"Each section of the British Isles has its own way of laughing, except Wales,
which doesn't." -- Stephen Leacock
Visitors to Google today would notice that their Doodle is a leek-holding red dragon breathing fire, the flames transmuting into daffodils.
March first is the feast day of St. David, the patron saint of Wales, who was known for his teachings and asceticism (forsaking many of life's worldly pleasures). The aforementioned leek is St. David's personal symbol, while the daffodil is a symbol of Wales and usually blooms in March. St. David's Day has been a national festival for centuries and a public holiday since 2000, celebrated with parades, concerts, and of course food.
A few of my ancestors were Welsh, and no doubt observed the date in their own ways. But the funny thing is, when I think about St. David's Day I am reminded of a song that was on a recording of nursery rhymes I had when I was a child. I knew it as "The Three Hunters" but the correct title is "Three Jovial Welshmen."
There were three jovial Welshmen, as I have heard them say,
And they would go a-hunting upon St. David's Day.
All the day they hunted, and nothing could they find
But a ship a-sailing, a-sailing with the wind.
One said it was a ship; the other he said nay;
The third said it was a house, with the chimney blown away.
And all the night they hunted, and nothing could they find
But the moon a-gliding, a-gliding with the wind.
One said it was the moon; the other he said nay;
The third said it was a cheese, and half of it was cut away.
And all the day they hunted, and nothing could they find
But a hedgehog in a bramble-bush, and that they left behind.
The first said it was a hedgehog; the second he said nay;
The third it was a pin-cushion, and the pins stuck in wrong way.
And all the night they hunted, and nothing could they find
But a hare in a turnip field, and that they left behind.
The first said it was a hare; the second he said nay;
The third said it was a calf, and the cow had run away.
And all the day they hunted, and nothing could they find
But an owl in a holly-tree, and that they left behind.
One said it was an owl; the other he said nay;
The third said 'twas an old man, and his beard was growing grey.
Visitors to Google today would notice that their Doodle is a leek-holding red dragon breathing fire, the flames transmuting into daffodils.
March first is the feast day of St. David, the patron saint of Wales, who was known for his teachings and asceticism (forsaking many of life's worldly pleasures). The aforementioned leek is St. David's personal symbol, while the daffodil is a symbol of Wales and usually blooms in March. St. David's Day has been a national festival for centuries and a public holiday since 2000, celebrated with parades, concerts, and of course food.
A few of my ancestors were Welsh, and no doubt observed the date in their own ways. But the funny thing is, when I think about St. David's Day I am reminded of a song that was on a recording of nursery rhymes I had when I was a child. I knew it as "The Three Hunters" but the correct title is "Three Jovial Welshmen."
There were three jovial Welshmen, as I have heard them say,
And they would go a-hunting upon St. David's Day.
All the day they hunted, and nothing could they find
But a ship a-sailing, a-sailing with the wind.
One said it was a ship; the other he said nay;
The third said it was a house, with the chimney blown away.
And all the night they hunted, and nothing could they find
But the moon a-gliding, a-gliding with the wind.
One said it was the moon; the other he said nay;
The third said it was a cheese, and half of it was cut away.
And all the day they hunted, and nothing could they find
But a hedgehog in a bramble-bush, and that they left behind.
The first said it was a hedgehog; the second he said nay;
The third it was a pin-cushion, and the pins stuck in wrong way.
And all the night they hunted, and nothing could they find
But a hare in a turnip field, and that they left behind.
The first said it was a hare; the second he said nay;
The third said it was a calf, and the cow had run away.
And all the day they hunted, and nothing could they find
But an owl in a holly-tree, and that they left behind.
One said it was an owl; the other he said nay;
The third said 'twas an old man, and his beard was growing grey.
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