Saint Dwynwen and the Sacred Fish

Yesterday, 25th January, many in Cymru celebrated St Dwynwen’s Day. While people around the world look forward to Valentine's Day on February 14th, in Wales they have already celebrated their own patron saint of lovers Saint Dwynwen. St Dwynwen’s Day (Welsh: Dydd Santes Dwynwen) falls on 25th January every year and she is the Welsh equivalent of St Valentine. Dwynwen - whose names translates to "she who leads a blessed life" - still enjoys great popularity throughout Wales, particularly in her home of Anglesey (Welsh: Ynys Môn).

It was said that Dwynwen was the prettiest of Welsh King Brychan Brycheiniog's twenty-four daughters. Her father had arranged for her to marry, but she fell in love with another man; a prince named Maelon Dafodrill. Dwynwen knew she had to follow her father’s wishes and though it broke her heart prayed to God and asked for help to forget Maelon. She was visited by an angel as she slept who gave her a potion to erase her memory of feelings for Maelon and turn him into a block of ice.

God granted Dwynwen three wishes. Her first wish was that her beloved Maelon should be thawed, the second was that God should meet the needs of all lovers and her third wish was that she should never marry. In gratitude Dwynwen devoted her life to God and on the island of Lladdwyn (the name can be translated into English as "The church of St. Dwynwen"), off the coast of Anglesey she set up a convent. To this day the remains of the church can still be seen on the island, along with Dwynwen's Well. In this well is said to live a sacred fish who can predict whether couples will have a successful relationship. When visiting and looking into the well if the fish is seen swimming around and lively then it is a sign of a faithful and devoted husband.

Image below: Remains of St Dwynwen's Church.