Tag: wrexham

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The Meaning of St David’s Day

What is St David’s Day?

On the 1st of March, every year, St David’s Day is celebrated in Wales and beyond. The day is also known as “the feast day of St David.” The celebration is most commonly associated with daffodils, leeks and the coming of spring and warmer weather. St David, in the sixth century, was a Celtic monk and was believed to be a miracle worker; he is celebrated every year for his altruistic acts and healing abilities. The 1st of March was the day he died, so it is a memorial day for the saint and celebrates all the work he did, as well as celebrating Wales itself and its magnificent rich culture. He died in the year 589 and is still celebrated fondly today.

Throughout the day, many celebrations happen across the country. That can include parades (such as the one in Cardiff) which showcases all of Wales’ wonderful history and culture and bring communities together to enjoy the festivities.

Who is St David?

St David’s last words were recorded as “Be joyful, keep the faith and do the little things” which is a motto you’ll often hear repeated throughout Wales on this special day, with a special emphasis on ‘do the little things’. He is buried at St David’s Cathedral in St David’s, Pembrokeshire, where many people take a pilgrimage throughout the year as well as this special day.

He was known in his life to be a very disciplined individual. As a monk, he spent many hours a day ploughing fields and doing hard labour. As well as this, he also practiced a very plain diet, with no meat or anything of luxury and lived very frugally. This was believed to help with reaching enlightenment. Some people speculated all he ate was leeks (which is where the symbolism comes from today!) while others believed he lived on a simple diet of bread and greens. He did so without complaint and spent a lot of his time teaching and helping the local communities with healing and preaching.

Many religious buildings such as churches, cathedrals and monasteries exist because of St David himself. He eventually became an archbishop of Mynyw (which is now of course known as St David’s).

How is it celebrated?

Of course, everybody’s way of celebrating St David’s Day is individual, but there is no doubt that Wales on the 1st of March is extra patriotic and full of enthusiasm. Some schools may encourage traditional Welsh attire, such as Welsh dresses and black hats or Welsh football and rugby shirts. For those not dressing up, adorning your outfit with the Welsh daffodil or a leek is very common and you’re likely to see lots of them around March time.

Traditional Welsh food, such as Welsh cakes and the Bara Brith are consumed around this time in particular, to honour the Welsh culture and heritage. Foods such as ‘cawl’ (a meat and root vegetable stew or soup) are often eaten together with loved ones around this time too. Food is often a big part of celebrations, whatever the religion or culture, so this is no exception! If you’d like to try out a new recipe, our traditional Welsh Bara Brith and Welsh Witch Spiced Rum Butter Sauce is a great choice!

Ways to enjoy the Welsh day

Even if you’re not Welsh, there are still wonderful ways you can celebrate the 1st of March. Here are some Welsh Witch ways to enjoy some magic of Wales:

Go on a daffodil walk

Of course Wales is associated with daffodils (supposedly because the daffodil flower is very similar to the leek flower – which is the symbol of St David), so finding a lovely trail to walk along in early March is a way to honour your Welsh roots or just appreciate the beauty of spring itself! Look out for the blooming daffodils that pop up everywhere this time of year and say a little blessing for the warmth of spring arriving!

 

Visit Wales!

If you aren’t Welsh but you’re able to do so, visiting Wales during a time of celebration is a great way to dive deep into the culture and heritage. The 1st of March is an excellent time to visit if you’re looking to enjoy the parades or traditional attire of Welsh culture. Taste some authentic Welsh foods and soak up the festive celebrations! Here’s a little fun fact for you: the oldest monastery in Britain can be found in Wrexham, where Welsh Witch Craft Spirits was founded, called Bangor-on-Dee.

Enjoy some local Welsh magic

Our Welsh Witch Craft Spirits are brewed and created right here in North Wales. Made from local ingredients and healing Welsh water, our premium Welsh spirits are perfect for celebrating the Welsh festive day. You can shop our award-winning spirits here from the Wild Moon Distillery, or in store from several stockists in Wales.

However you choose to celebrate the day, we hope you have a magical one! Welsh folk are often very proud of their roots, so if you know someone who is Welsh, they’re probably more than likely to indulge you about some facts about their heritage if you ask nicely!

