Press Releases

Traditionally in Wales, young men used to give someone they loved a wooden spoon – better know today as the love spoon – as a sign of their affection. The spoon was carved out of one piece of wood and included different symbols, some of which were devised by the individuals themselves to illustrate their romantic hopes and feelings. 

However if you don’t have time to carve your own lovespoon, St Fagans is offering you a different way of expressing your feelings this St Dwynwen’s Day through a personalised, digital love spoon which you can send via email. You can decide on your preferred symbol to make your own gift using a love spoon computer game at Oriel 1 gallery.

Alternatively, enjoy a demonstration of love spoon carving with your friends at the Museum on 25 January (10am – 5pm) or buy a gingham heart featuring a lovespoon and a Clogau Gold lovespoon necklace from the Museum’s shop.

“The oldest lovespoon in the Museum’s collection dates back to 1667 but the tradition of using a spoon to show affection is still popular today,” said Emma Lile, Curator: Traditional Music, Sports and Customs at St Fagans. “Numerous symbols are used to represent love – the heart being the most common. Others include the wheel, indicating the wheel of life and someone who is willing to work hard for his lover; double bowls to signify a loving union; and an anchor represents the desire to settle down in a loving berth.”

Admission to Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales is free thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales operates seven national museums across Wales.  These are National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans: National History Museum, National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre, National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.

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For further information, please contact Catrin Mears, Communications Officer tel: 029 2057 3486 or email catrin.mears@museumwales.ac.uk.

Notes to Editors:

The Story of St Dwynwen

St Dwynwen's day is celebrated in Wales on 25 January and commemorates the patron saint of friendship and love.

Dwynwen lived during the 5th century and was, by all accounts, one of the prettiest of Brychan Brycheiniog's 24 daughters. The story goes that Dwynwen fell in love with one Maelon Dafodrill, but unfortunately her father had already arranged that she should wed another. Maelon was so outraged that he raped Dwynwen and left her.

In her grief Dwynwen fled to the woods, where she begged God to make her forget Maelon. After falling asleep, Dwynwen was visited by an angel, who appeared carrying a sweet potion designed to erase all memory of Maelon and turn him into a block of ice.

God then gave three wishes to Dwynwen. First she wished that Maelon be thawed; second that God meet the hopes and dreams of true lovers; and third, that she should never marry. All three were fulfilled, and as a mark of her thanks, Dwynwen devoted herself to God's service for the rest of her life.