle, and Northern Ireland has a shamrock. The iconic flower - the symbol of Wales - is the daffodil., Leeks are revered along with them.

The Story of Saint David

The history of the appearance of the Welsh emblem is connected with the name of the country's national hero - St. David. The fearless and proud ruler of a medieval kingdom stood up against the conquering Saxons. During one bloody battle that took place on an onion plantation, David suggested that his soldiers decorate their headdresses with leeks in order to distinguish themselves from the invaders on the battlefield. The Welsh won a landslide victory in both the battle and the war with the Saxons. A little later, white and green colors were used in the 14th century by Welsh archers. From that time on, the bow became a symbol of Wales, and David, leading an ascetic lifestyle, continued his Christian activities, opening monasteries, churches, and hospitals throughout the country.
The birth, life and death of David are surrounded by myths. One of them says that Saint Patrick had a vision that in 30 years a great warrior would be born on this earth. Another legend is connected with the moment of the hero’s birth - supposedly at the moment of his birth lightning struck a huge rock, splitting the block in half. Another legend claims that God's angel predicted the date of his death to David - March 1, it was on this day in 590 that the righteous man died. The saint's grave is located in Pembrokeshire, and a cathedral was erected next to it in his honor.

Narcissus - a symbol of new life

Since the 17th century, March 1 began to be celebrated in Wales as a national holiday. The event was accompanied by festivals and folk festivities, during which The Welsh attached leeks and daffodils to their clothes. The flower in these parts blooms on the first day of spring, the Welsh believe that this is not a coincidence, but a gift from nature on the day of the death of a beloved saint. The daffodil represents the origin of life and has become the country's second most important unofficial symbol since the 19th century.
Researchers of European heraldry adhere to a different version. They They believe that the daffodil has become an emblem along with the onion, since the spelling of the words is the same, and sounds like “cenhinen”. To avoid confusion, both meanings began to be used equally, especially since fields completely covered with this wild flower of a pale yellow hue are not uncommon in the country. You can admire them almost everywhere at the beginning of spring. Over the years, breeders have developed hundreds of varieties of daffodils of different shapes, sizes and colors. Welsh people most often wish each other happy holidays by sending postcards with images of bright yellow daffodils.

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There is an ancient tradition in Wales of eating raw leeks and wearing them as decoration on St David's Day, which is celebrated on 1 March. The leek is the national symbol of Wales. How did this plant become so famous and revered?
An ancient legend goes back to the 6th century and says that St. David advised the warriors of Wales on the eve of the battle with the Saxons to attach leeks to their headdresses so that they could easily recognize “friends” and enemies. This played a role and the Welsh won. Since then, leeks have become associated with the military. In the 14th century, Welsh archers adopted a green and white uniform in honor of the leek. To this day, the Royal Fusiliers of Wales maintain the tradition by decorating their headdresses with leeks and eating raw leeks on 01 March.

Civilians also eat leeks, but prefer them cooked in soups, salads and pies. St. David's Day is celebrated by both military and ordinary citizens of Wales and not only at home, but also abroad. People decorate themselves with leeks and eat national dishes with leeks. Schools hold events dedicated to the holiday, and according to tradition, little girls wear national costumes. Parades are held in cities, the largest of which takes place in the city of Cardiff.

Another symbol of St. David's Day is the daffodil. Interestingly, the words daffodil and leek are similar in Welsh. Cenhinen - leek, Cenhinen Pedr - narcissus.

Leeks are an interesting plant. It was eaten in Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt. There are historical references to leeks being a favorite vegetable of Emperor Nero, who claimed that leeks improved his singing voice. Leeks came to Wales with the Romans and became highly valued in Wales. Leeks were considered a cure for colds and a means to reduce pain during childbirth. The leek was considered a talisman against wounds in battles and against lightning strikes. He drove away evil spirits. It was also believed that if you put leeks under your pillow at night, young girls would see their future husbands in their dreams.

In 1984 it was decided that the reverse side of the British one pound coin would have a different design for each of the four parts of Great Britain. Thus, all Welsh one pound coins since 1985 have featured the national symbol of Wales - the leek.

St David was born in South Wales around 500 AD and died on 1 March 587, and he was canonized in 1120. According to legend, Saint David was a relative of King Arthur.

Saint David led a humble life and ate only bread, water, leeks and watercress (a leafy vegetable). Saint David is believed to have lived a long life, with some sources saying he lived for around 100 years. Saint David founded many monasteries and was an educator. He is now considered the patron saint of Wales.

Brief information about the country: Wales

Wales - one of the four main administrative and political parts of Great Britain, in the past a conglomerate of independent Celtic kingdoms.

Wales located in the southwest of Great Britain.

Capital - Cardiff

State structure

Since Wales is part of Great Britain, its head is the monarch of the United Kingdom. Legislative power is divided between the London Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales.

"Country of Friends" - This is what the British call the land, which is famous for its abundance of beautiful ancient churches, vast green valleys and vast desert spaces on which gloomy mountains are located. The Welsh call this area Cymru, but the British know it better as Wales. This is the only area in the whole of Great Britain where signs on shops, offices and government buildings, as well as road signs, are made in two languages.

