02/23/2026
Scroll down for the English in the post shared. Tag us and let us know if you plan a dip or a summit anywhere local! And please join us to celebrate St. David's Day in Seattle this coming Saturday, February 28th. See event post for more details or message/email us: [email protected]
New St David’s Day Traditions
by Kitty Parsons · February 23, 2026
The following article was written by GWENNO DAFYD in Welsh and English. Her passion for Wales and commitment to keeping our culture alive and vital is formidable. We know this is a long read, but we think it’s worth it. To read in English, scroll down…
Gwenno as Piaf
Traddodiadau Newydd i Ddathlu Dydd Gwyl Dewi yn 2026
Efallai y clywsoch chi yn ddiweddar am gronfa gyffroes MILIWN o bunnoedd ryddhawyd gan y Senedd ar ddiwedd 2025 i roid y gefnogaeth a***nnol haeddiannol i Ddathliadau Dydd Gwyl Dewi (DGD) yn 2026 er mwyn iddyn nhw dyfu nid yn unig yng Nghymru ond yn y pen draw, ar draws y byd. Dyma wybodaeth am y rhan wnes i chware i sicrhau fod hyn yn digwydd. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL5kFg0P4DspmjllkG3c6KVsHft3bVPQy
Oedde chi yn gwybod fod 16 o’r rhai wnaeth arwyddo Datganiad Annibyniaeth yr Unol Daleithiau yn dod o dras Cymreig? Mae hynna yn ddwy waith cymaint ag oedd o rai oedd yn dod o dras Gwyddelig. Mae dathliadau San Padrig yn enfawr yn America felly pam alle’n rhai ni ddim bod cystal.
Dyma wybodaeth i chi am rai traddodiadau dwi eisioes wedi eu hybu a’u datblygu dros yr ugain mlynnedd olaf, gan gynnwys anthem ddwyieithog. (Geiriau: Gwenno Dafydd.Cerddoriaeth: Heulwen Thomas) Dyma un peth yn unig ellid uno ni Gymru a Chymru ar Wasgar ‘ble bynnag yn y byd’, hyd yn oed os ydi’r tywydd yn difetha eich pared DGD, ac mae hon a’r cyhoeddusrwydd dwi wedi llwyddo ei gael o’i herwydd wedi bod yn bry-cop canolog yn yr holl we enfawr o draddodiadau dwi eisioes wedi eu creu. https://nation.cymru/culture/how-did-a-song-transform-saint-davids-day-celebrations-around-the-world/
Traddodiadau ellid eu datblygu yn 2026
Efalle eich bod wedi rhoi cynnig am a***n ar gyfer eich cynlluniau DGD i’r gronfa yma ac r’wy’n mawr obeithio eich bod wedi llwyddo ac y byddwch yn adeiladu ar y traddodiadau newydd d’wi wedi creu ac yn creu rhai newydd eich hunain.
Os roddoch gynnig ond heb lwyddiant dyma i chi sawl syniad gweddol rhad a hawdd i’w datblygu ac sydd yn parhau gyda’r un themau fydd yn adeiladu’r we o Ddathliadau Dewi yn gryfach fyth ar draws ein gwlad.
https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/23390403.hopes-daffy-dips-dewi-will-go-global-next-st-davids-day/
Traddodiad sydd wedi tyfu ers i mi ei sefydlu yn 2023. R’oedd Dewi Sant yn cael ei adnabod fel ‘Dewi Ddyfriwr’.
Ymwadiad (Disclaimer): Risg eich hunain yw hwn. Mae y mor ac afonydd yn bur oer ym mis Mawrth. Ddyle chi ddim aros yn y dwr am fwy na munud am bob degri o ddwr. Gwiriwch y llanw, y cerrynt ac unrhyw beryglon lleol cyn mentro mewn i’r mor ac i’ch diogelwch chi, peidiwch da chi, yfed unrhyw alcohol cyn mewn mewn i’r dwr. PEIDIWCH A GNEUD HYN AR EICH PEN EICH HUNAN
Gofynion:
Cyfansoddiad cadarn!
Siwt nofio a/neu siwt socian.
Baneri a clychau – gweler isod am awgrymiadau.
Siocled poeth/ Pice ar y Traeth, Bara Brith / picnic ayb.
