This Saturday (and next Wednesday Jan 29 for Llantrisant Folk Club), people from South Wales up to the North will celebrate Dydd Santes Dwynwen, St Dwynwen's Day, with music, dance and song.

Dwynwen is the patron saint of all lovers and her day is celebrated on January 25. She lived during the fifth century and was one of the prettiest of Brychan Brycheiniog's 24 daughters. The story goes that Dwynwen fell in love with Maelon Dafodrill, but unfortunately her father had already arranged that she should marry someone else. Maelon was so outraged that he raped Dwynwen and left her.

In her grief Dwynwen fled to the woods, where she begged God to make her forget Maelon. After falling asleep, Dwynwen was visited by an angel, who appeared carrying a sweet potion designed to erase all memory of Maelon and turn him into a block of ice.

God then gave three wishes to Dwynwen. First, she wished that Maelon be thawed; second, that God meet the hopes and dreams of true lovers; and third, that she should never marry. All three were fulfilled, and as a mark of her thanks, Dwynwen devoted herself to God's service for the rest of her life. Remains of Dwynwen's church can be seen today on the island of Llanddwyn, off the coast of Anglesey.

Llantrisant Folk Club

(at The Windsor Hotel, Pontyclun) is celebrating a belated St Dwynwen's Day on Wednesday January 29; songs of love, longing and lust will definitely receive high marks!