St David's Day

Roll on St David's Day - the national day of celebration within Wales on March 1st.

I am hoping that our St David's Day this year will be a combined celebration when Wales beat France tomorrow night at the Millenium Stadium. If we do, I will still being singing Shaun Edwards' favourite 'Saturday Night at the Movies' on Monday morning!

I didn't realise that at one time (back in 2006), the Welsh campaigned for St David's Day to become a recognised bank holiday - but Tony Blair rejected the proposition. I guess it would have meant us having to sacrifice a different bank holiday instead.

Every year a variety of parades and festivities are held across Wales to celebrate our patron saint of Wales with this year being no exception.

St David's Day celebrations in Cardiff will include concerts, a parade and a food festival. The events will kick off tomorrow, 26th February with the third annual Really Welsh Food Festival in the city centre. Featuring all welsh produce the festival will continue over 27th and 28th February inclusive.

The changing of the guard will commence at Cardiff Castle's south gate on 27th and 28th February by the soldiers from the Royal Welsh Regiment.

Visitors to Cardiff Castle on March 1st will be given a FREE tube of daffodil bulbs to commemorate the day. I think that's a really sweet touch....

Although the parade in Cardiff is the largest staged, Colwyn Bay in North Wales create an annual parade through the centre of the town too.

For me, I have two poignant memories of traditions that I most associate with St David's Day...

Firstly, being in school and performing in the Eisteddfod singing and performing in Welsh wearing my little Welsh lady costume. Mum thought I looked adorable with my curly hair under the hat!!

Secondly for me was returning home for good old fashioned cawl - vegetables only for me mind.

It is amazing the recognition a bowl of cawl has throughout Wales during the winter months - you see it advertised in cafes everywhere. Mind you cawl goes down a storm as half time grub at the pubs when Wales are playing rugby!

Don't forget your daffodil and wherever you are in Wales enjoy your St David's celebrations.

Come on Wales!