St Dwynwyn’s Day - The Welsh St Valentine’s Day
What is St Dwynwen’s Day you may ask, have you ever heard of it? Well, it’s the most romantic day in Wales! celebrated in January it is often referred to as the Welsh valentine’s Day, steeped in Celtic mythology dating back to the fourth century. Each year St Dwynwen’s Day, also known as Dydd Santes Dwynwen in Welsh, is celebrated on the 25th of January each year.
For the die-hard whisky enthusiasts amongst you, this date will be more familiarly known as Burns Night which commemorates the birth of famous Scottish poet Robert Burns. Traditionally this evening is celebrated with a Burns supper of haggis, neeps, and tatties, followed by a dram of whisky or two and an address to the haggis, which is usually accompanied by live music and a ceilidh if you’re lucky! Although customarily a Scottish practice, Burns Night is now observed across the UK and by many whisky lovers worldwide.
St Dwynwen’s Day however, is still not particularly well known other than to those who reside in Wales or have Welsh relatives. We would like to share this legend with you to help spread the word of the national Welsh Valentine’s Day! Over the years the original tale of St Dwynwen has been lost in folklore and mixed with other Celtic stories, but the myth remains… Dwynwen was a Welsh Princess and the most beautiful daughter of King Brychan Brycheiniog. She fell in love with a handsome local man called Maelon but her father had already promised her hand in marriage to another. Heartbroken Dwynwen was so distraught over her love for Maelon she prays she will fall out of love with him to forget the pain. An angel answers her prays and grants her with a potion which turns Maelon into a block of ice so she can forget him!
God then grants Dwynwen with three wishes: her first wish is that Maelon is released from the block of ice; her second wish is that God supports all true lovers; and her third wish is that she never marries. To show her gratitude for the wishes being granted Dwynwen retreated to a life of solitude on Llanddwyn Island off the West coast of Anglesey in North Wales. Legend has it that she lived here until her death as a nun, practicing healing properties, founding a nunnery and building a chapel known as Llanddwyn “church of Dwynwen”, the remains of which can still be found on the island. Upon her passing she is said to have been buried in her chapel, and pilgrims flocked to her shrine. Her extraordinary story touched hearts across the Celtic lands, and they blessed her with the title of the patron saint of lovers.
To this day St Dwynwen is fondly remembered in each year, her legend being passed down through the generations. The Welsh day of lovers is often celebrated similarly to Valentine’s Day where people exchange cards, spend time with loved ones, enjoy a special meal, some even gift love spoons and enjoy a good cwtch (cuddle in Welsh)!
You can also pay a visit to Llanddwyn Island not just on St Dwynwen’s Day, but any time of year. It is a truly special place, nestled next to the rolling dunes and sweeping forest of Newborough Beach. Cut off by the tide at certain times of day this magical spot has so much to offer with sandy beaches, lighthouses and stunning views over to the Eryri mountains. Folklore has it that even today, lovers who visit Ynys Llanddwyn leave small offerings for St Dwynwen tucked into the rugged remains of her chapel, like a single red rose, pretty shells, or sea rounded pebbles.
This year you can enjoy both St Dwynwen’s Day and Burns Night on the same day as they both fall on Saturday the 25th of January 2025. Maybe you could enjoy the evening with a Burns supper shared with loved ones followed by a Welsh and Scottish whisky flight, or enjoy a Welsh whisky St Dwynwen’s Day inspired cocktail to relax with after a ceilidh, embracing the best of both traditions!
To help you celebrate, we’ve created two St Dwynwen’s Day cocktail recipes for you to enjoy.
Inspired by Welsh whisky and the Welsh patron saint of lovers. Hapus Dydd Santes Dwynwen, happy St Dwynwen’s Day from the Welsh Whisky Society and cheers to the 25th of January, however you choose to celebrate… Iechyd da!
Rhosod Coch - Red Roses
30 ml Da Mhile, Organic Single Grain Whisky
30 ml Disaronno liqueur
60 ml Cranberry juice
Frozen cranberries (garnish only)
Ice (crushed or cubes)
To make a Rhosod Coch cocktail, add all the ingredients (other than the frozen cranberries) together in a shaker and shake, then strain into a glass. We recommend a tumbler, garish with frozen cranberries and enjoy. We choose the Da Mhile Single Grain because it is robust enough to stand up to the Amaretto liqueur and add a smoky hint to the cocktail.
Sur Cusanau - Sour kisses!
50ml Penderyn Portwood Single Malt Whisky
25ml Fresh lime juice
15ml Cherry Syrup (can be used from jar of Amarena cherries)
5ml Sugar Syrup
Jar of Amarena cherries (garnish only)
Ice (crushed or cubes)
To make a Sur Cusanau cocktail, add all the ingredients (other than the cherries for garnish) together in a shaker and shake, then strain into a glass. We recommend a coupe glass, garish with Amarena cherries and enjoy. We choose the Penderyn Portwood because it is a perfect balance with the sweetness of the cherries.