Het cenin pedr. https://www.jokeshop.co.uk/det/4634/Daffodil-Hat/
Canu pedair can. (Neu cael rhywun i chwarae ricordiad ohonynt)
Cyn mynd mewn i’r dwr: Anthem Dydd Gwyl Dewi.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL5kFg0P4DspmjllkG3c6KVsHft3bVPQy
Rhedwch mewn i’r dwr a cenwch:
Calon Lan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIDZNAzXPVA
Sosban Fach https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvbCgNVcIM8
Anthem Genedlaethol. Dyma Bryn ni yn ei chanu. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTWtHJmGoHY
Ag os oes rhai gyda chi sydd ddim yn ei nabod – dyma fidio ar sut i’w ynganu. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-cPwYvTZ9U&list=PLL5kFg0P4DspTJgYc0fxSNNKt3reTcuk2
Rhedwch allan o’r mor, cynhesawch, yfwch baned o siocled poeth a ‘Pice ar y Traeth’ (Neu chwisgi Penderyn i dwymo’r galon.)
Cymerwch llwyth o luniau a rhannwch ar y gwefannau cymdeithasol gyda’r hashnodau sydd isod.
Gadewch y traeth/ glan yr afon yn union fel wnaethoch chi ei ddarganfod.
Codwch unrhyw sbwriel mae eraill hunanol wedi gadael os y medrwch. Cadwch Cymru’n daclus.
Ymwadiad (Disclaimer): Unwaith eto, risg bersonol yw hyn. Mae bryniau a mynyddoedd Cymru yn medru bod yn hynod o beryglus ym mis Mawrth. PEIDIWCH A GWNEUD HYN AR EICH PEN EICH HUNAN, gwell ei wneud gyda grwp. Gadewch i rywun wybod eich bod yn bwriadu gneud hyn gyda rhyw syniad o pryd y byddwch yn dychwelyd. Os fydd y tywydd yn wael peidiwch a gneud hyn – neu cerwch i ddringo bryn yn hytrach na mynydd. Peidiwch ac yfed unrhyw alcohol tan eich bod n’ol o’r siwrne a sicrhewch fod gennych y cyfarpar cywir i gadw’n saff. (Esgidiau cerdded teidi, ffyn, dillad cynnes, cwmpawd, thermos, dwr ayb)
Gofynion:
Cyfansoddiad cadarn a ffitrwydd perthnasol i ddringo mynydd!
Baneri a clychau o’ch dewis. Dyma rai ellid eu defnyddio.
Ein Draig hardd – Mae gan rhan fwyaf o bobl yr un yma!
Baner Dewi Sant. Croes felen ar gefndir du.
Baner Owain Glyndwr. Y Ddraig Euraidd .
Baner YesCymru. https://www.yes.cymru/shop #!/Flags/c/34260059
Baner eich sefydliad chi.
Canu pedair can ar y copa. (Neu cael rhywun i chwarae ricordiad ohonynt)
Anthem Dydd Gwyl Dewi.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL5kFg0P4DspmjllkG3c6KVsHft3bVPQy
Calon Lan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIDZNAzXPVA
Sosban Fach https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvbCgNVcIM8
Anthem Genedlaethol. Dyma ein Bryn yn ei chanu. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTWtHJmGoHY
Ag os oes rhai gyda chi yn cerdded sydd ddim yn ei nabod – dyma Fidio ar sut i’w ynganu. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-cPwYvTZ9U&list=PLL5kFg0P4DspTJgYc0fxSNNKt3reTcuk2
Cofiwch gymeryd llwyth o luniau a’u rhannu ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol gyda’r hashnodau sydd isod.
Paned o siocled twym a ‘Pice ar y Mynydd’.
Lawr a chi a gadewch y mynydd/bryn yn union fel oedd cyn cychwyn. (Codwch unrhyw sbwriel mae eraill wedi gadael yn hunanol os y medrwch. Cadwch Cymru’n daclus.
Dwi eisioes wedi bod mewn trafodaeth gyda nifer helaeth o bobol sydd a diddordeb yn y syniad yma gan gynnwys criw chwe llwybyr i fynu i gopa’r Wyddfa, Pen y Fan yn ogystal a copa Adeilad yn Efrog Newydd a Chicago.
R’oedd pawb wnaeth gymeryd rhan ym Mhared Cyntaf y Cestyll mewn i Gastell Penfro wedi cael gwahoddiad i ddod a clychau llaw i ganu gyda hwy ac am 12.00 ar y dot fe waeddais ‘Cenwch y Clychau i Dewi – Ring out the bells for Saint David’ a bu sain y clychau yn atseinio yn swnllyd o amgylch muriau Castell Penfro. Yn dilyn hyn, fe ganais Anthem Dydd Gwyl Dewi, sef ‘Cenwch y Clychau i Dewi’, pwy se’n meddwl te! Fe ymunodd Criwr y Dref hefyd gyda ni yn frwdfrydig.
https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/24974136.pembrokes-inaugural-st-davids-day-parade-huge-success/
Fy ngobaith i yw y bydd Eglwysi, Neuaddau Tref, Ysgolion ac unrhyw sefydliadau eraill yn parhau a datblygu y traddodiad hyfryd newydd yma, o ganu clychau canol dydd i Dewi. Dwi eisioes wedi clywed fod Eglwys ym Mhenfro yn mynd i barhau y traddodiad a r’wyf mewn trafodaeth gydag Eglwys Gadeiriol Ty Ddewi i wneud yr un peth. Cysylltwch gyda’ch campanolegwyr a canwr/cantores lleol i ganu’r anthem!
