St Dwynwen's Day: What is the Welsh Valentine's Day all about?

People all over Wales celebrate St Dwynwen's Day, the Welsh equivalent of Valentine's Day, on 25 January every year. The day marks the Welsh patron saint of lovers, Dwynwen – whose name translates as "she who leads a blessed life" - still enjoys great popularity throughout Wales, especially in her home county of Anglesey in north Wales.

Although Dwynwen is no longer recognised by the Vatican as an official saint, events, parties and dinners are still held on St Dwynwen's Day across Wales.

What is the story behind St Dwynwen's Day?

The story goes that Dwynwen was the most attractive of Welsh king Brychan Brycheiniog's 24 daughters. Although her father had already arranged for her to marry someone else, she fell in love with a man named Maelon Dafodrill.

In despair, Dwynwen prayed and asked for help to forget Maelon. In a miracle answer to her prayers, an angel visited her in her sleep and gave her a potion to erase her memory of feelings for Maelon and turn him into a block of ice.

Dwynwen then devoted her life to God and set up a convent on the island of Llanddwyn, off the coast of Anglesey. The remains of the church can still be seen on the island, along with Dwynwen's well. It is said the well is home to sacred fish who can predict whether couples relationships will succeed; if the fish are seen to be active when visiting the well, it was seen as a sign of a faithful husband.

God offered Dwynwen three wishes. Her first wish was that Maelon be thawed, the second that God should meet the needs of all lovers and the third that she should never marry.