Patron Saints are chosen as special protectors for a country and this month we start with David, Patron Saint of Wales on the 1st March, which was the day of his death in 589. Many miracles surround David, the most notable being when the ground on which he was standing talking to the people, rose up into a hill so that everyone could see him. The story has it that he only ate leeks and drank water! Although this is not a national holiday in Wales, the day is widely celebrated with the wearing of traditional costume adorned with leeks and daffodils. Move along to the 17th March and we say hello to Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland who was believed to have died sometime between 461 and 493. Patrick was a Christian missionary and bishop and while much of his life is shrouded in legend, he is famously credited with using the three leafed shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to the people. This of course is why we recognise the shamrock as being a symbol of Ireland, much like the leeks and the daffodils associated with David. In Ireland, what once was a religious holiday has become a national holiday with much celebration of the Irish culture and history with parades, music and Irish dancing and I am sure, a copious supply of Guinness!
Commonwealth Day is the annual celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations and is held on the second Monday in March falling on the 9th March this year. It traces it’s origins back to Empire Day, which when Queen Victoria was alive, was celebrated on her birthday 24th May but was renamed Commonwealth Day during the mid 20th century and moved to March. On this day the King broadcasts a message to all commonwealth countries and attends an interdenominational service held at Westminster Abbey when the flags of the member countries are offered for blessing.
Sitting in the middle of March on the 15th is Mother’s Day which always falls on the fourth Sunday in Lent and which I talked a bit about last year. This special day has been observed by the Catholic and other Christian churches since the middle ages and the UK is believed to be the first country in the world to have a dedicated day for mothers, so well done Great Britain!
We are almost at the end of March but I have to mention first the Vernal Equinox on the 20th. This is when spring time officially begins and all across the earth there will be an equal amount of darkness and daylight. I think we will all be glad of that!
Coming right at the end of the month (phew!) on the 29th is Palm Sunday which starts Jesus’ final week on earth and marks his victorious entry into Jerusalem riding a donkey. The people welcomed him using palm fronds, laying them on the ground in front of him and shouting ‘Hosanna’. Our service in church starts at 10.30 for Holy Communion so please come along and join us for this special service. We will then be going into Holy Week with compline in the evenings at 6 p.m, St Matthews Passion on Good Friday afternoon, an Easter vigil on Saturday and our Easter Day service with Mark Thomas at the end. More details about all these things next time.