(Warning: this post discusses the story of St Dwynwen, which includes rape/sexual assault)
'Arthur’s mouth has always been Merlin’s weakness, hasn’t it.'
Dydd Gwyl Santes Dwynwen Hapus/Happy St Dwynwen's Day!
Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint of lovers, her name has a variety of meanings (as most 'wen' or 'wyn' names do,) but the most common translations are 'white wave' or 'to steal purity/fairness.'
Which kind of fits in with the less happy aspects of her story.
She was a princess, or so the story goes, who fell in love with a man, while her father had arranged for her to marry someone else.
Devastated by the yearning in her heart (or, in the less PG versions, running from her so-called 'lover,' who either rapes her, or attempts to rape her,) she ran into the forest where she met an angel.
(Which is totally where you'd normally find angels instead of wood spirits or any type of Fair Folk *shifty glances*)
The angel froze her lover in a block of ice and promised to grant her three wishes... which is apparently something angels do here.
(And only really makes sense in the less-PG versions, because why else would the angel freeze him?)
Her first wish was to defrost her lover, because even though he was a douche, in her heart she still loved him.
Her second wish was to be a nun, so that she wouldn't have to marry ANYONE - which, given what she'd been through in the less-PG versions, makes sense.
(The PG version makes a lot of illogical leaps in plot, ok?)
Her final wish was that all 'true lovers' should find happiness - a happiness that was no longer possible for her and her less-than-true lover.
So in honour of her and her tragic story, I thought I'd share a short lovey-dovey fic today!
And where better to look than the fandom for BBC's Merlin?
In case you didn't know, all Arthurian legend has its roots in Wales, with heavy influence over the years from the other Celtic nations such as Cornwall and Ireland.
If Arthur existed, he was not king of England. #JustSaying.
She's especially important to lovers who overcome hardships - so this story has a hint of mutual pining too!
This fic is set in modern times, so don't get too confused by Arthur's football (soccer) shirt!
She's especially important to lovers who overcome hardships - so this story has a hint of mutual pining too!
This fic is set in modern times, so don't get too confused by Arthur's football (soccer) shirt!
odds are by schweet_heart
Dydd Gwyl Santes Dwynwen Hapus dearest nerdlets!
And may all true lovers find happiness 😊
Had you heard of Santes Dwynwen?
Are there any saints specific to where you live?
Talk to me! ❤💬
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Sharing and commenting is always appreciated! 😃
Last updated: 1st Feb 2019
What an interesting story! I wish Canada had any cool myths and legends to go with it. We pretty much just have colonialism of indegenious people. Not a story we like to share. *shrugs*
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm sure that those Indigenous Peoples have their own cool stories - although I understand if they're hesitant to share them. Other than that, I'm sure you have folklore and ghost stories scattered here and there! :)
DeleteI'd never heard Santes Dwynwen's story before. I get the feeling of a very old folk tale that's been altered over the centuries.
ReplyDeleteThe current form is actually thought to be from the 5th Century (around 460 AD/CE,) when we were still very much practising Celtic Christianity, before the Roman church really got its claws in. (We have something of a long memory here!) She's not recognised by either Roman Catholic or Anglican churches.
DeleteNice topic this week! I love digging deeper and learning more about the true origins of Arthurian legends and things like that. Seems like I read a series a while back too that used Wales as th setting for Robin Hood as well, and had some pretty compelling evidence for it. I think it was stephen Lawhead's Hood series, but it's been a while.
ReplyDeleteAnd now I want to find out if there are any unique saints to my area! :)
Ha, I'm not gonna pretend that we can claim Robin Hood (the Nottinghamshire tourist board would come for me!) Ooh, I hope you find some! :)
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