Pan gafodd ‘Cenwch y Clychau i Dewi’ ei lawnsio gan yr Arglwydd Dafydd Elis Thomas yn 2008 yn, beth oedd bryd hynny, ‘Y Cynulliad’, dyma’r tro cyntaf i un arall o fy syniadau i i gael eu gwireddu – “Cwpan Gwnewch y Pethau Bychain”. Y bwriad oedd i roid y gwpan, nid i’r ceffyl blaen oedd wastad yn ennill gwobrwyon ond i’r plentyn oedd, trwy ei ‘weithredoedd bychain’ a’u caredigrwydd yn gneud bywyd yn well i eraill. Cyflwynwyd y gwpan gyntaf i Ysgol Gymraeg Penygarth (Wnaeth ganu’r gan adeg y lawnsiad)
https://senedd.wales/senedd-now/news/st-david-s-day-song-to-be-launched-at-assembly/
Gallwch brynu Anthem Dydd Gwyl Dewi fan hyn.
https://shop.app/threads?conversationId=019ba2ae-39db-7cd3-a7bc-dd17c67ffb19&query=cenwch+y+clychau+i+dewi
Felly defnyddiwch yr hashnodau sydd wedi cael eu nodi uchod i ddangos i’r byd ble mae y digwyddiadau yma yn bodoli. Defnyddiwch eich hoff ddull o’r cyfryngau cymdeithasol, Trydarwch amdanyn nhw a copiwch y canlynol i mewn i’r neges.
https://x.com/visitwales
https://x.com/DafyddGwenno
https://x.com/PrifWeinidog
https://x.com/SeneddCymru
Gadewch i mi wybod os ydych chi yn bwriadu datblygu rhai o’r traddodiadau ‘newydd’ yma a gadewch i ni gyd ddathlu Dewi Sant mewn ffyrdd sydd yn anrhydeddu ei gredo o heddychiaeth a gweithredoedd bychan.
Fel y dywedodd ar ei wely angau yn 589 AD. “Byddwch lawen, cadwch y ffydd, a gwnewch y pethau bychain a welsoch chi fi yn eu gwneud” – Oherwydd y pethau bychain sy’n tyfu i fod yn bethau mawr ein bywydau.”
Gwenno Dafyd
St David’s Cathedral
New Traditions to Celebrate St David’s Day
You may have heard about the exciting million-pound fund released at the tail end of 2025 by the Senedd to finally give St David’s Day celebrations in 2026 the financial support they need to grow across Wales and eventually worldwide. Here’s some information about my part in making that happen.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL5kFg0P4DspmjllkG3c6KVsHft3bVPQy
Did you know that 16 of the signatories of the United States of America Declaration of Independence were Welsh? That’s twice as many as there were of Irish descent. St Patrick’s Day celebrations are immense in America and around the world, so why not ours?
Here is some information about some traditions that I have already instigated and developed over the past 20 years, including a bilingual anthem (Words: Gwenno Dafydd. Music: Heulwen Thomas). This is the one thing that can unite Welshies in Wales and farther afield, no matter if inclement weather cancels your parades to celebrate our patron saint and this and the publicity I have managed to generate has been the central spider in the web of new traditions I have created.
https://nation.cymru/culture/how-did-a-song-transform-saint-davids-day-celebrations-around-the-world/
New traditions that can be developed for 2026
You may have applied for some funding for your St David’s Day projects from this fund and I’m hoping you were successful and that you will continue to develop the traditions I have created and create your own new traditions.
If you applied and were not successful then here are some ideas that will take very little money to develop, but will still carry on with the same themes uniting us across this nation.
https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/23390403.hopes-daffy-dips-dewi-will-go-global-next-st-davids-day/
A tradition which has grown every year since I inaugurated it in 2023. St David was known as Dewi the Water Man.
Disclaimer: At your own risk. The sea and rivers are very cold in March. You should stay in the water no more than one minute for each degree. Check tides and any local dangers, currents etc. and for your own safety do not drink ANY alcohol before entering the water. DO NOT DO THIS ON YOUR OWN.
