Most people in Wales know January 25 is St Dwynwen’s Day, our very own Valentine’s Day. But who was St Dwynwen, and why is she remembered as Wales’ patron saint of lovers?
Ian Craig Social Newsdesk Content Editor
08:00, 24 Jan 2026
You can visit Eglwys Santes Dwynwen (St Dwynwen’s Church) at Ynys Llanddwyn on Ynys Môn.(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
While Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrated around the world, here in Wales we have our very own celebration of love. Dydd Santes Dwynwen, or St Dwynwen’s Day, is marked on January 25 every year, and celebrates Wales’ patron saint of lovers.
But the story behind the celebration is a sad one. TikToker Abbie, who posts on TikTok as dream0graphy, explained the tale of St Dwynwen, who is said to have been the daughter of fifth-century King Brychan, who ruled over a portion of Mid Wales.
Abbie said: “She’s said to have been the prettiest of her 23 other sisters. That means the King had 24 daughters in total, but Dwynwen was the most beautiful of them all.
“Dwynwen went on to fall in love with the local prince, but her father the King, well, he didn’t really approve. In fact he’d already offered her hand in marriage to another.
“To escape her now angry father, Dwynwen fled to the Welsh woods, and that’s where she sat and prayed to God to help her. Shortly after falling asleep, Dwynwen was visited by an angel.
“The angel brought Dwynwen a potion and promised to rid her of all her memories of her beloved prince. In her haze Dwynwen took it, and she soon realised that she turned her prince into a block of ice.”
Abbie continued Dwynwen was then granted three wishes – for the first, she wished for her prince to be released. For the second, she asked God to watch over all true lovers, and for the third, that she would never marry.
“As a way of thanks to God from Dwynwen for granting all three of her wishes, Dwynwen then decided to devote her entire life to God,” Abbie said. “She relocated just off the west coast of Anglesey (Ynys Môn) and opened a convent and became a nun.
“Dwynwen went on to study herbs and healed all those who sought her. After years of healing so many people, Dwynwen went on to pass away in 465AD.
“An old well near the convent became a place of pilgrimage for Welsh lovers. The sacred fish and eels that reside there are actually said to be able to tell whether or not a relationship will be happy, long lasting, and loving, just as Dwynwen would have wanted.”
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Although Dydd Santes Dwynwen does not have the profile of Valentine’s Day, it is still celebrated by many in Wales. Some exchange gifts and cards, or carve lovespoons as a sign of devotion.
You can also visit the ruins of Eglwys Santes Dwynwen (St Dwynwen’s Church) at Ynys Llanddwyn on Ynys Môn, said to be the very same site she retreated to. Visit Wales says: “One of the most beautiful and romantic spots in Wales, it’s worth visiting Llanddwyn at any time of year, not just on January 25. You’ll find it on the southwest corner of Ynys Môn, just beyond the village of Niwbwrch.”
Explaining what there is to see at Ynys Llanddwyn, Visit Wales said: “Traeth Llanddwyn (Llanddwyn beach) is backed by dunes and a forest that’s home to red squirrels and a huge roost of ravens (which mate for life, appropriately). Gwarchodfa Natur Niwbwrch (Newborough Nature Reserve) has stunning views across the Afon Menai (Menai Strait) to the mountains of Eryri.
“Ynys Llanddwyn is actually a peninsula that’s only very rarely cut off by the highest tides. Walk out onto the headland and you’ll find two lighthouses, a couple of pilot’s cottages (which become a visitor centre in the summer holidays) and the picturesque ruins of Eglwys Santes Dwynwen. This is built on the site of the nunnery she founded in the 5th century, and she’s said to be buried here.
“There are several wells and springs on the island, including Merddyn Cil (Merlin’s Well) and Ffynnon Dafaden (whose waters are said to cure warts – which isn’t very romantic, admittedly). Most importantly for lovers, there’s Ffynnon Dwynwen (Dwynwen’s Well), which is said to be home to eels who can predict whether your relationship is going to be a success.”
It added: “And if a beautiful island with magical eels isn’t already the ideal recipe for romance, then remember St Dwynwen’s most famous saying: ‘Nothing wins hearts like cheerfulness’.”
