I am having so much fun announcing this, considering that the Brick's first name is... well, you know.
St. David's Day celebrates the birth (actually the death) of the only native-born patron saint of both Wales and England: David, born around 500 A.D., the grandson of Ceredig ap Cunedda, king of Ceredigion. David became a monk, and founded settlements and churches all around the U.K.; by 569, he was the leader of the Synod of Caerleon.
Here he is, in the flesh, so to speak.
David was a humble and ascetic man, said to subsist on leeks and water. (One way to celebrate him on this day is to wear a leek pinned to your shirt. Yes, a member of the onion family. If you're too wussy to do that, fine -- wear a daffodil, instead.) He also performed miracles, including bringing a dead child back to life. He even supposedly caused the ground to rise beneath his feet -- so people could see and hear him delivering a sermon! A white dove landed on his shoulder while doing this; now he is often depicted with one sitting there. (Like the stained-glass window shown above.)
David died on March 1, 589 and was buried in the cathedral named for him. After the Vikings raided his tomb centuries later, his bones were deposited in a new shrine in 1275. But another set of bones were found in the Holy Trinity Chapel of St. David's Cathedral...and thought to be his. (Probably not, since they were carbon-dated at 12th century.)
St. David is the patron saint of Wales -- something equally interesting, since I am part-Welsh. ( But the Brick is not.) You're supposed to eat something Welsh to celebrate his special day -- cheese rarebit was suggested. The good Saint would never have eaten that himself, though... and I forgot to buy leeks during our last grocery run.
So I fixed scrambled eggs with cheese and green onions for the Brick, instead, for breakfast. Green onions look like leeks...kinda, sorta, don't they?
Hopefully St. David will forgive me.
UPDATE: Be sure and read this, too -- it could have a connection.
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