Flag of Wales
The modern flag of Wales is a panel painted white and green, on which a red dragon is depicted. Although the flag was adopted by law in 1959, the red dragon has been directly associated with Wales since Roman times. Green and white colors have also been associated with Wales since the Middle Ages, because even during the reign of Henry VIII Tudor, all troops acting under Welsh auspices were dressed in white and green uniforms.

Coat of arms of Wales

The Principality of Wales does not have a legally approved national coat of arms - its role is played by the royal badge of Wales, which since 2008 has been the official highest heraldic symbol. This unique coat of arms is used by the Welsh National Assembly to certify legislative acts. The royal badge of the principality consists of a shield cut into fields, on each of which walks a lion, with blue claws and tongue; two lions are on golden fields, two on red ones.

Symbol of Wales

The flower symbol of Wales has been called the yellow daffodil since the 19th century, and this happened because the word “cenhinen” can be translated as both daffodil and leek. And since a great many yellow daffodils bloom in Wales in the spring, this is probably why the daffodil has become another, no less beloved and revered symbol of Wales.

Welsh anthem "Land of my fathers"

Key facts about Wales

• Wales attracts tourists with the richness and diversity of its nature.
• Along with English, the population of Wales also speaks its own Gaelic or Welsh language.
• The Welsh make up about a third of the population of Wales and treat their language with care: the press in the country is published, books are published, and TV presenters speak in Welsh.
• The summer poetry and music festival "Eisteddfod" is held annually.

The early history of Wales is created by the Celts, who arrived in this territory as early as the 1st century BC. Here was one of the main centers of the Druids. Today, Wales boasts more than 150 monuments of Celtic culture, sacred tombs and places of worship from those ancient times.

The Celts never built temples. Rituals were held in secret places where large stone circles were built. The Celts have long had a developed economy and technology, mining iron ore and using tools that modern blacksmiths use. The Celts minted their own money. Ancient Celtic society was divided into classes: priests, warriors and farmers. The king ruled everything. The king's property, however, was public property.

Are the flag and coat of arms of Wales. It would be more accurate to say not the coat of arms, but the Royal Badge of Wales. Since the Principality of Wales does not have an approved coat of arms, the Royal Badge of Wales serves as the highest heraldic symbol of Wales, after its approval in 2008.

The Royal Badge of Wales (the emblem of Wales) is a shield divided into gold and red sectors, each of which contains one magnificent lion, with azure tongue and claws. The shield is framed by a green ribbon, on which are written the words from the Welsh anthem: "I am true to my country" and a wreath of heraldic plants: leek, thistle, shamrock and double Tudor rose. The royal badge of Wales is surmounted by the royal crown of St Edward.

There is an ancient legend about such a symbol of Wales as the leek, according to which, in the 6th century. In one of the battles between the Welsh and the Saxons, which took place in an onion field, Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, ordered the soldiers to attach leek petals to their helmets. So in battle the Welsh could easily distinguish their soldiers from the enemy. Already in the 14th century, white and green, the colors of leeks, began to be used as the colors of Welsh archers. On St David's Day, March 1st, people in Wales attach leeks to their clothes.

Leek.

The flower symbol of Wales has been called the yellow daffodil since the 19th century, and this happened because the word “cenhinen” can be translated as both daffodil and leek. And since a great many yellow daffodils bloom in Wales in the spring, this is probably why the daffodil has become another, no less beloved and revered symbol of Wales.

The daffodil did not immediately become a symbol of Wales. There is a legend according to which in the distant 6th century a decisive battle was to take place between the Welsh - the inhabitants of Wales - and the Saxons. An onion field was chosen as the location for the battle. Taking advantage of the terrain, Saint David, who was the patron saint of Wales, ordered his soldiers to attach parts of leeks to their headdresses. In this way, it was easier for the Welsh to distinguish their soldiers from enemy soldiers in battle. The Welsh warriors were victorious in that battle.

Saint David is a real person shrouded in legends. One of the legends says that three decades before the birth of David, a heavenly figure appeared to St. Patrick, heralding the emergence of a strong patron of Wales. There were rumors that at the moment of Saint David's birth, lightning flashed across the sky, splitting a massive rock in half.

Subsequently, green and white colors, symbolizing leeks, were used in their clothing by Welsh archers. In March, when the day of honoring St. David arrived, the Welsh attached this plant to items of clothing. The leek, which once brought victory in the battle, also appeared on the coat of arms of Wales. It is included in a wreath of several symbolic plants bordering the sign of princely power.

Yellow daffodil as a symbol of Wales

The one described above is directly related to the floral symbol of the Welsh. The legendary leek unwittingly became the reason for the appearance of the yellow daffodil in the symbolism of Wales. The fact is that in Welsh the words leek and daffodil are spelled and sounded similar. Researchers of symbolism and heraldry believe that it was this fact that became the reason for the establishment of the yellow daffodil as another symbolic designation of Wales.

In spring, a huge variety of yellow daffodils bloom in the fields of Wales. These flowers have a wide variety of shapes, shades and sizes. Breeders love to work with daffodils, thanks to whose efforts you can find very beautiful flowers with bright and rich tones. Artistic photographs depicting yellow daffodils are used to design greeting cards.

In Wales, for more than two centuries, St. David's Day has been widely celebrated on March 1, recognized as a national holiday. On this day, the Welsh take to the streets, organizing colorful festivals and street celebrations. According to folk tradition, Welsh people attach yellow daffodil flowers and leek leaves to their clothes.