Requirements:
A robust constitution!
Swimmies and or wetsuit
Welsh Flags and bells– see below for suggestions
Hot chocolate/Welsh cakes /Bara Brith/picnic
A daffodil hat. https://www.jokeshop.co.uk/det/4634/Daffodil-Hat/
Sing four songs.
Before entering: Saint David’s Day Anthem.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL5kFg0P4DspmjllkG3c6KVsHft3bVPQy
Get in the sea and sing:
Calon Lan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIDZNAzXPVA
Sosban Fach https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvbCgNVcIM8
National Anthem. Here’s our Bryn singing it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTWtHJmGoHY
And if you don’t know it – here’s a video on how to pronounce it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-cPwYvTZ9U&list=PLL5kFg0P4DspTJgYc0fxSNNKt3reTcuk2
Run out of the sea, get warm, have a nice cup of hot chocolate and some ‘Pice ar y Traeth’ (Welsh Cakes on the beach)
Leave the beach/river as you found it. (Pick up any rubbish that others may have selfishly left if you can! Keep Wales tidy!)
Disclaimer: Again at your own risk. The hills and mountains of Wales can be perilous and very dangerous in March. DO NOT DO THIS ON YOUR OWN but preferably with a group. Inform people that you are doing this with an estimated time of return. If the weather is inclement then do not do this – or find a hill rather than a mountain to climb. Make sure no alcohol is involved beforehand and that you are properly equipped with all necessary safety equipment (solid boots, sticks, warm clothing, compass, thermos, water).
Requirements:
A robust constitution and general fitness for purpose!
Some flags of choice and bells. Here are some that can be used.
Our dragon –Most people have this one!
Saint David’s Flag. Yellow cross on a black background.
Owain Glyndwr’s flag. The Golden Dragon.
Yes Cymru flag. https://www.yes.cymru/shop #!/Flags/c/34260059
Your own organisation’s flag.
Sing four songs on the summit
Saint David’s Day Anthem.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL5kFg0P4DspmjllkG3c6KVsHft3bVPQy
Calon Lan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIDZNAzXPVA
Sosban Fach https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvbCgNVcIM8
National Anthem. Here’s our Bryn singing it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTWtHJmGoHY
And if you don’t know it – here’s a video on how to pronounce it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-cPwYvTZ9U&list=PLL5kFg0P4DspTJgYc0fxSNNKt3reTcuk2
Take your photos, hashtag and share on social media then have a nice cup of hot chocolate and some ‘Pice ar y Mynydd’ (Welsh cakes on the mountain!)
Descend and leave the mountain/hill as you found it! (Pick up any rubbish selfishly left by others if you can! Keep Wales tidy!)
I have been in discussion with several interested parties about this idea including a six path up Yr Wyddfa, Pen y Fan and also some building summits in New York and Chicago.
All participants in the inaugural St David’s Day parade into Pembroke Castle in 2025 were invited to bring hand-bells and at 12 noon on the dot I shouted out: ‘Cenwch y Clychau i Dewi. Ring out the bells for St David’ and those who had brought bells responded magnificently. I then sang the anthem Ring out the Bells for St David. Pembroke’s Town Crier also enthusiastically took part. https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/24974136.pembrokes-inaugural-st-davids-day-parade-huge-success/
I hope that churches, town halls, schools and any other organisations will continue this delightful new tradition which will be continued in Pembroke this year and potentially in St David’s Cathedral. Contact your local campanologists and a singer for the anthem.
When ‘Cenwch y Clychau i Dewi’ was launched by Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas at the then Welsh Assembly, another one of my ideas was instigated – the ‘Do the small things for Dewi Cup’. This was to be given to a child who would not usually win anything of note but who by their kindness and ‘small deeds’ made a big difference to children around them. The first cup was presented to the children of Ysgol Penygarth.
https://senedd.wales/senedd-now/news/st-david-s-day-song-to-be-launched-at-assembly/
The St David’s Day Anthem can be bought here:
https://shop.app/threads?conversationId=019ba2ae-39db-7cd3-a7bc-dd17c67ffb19&query=cenwch+y+clychau+i+dewi
Share on your favourite social media and use the above hashtags so we can see where these events are happening, Tweet about it and copy in
https://x.com/visitwales
https://x.com/DafyddGwenno
https://x.com/PrifWeinidog
https://x.com/SeneddCymru
Do let me know if you decide to develop any of these new ‘traditions’ and let’s all celebrate St David in a way that honours his lifelong practice of pacifism and small deeds. As he said on his deathbed in 589 AD: “Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things you have seen me do – because the small things are essentially the big things of life.”
Gwenno Dafyd
