Leeks Growing
Photo credits: http://www.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/~pr/garten/schau/AlliumporrumL/BAlliumporrumL1.jpg

March first is the Welsh national holiday. To commemorate this day, Welsh men and women wear leeks in their caps, or as a corsage. Many a Welsh lad has admitted to nibbling at his corsage throughout the day. (In many places, contests are held to see who has the largest, longest leek. The winner is cheered on to "eat some of your leek.")

Welsh soldiers uphold the tradition of eating a raw leek each year in memory of St. David.
Photo Credits: http://www.chls11113.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/keith/kp15.jpg

Saint David
Photo credits: http://www.allsaintsbrookline.org/celtic/celt_images/st_images/david1.jpg

The saint was said to live on bread, water, leeks and watercress. He founded many monasteries. His followers kept strict rules, worked hard at farming and provided food and clothing for the poor. St. David lived to an old age. His last sermon contains this piece of advice, a favorite among the Welsh people: "Be joyful and keep your faith and creed. Do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about.'

Why leeks? Phoenicians are said to have introduced the leek to Wales when they were trading for tin in the British Isles---a casual act that would unexpectedly elevate this humble plant to national status a thousand years later. Legend has it that some 60 years after St. David's death, in 640 AD, the Briton King Cadwallader was sorely pressed by invading Saxons. To distinguish themselves from the enemy, the Welsh wore leeks in their hats---and subsequently gained a great victory over their enemies.

Cawl, or Leek Broth Photo credits: http://www.asc.upenn.edu/usr/cassidy/projects/cooking/potatoeleek.jpg Cawl, or leek broth is the traditional St. David's Day meal. Here's a recipe: 1 TBS. bacon fat 2 medium onions, diced 2 parsnips, chopped 5 carrots, sliced 1 LB. beef brisket 2 LB. bacon 10 peppercorns 4 garlic cloves, peeled and minced water or beef stock 1 LB. potatoes, peeled and quartered 5 small leeks In a heavy soup pot, heat the bacon fat and add the onions, carrots, leeks, garlic and parsnips. Brown the vegetables, and remove from the pot. Add the beef brisket and brown. Return the vegetables to the pot, removing some of the grease (as much as you prefer). Then add the bacon and spices, covering all in the pot with water. Heat to boiling, take off the skim on top, and reduce heat. Simmer for 3 hours. Add potatoes about 30 minutes before the end of the simmering.

Royal Welch Fusiliers
Photo credits:http://www.rwfmuseum.org.uk/images/leek.jpg

Probably nowhere is the patron saint of Wales, Saint David, so ceremoniously and so regularly honoured as on the 1st of March wherever the Royal Welch Fusiliers happen to be. In peace and war, at home or overseas, leeks are worn, and the day observed, as far as possible, as a holiday.

The ancient ceremony of eating the leek in the Officers' Mess has remained largely unchanged over the years. It is recorded that "…the officers give a splendid entertainment to all their welch brethren ; and after the cloth is taken away… the band playing the old tune of, "The Noble Race of Shenkin", when a handsome drum-boy, elegantly dressed, mounted on the goat richly caparisoned for the occasion, is led thrice round the table in procession by the drum-major…" Although no longer ridden, the Goat is still led around the table after dinner, followed by a drummer, fifers and drum-major carrying a silver salver on which are raw leeks, and the mess sergeant with a loving-cup filled with champagne. They halt by the latest joined subaltern who stands on his chair and, placing his right foot on the table, eats a leek while the drummer plays a continuous roll until it is completely consumed. He is then handed the loving-cup for the toast 'and Saint David'. All those present who have not 'eaten a leek' with the Regiment, including guests, are expected to do so before the party withdraws.

Similar ceremonial takes place in the Sergeants' Mess, and the other ranks' dining hall, where the latest joined soldier in each Company eats a leek.

One Pound Welsh Coin of 1985
Photo credits: http://www.coinimages.co.uk/images/1985poundsilverproofwelshleekrev240.jpg

It was decided that from 1984, British £1 coins would feature different reverse designs for each of the four parts of the United Kingdom. All £1 coins dated 1985 feature on the reverse the national emblem of Wales - the leek.