Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus! – Google’s Doodle celebrates St David’s Day

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales

This article is old - Published: Monday, Mar 1st, 2021

Google`s iconic logo gets the annual St David’s Day makeover today marking the national celebration of the Welsh patron Saint.

The Google Doodle as it is known is the latest in a long line of designs celebrating St. David’s Day on the search engines website dating back to 2004.

Google says today’s Doodle is illustrated by Welsh guest artist Elin Manon and inspired by the legend of Dinas Emrys—one of Wales’ most famous historic tales—celebrating St. David’s Day.

Google’s dedicated doodle website says “Myth has it that in the fifth century, a Celtic king named Vortigen discovered what he thought was the perfect place to build his castle on the Welsh hillside.’

‘However, Myrddin Emrys (Merlin, the wizard) convinced Vortigen that there was a catch—a large fire-breathing one!’

‘The spot he had chosen was directly above the lair of two slumbering dragons; one red, one white. Upon the castle’s construction, the two dragons were found in a fierce battle.”

“The red dragon emerged victorious and returned to rest in his subterranean lair, allowing Vortigen to complete the building of his fortress once the dust had settled.”

“The red dragon has since become an immortal symbol of the Welsh people and St. David’s Day, along with the daffodil—the yellow flower surrounding it in the Doodle artwork.”

“Although the tale of Dinas Emrys may sound like nothing but fantasy, a 1945 excavation of the site found remains of a fortress dating back to Vortigen’s time.”

“So take caution if you ever plan to venture to the ruins of Dinas Emrys… you may awaken a dragon.”

The doodle takes pride of place on the Google UK front-page until midnight tonight.

Here’s how Google has celebrated the previous St David’s days over the years.