Flying the flag for St. David’s Day at Jesus College Oxford

March 1, 2008 at 9:05 am | Posted in Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant!, Jesus College, Oxford, Oxford University, St. David's Day, Welsh | 2 Comments
Flag flying for St. David’s Day at Jesus College Oxford on 1st March 2008

Thank you so much for taking this picture for me today 😉

One day, I shall try to get back to Jesus College Chapel for St. David’s Day choral Evensong or the 8am Holy Communion service in Welsh.

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant!

2 Comments »

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  1. I don’t recognize the imagery – is the hart a symbol of David?

    s/ Curious American

    Comment by Breen— March 1, 2008 #

  2. Hello Breen,
    .
    I am not sure why there are three white harts with antlers on our college crest, so I shall ask someone who knows this better than I do. This is what I am familiar with:
    .
    One animal usually associated with St. David is the dove (Holy Spirit and peace); another is the bee (hard work and perseverance). Watercress indicates that St. David and Celtic holy men were vegetarian—they were even described as ‘watermen’. I think all three—dove, bee and watercress—are shown in the stained glass window of St. David in the North Transept of St. Bede’s church. Perhaps you’ll get the chance to take a look at that today?
    .
    Our college was founded in the time of Queen Elizabeth the First, in 1571. The hart was a popular charge on crests for royalty as it represents the noblest goals of peace and harmony in policymaking. Antlers on the deer indicate strength. White indicates purity or honest dealings. So, perhaps the deer simply represents an honourable intent. In any case, deer (and deer parks) were significant for many reasons, being used as royal hunting grounds, for instance.
    .
    Green and white represent Wales, just like leeks and daffodils which were worn by Welshmen in battle. The Welsh archers livery was green and white, I believe, too.
    .
    P.S. In medieval times, green represented more than life and growth—it was also used to indicate love. Since then, red has become more popular than green for that purpose; fashions do change!

    Comment by inel— March 2, 2008 #


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