Every first of March, people across Wales and the Welsh diaspora pin one of two emblems to their coats: a leek, or a daffodil. Both are national symbols of Wales, both are worn on Saint David's Day, and the two are more closely connected than they first appear. So what do the daffodil and the leek mean, and how did a vegetable and a spring flower come to stand for a nation?
Quick Answer: What Are the National Symbols of Wales?
The two floral national symbols of Wales are the leek and the daffodil. The leek is the older emblem, tied to Saint David and to Welsh soldiers who are said to have worn leeks in battle to identify one another. The daffodil is a more modern symbol, popularised in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and is closely linked to the leek through the Welsh language. Both are traditionally worn on Saint David's Day, the first of March.
Why Is the Leek a Symbol of Wales?
The leek is the ancient national emblem of Wales, and its associations run deep. Tradition connects it to Saint David (Dewi Sant), the patron saint of Wales, and to a battle in which Welsh soldiers are said to have worn leeks in their caps to tell friend from foe against their enemies. Whether or not the battlefield story is literally true, the leek was long established as a mark of Welsh identity, and it is still worn with pride on Saint David's Day. Welsh soldiers in the British army have carried the leek as a regimental emblem for centuries.
Why Is the Daffodil Also a Welsh Symbol?
The daffodil is the more recent of the two emblems, rising to national prominence in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Its connection to the leek is a lovely quirk of the Welsh language: the Welsh word for leek is cenhinen, while the daffodil is cenhinen Bedr — literally "Peter's leek." The two words are so close that the flower came to be embraced as a gentler, more decorative alternative to the vegetable. It helps that the daffodil blooms right around the first of March, making it a natural emblem for Saint David's Day.
Which Should You Wear on Saint David's Day?
Both are correct, and the choice is largely one of taste. The leek is the older, more traditional emblem, favoured by those who like its long history and its regimental associations. The daffodil is the prettier, more modern choice, and is especially popular as it flowers just in time for the day. Many people wear one or the other; some wear both. There is no wrong answer — both proclaim Welsh heritage with pride.
How Do These Fit Into Welsh Heritage?
The leek and the daffodil are the floral emblems of Wales, worn to celebrate Welsh identity on Saint David's Day and beyond. For families tracing Welsh roots, they are part of a wider heritage that includes the distinctive patterns of Welsh surnames and family history. If you are exploring your own Welsh ancestry, our guide on how to trace your Welsh family name is a good place to begin, and our Welsh heritage gift guide shows what we carry for Welsh surnames.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the national symbol of Wales?
Wales has two floral national symbols: the leek, the older emblem tied to Saint David, and the daffodil, a more modern symbol. Both are worn on Saint David's Day.
Why do Welsh people wear leeks?
The leek is linked to Saint David and to a tradition of Welsh soldiers wearing leeks in battle to identify one another. It has been a mark of Welsh identity for centuries.
Why is the daffodil a symbol of Wales?
The Welsh words for leek (cenhinen) and daffodil (cenhinen Bedr) are very close, so the daffodil became embraced as an emblem — helped by the fact that it blooms around Saint David's Day.
When is Saint David's Day?
Saint David's Day falls on the first of March, celebrating the patron saint of Wales.
Celebrate Your Welsh Roots
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