To wear the leek upon St. Tavy's Day....

FLUELLEN

Your majesty says very true: if your majesties is

remembered of it, the Welshmen did good service in a

garden where leeks did grow, wearing leeks in their

Monmouth caps; which, your majesty know, to this

hour is an honourable badge of the service; and I do

believe your majesty takes no scorn to wear the leek

upon Saint Tavy's day.

KING HENRY V

I wear it for a memorable honour; For I am Welsh, you know, good countryman. 

 --Henry V, Act 4 Scene 7

The leek is the Welsh national symbol, according to legend by the advice of St. David of Wales, who advised them to wear it in their caps into battle so as to distinguish friend from foe. The enemy must have thought them a bit daft with such adornment, too, which no doubt helped the Welsh catch their enemy off guard.


I don't know the original provenance of the leek-framed icon above, but it's quite nice. David was a great ascetic who didn't tolerate slackness terribly well, but I hope he'll forgive the Welsh for indulging in a few Welsh cakes and the like on his feast day. Myself, I don't think I'll follow the tradition of eating a leek raw-- rather slice and cook them up at dinner tomorrow! 


I haven't got sound, but this little video looks pretty good: