Easter trip suggestion – visit Scotland

Visit Scotland website

This week has been mostly dedicated to Ireland because of its national day, but after being asked about Scotland by a student and having to admit I have never actually been there, I thought it would be a good idea to find out something.

The Visit Scotland website is a good place to start – you can choose one of the sections from the front page or just click on the Inspire Me! button to get an overview of all the possibilities and download guides to your PC.

There is a special area covering Easter holiday ideas (cute lambs are an optional extra), so if you’re still in doubt as to what to do over the coming holiday week, this may just be the place to look!

Strange Random Scotland Quote:

Kilt, n. – a costume sometimes worn by Scotsmen in America and Americans in Scotland – Ambrose Bierce

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Leeks, daffodils and dragons, it’s St. David’s Day!

Daffodil costume.

Today is Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant, St. David’s Day, National Day of Wales in remembrance of the death of its patron saint in 589 AD.

Though not a public holiday, people all over the country celebrate the occasion with parades, especially in the capital, Cardiff. The most common symbols you’ll find are the leek (in Spanish, “puerro”) and the daffodil, a yellow flower in bloom at this time of year. The leek has a special place in Welsh tradition, as it was once  used by Welsh soldiers to distinguish themselves from similarly-dressed English soldiers. As you can imagine, the daffodil is much preferred by the modern British government as a non-political symbol

St. David founded a Celtic monastic community in Glyn Rhosin (the Vale of Roses), where St. David’s Cathedral stands today:

His foundation at Glyn Rhosin became one of the most important shrines of the Christian world, and the most important centre in Wales. Roads and tracks from all over the nation led to it and in the Middle Ages two pilgrimages to Menevia was equal to one to Rome (Dos i Rufain unwaith, ac i Fynyw ddwywaith – Go to Rome once, and come to Monmouth twice). [.....] The religious centre of St David‘s thus became a focus for the religious aspirations of the Welsh nation and as Gerallt Cymro (Giraldus Cambrensis) relates: The Bishopric of St Davids became … a symbol of the independence of Wales … and that is why David himself was exalted into a Patron Saint of Wales. (from Wikipedia)

Image by Welsh Icons (Dom) via Flickr

To find out more about the official St David’s Day Parade, visit their website. As they say in Wales, “Os y chi’n caru Cymru, dylech chi fod yna!”

(“If you love Wales, you should be there!”)

Strange Random Wales Quote:

“Do you seriously expect me to be the first Prince of Wales in history not to have a mistress?” – Charles, Prince of Wales

St David’s Day Parade

“Os y chi’n caru Cymru, dylech chi fod yna!”

“If you love Wales, you should be there!”

St David’s Day Parade

“Os y chi’n caru Cymru, dylech chi fod yna!”

“If you love Wales, you should be there!”

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