DAFFODILS AT THE READY AND NOT JUST FOR ST DAVID’S DAY
St David’s Day has long been associated with daffodils and they have become a symbol of Wales, not least because they bloom around the 1st of March each year. The humble ‘daff’ has always been special to us here in Wales and now its importance is about to reach new heights.
Daffodil in Welsh is ‘Cenhinen Bedr’ which literally translates into English as ‘Peter’s Leek. Wild daffodils can be found all over Europe from Wales to Germany and down to Portugal. The sub-species known as the Tenby Daffodil is usually regarded as the ‘true’ St David’s Day daffodil. It grows in the wild across South Wales and is notable because the flower is completely yellow.
Although daffodils have bloomed in Wales for thousands of years, it seems they became a popular symbol from 1911. In that year David Lloyd George, of Welsh descent and the only ever British Prime Minister whose first language was Welsh, advocated their use at the investiture ceremony when Edward VIII was made Prince of Wales. Before this, the leek was a much more common emblem worn by Welsh people. The origin of this likely dates back to the Battle of Crécy in 1346 when Welsh archers defeated French soldiers in a field of leeks. Back home, leeks were worn to honour their bravery which became an annual tradition on St David’s Day. Leeks were a popular food for many centuries and were used for medicinal purposes, but their association with St David’s Day is thought to be linked to the Tudors who had strong Welsh roots. Tudor royal household accounts list several payments for leeks in connection with St David’s Day and Henry VIII is said to have presented his daughter with a leek for the festival.
Today many of us prefer to celebrate our national day by wearing a daffodil as we have been encouraged to do so since we took part in the annual St David’s Day Eisteddfod at school or perhaps when supporting the Welsh rugby team. The Glamorgan cricket team are just one of the Welsh teams to have adopted the daffodil on their badges and crests. The Cardiff City crest sported a daffodil and Welsh dragon before owner Vincent Tan revised it, much to the annoyance of many Bluebirds fans. Not to worry though. The daffodil is a resilient species. Cut daffodils placed in a vase with other flowers will kill the others due to natural poisons, while daffodils in the wild will outlive you if they are left undisturbed. Perhaps this is a sign that the old City badge will return when the Malaysian businessman leaves town.
Nowadays daffodils are developing a much wider significance than being the national flower and symbol of Wales. Daffodils for example, produce ‘galantimine’ which is used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Current research suggests that the daffodil could also make a major contribution in dealing with global warming. Scientists from Scotland’s Rural College are reporting that daffodils could provide the key to more sustainable livestock farming. Currently cows are responsible for 14% of greenhouse gases globally and as much as 50% of methane emissions in the UK. Adding an extract called haemanthamine obtained from daffodils to livestock feed, has been shown to reduce methane in artificial cow stomachs by 30%. Andrew Evans, of Welshpool, Powys is one farmer enthusiastically testing the new method. “It’s the national flower of Wales isn’t it, so we’re quite keen on that,” he said. “There are governments across the world currently trying to meet net-zero by either taxing livestock farmers or putting quotas on the number of livestock you can have because of this methane by-product. This research gives us a very real opportunity to change that story.”
So get your daffodils ready for March 1st and in future keep your eyes open. A Welsh legend has it that if you spot the first daffodil of the season, your coming year will be filled with wealth!
