Monday, January 25, 2010

St. Dwynwen (? to 460)


"I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz, or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.
  I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret, between the shadow and the soul."
       (Pablo Neruda)

It's time to spread the love. There's no need to wait until St. Valentine's Day.
St. Dwynwen, a nun, was born in the 5th century and lived on the Isle on Anglesey, Wales. The G-rated version of her story is that she was one of 24 daughters of Brychan Brycheinog. He also had 11 sons.
St. Dwynwen fell in love with a lad named Maelon. Her dad forbade the marriage, so she ran off into the woods. There she encountered an angel's apparition which proclaimed her the Saint of Love.
We know that her church was established at Llanddwyn Island and she died in 460. In the 1960's it became fashionable in Wales to send St. Dwynwen cards for her feast day, Jan. 25. The tradition is still popular today.

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