Why leeks in wales

In members of the household guard presented leeks to Princess Mary, daughter of Henry VIII, on St David's Day and there are records of payments for leeks in the accounts books of several Tudor kings. These were to be worn by the guards on 1 March. Shakespeare, of course, refers to the wearing of leeks in his play Henry V.

The young King tells the Welsh warrior Fluellen that he is wearing a leek because "I am Welsh, good countryman. By the 17th and 18th centuries it was common practice for the king and members of his court to wear leeks on St David's Day.

The smell from these pungent vegetables from the same family as onions and garlic must have been horrible but since people, of both high and low rank, did not wash very much in those days it did not cause undue comment. Increasingly, they are used in cookery - and not just in the tasty lamb stew that we know as cawl. Back in the 17th century, however, with the king and all members of his court sporting leeks every St David's Day, it is easy to see how the practice became common among ordinary folk.

They simply "aped their betters", as the man once said. The wearing of daffodils, while certainly a lot less smelly, did not become popular until the 19th century. Interestingly, the Welsh for daffodil is "Cenhinen Bedr" which means St Peter's Leek - so perhaps there is more of a connection between the vegetable and the flower than we ever thought possible.

Whatever the connection, by the end of the century daffodils were challenging leeks to the place of honour on the lapels of all good Welshmen on St David's Day. In David Lloyd George, a firm supporter of the daffodil over the leek, ensured that the flower was used in the investiture of the Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle. The leek played no part in the ceremony whatsoever. The Welsh connection even appears in Shakespeare.

Sign in. Back to Main menu Virtual events Masterclasses. A cure for all ills The link may date all the way back to days of the Welsh druids, who worshipped trees, flowers and plants. More on: United Kingdom. Give us feedback. Read Next View. Western House B and B. Writing Shed Wales. Bridge Cafe Bed and Breakfast. Llangwyryfon Country Breaks.

The Burrows Bed and Breakfast.