Welsh Legends: Druids, Saints, and a Faithful Hound
Here are three well-known Welsh
legends - and one written by an excursioner. The Druid Merwin,
who influenced King Authur; the patron saint of Ireland, David,
who performed miracles when the early Christians were struggling
for power with the Druid priests; and the amazing dog named
Gelert, after whom a town is named. (So what if an 18th-century
innkeeper revised this legend to help market his village, naming
the dog Gelert and introducing Prince Llewellyn?) And click
on to Annette's legend to learn about the origin of the beautiful
mountains of Snowdonia!
Mareike Link & Christoph Meinecke
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The Story of St. David
As a young man in Ceredigion, David spent
his time with the monks, reading, writing and discussing the Bible. One
day, David placed his hands on the eyes of his blind teacher, Paulinus,
who at once could see again.
With his special gift for helping people, David travelled throughout Wales,
spreading the Word of God. At one of his sermons in Brefi, hundreds came
to see him, but not everyone was able to see or hear him; however, as
soon as he started to preach, the ground rose up beneath him so everyone
could see and hear him. As instructed by God, David built his monastery
in a valley called Glyn Rhosyn, and today St. David’s Cathedral
stands on the grounds of the original monastery.
St. David died on the first day of March
and the people of Wales celebrate the life of their saint on this day.
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