We’re wishing you a merry and magical day, and all of us at Welsh Witch HQ hope you spend it with a full heart.

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus,
Welsh Witch HQ x

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Summer Foraging in the Welsh Countryside

This time of year is a beautiful chance to explore our abundant mother nature during these summer months. Getting outside and harvesting local foods is a great way to feel grounded and connected to nature. Not to mention, there is so much on offer during these delightful summer months that we’re going to give you some tips on foraging in the Welsh countryside (or anywhere else in the UK!). Now, let’s see what you might find on a wander through nature at this time of year.

Blackberries

What would August be without blackberries? During this time towards the middle-end of the month, hedgerows are abundant with juicy blackberries. Why not try grabbing some next time you head out on a walk? Blackberries are great for all sorts of recipes; make them into a syrup, icecream, blackberry cake, a delicious pie, pop some in a gin or enjoy them on their own as they are! Our Welsh Witch Imbolc Gin is filled with an abundance of blackberries for that delicious sweet, berry flavour; they are a fruit sacred to the Celtic goddess Brigid, the inspiration behind this gin.

Elderflower and Elderberries

Another staple of the summer and sweet, fragrant florals come from the elderflower plant. This deliciously sweet flower is a perfect addition to any summer home kitchen. When these flowers are picked, you can stew some and make an elderflower cordial: add this to your G&T, with some lemonade or with ice cold water for a refreshing summer beverage. The flowers are in full bloom from spring to mid-summer, before the flowers bloom in to deliciously dark and juicy berries. A note on elderberries: they are mildly toxic to eat raw, so they will need to be prepared first by either drying, cooking or processing otherwise. There are so many fruity recipes to try out with elderberries, such as crumbles, pies or even elderberry syrup, which can be taken as a remedy for cold and flu season with autumn just around the corner!

If you love elderflowers as much as we do, we have an elderflower gin – Welsh Witch Litha Gin which delights the senses with that fragrant and floral deliciousness of the summer.

Strawberries

We can’t forget strawberries; a perfect summer staple just about anywhere in the UK. The supermarkets are filled with the red, fleshy berries but what’s better than picking your own? While wild strawberries can be foraged, they’re not as commonly found as elderflower or bramble bushes. So you might need to do a bit more investigation if looking for wild berries, and remember to pick only plants which you can confidently identify. If in doubt, lots of places offer ‘pick your own’ experiences, where you can spend a summer’s day picking deliciously ripe strawberries to use and enjoy at home; not to mention you’ll be supporting a local farm, too!

Damson berries

During July and August, you might notice some dark blue, almost purple, berries around hedgerows in the UK. Taking on an almost blueberry and grape-like shape and colour, damson berries are a great little berry packed full of flavour. Most foragers of damson berries enjoy making them into a delectable jam or preserve, to enjoy through the winter months. They can also be made into a cordial or syrup to add some tart fruitiness to summer drinks and tipples. Why not try adding a few spoonfuls of damson syrup to a Welsh Witch G&T?

Dandelions

What most see as just a common weed is actually a very diverse plant which can be made into many different recipes. Dandelion honey is a great alternative which is super inexpensive to make and tastes similar to the real deal. The flowers themselves are thought to reduce inflammation and is also a great antioxidant, making them medicinally useful too! Dandelion honey is so easy to make, just add several handfuls of washed dandelion heads and two slices of lemon into some hot water on the stove until boiling, then cover leave to steep overnight. The next day, strain the liquid through a strainer or muslin cloth, then weigh out the liquid and an equal amount of sugar. Place the infused water and equal sugar into a pan and boil for around 20 minutes, until the sugar has dissolved and the honey gels when placed on a cold plate or back of a spoon.

 

Keep in the fridge when cooled and use in hot drinks, porridge, or drizzled over cakes; delicious!

Forage Responsibly This Summer

Remember when foraging: only take what you need and leave enough for others, don’t uproot any plants to preserve the plants for next year, and treat the environment with respect. Maybe pick up some litter if you’re there and see some on your walk too. Especially with dandelions, make sure you only pick them if there is an abundance of them in the area: they are great pollinators, bugs rely on them so it’s important to pick them responsibly so we keep our pollinating friends thriving. If you head out this August, show us your foraged haul by tagging us on Instagram @welshwitch_craftspirits (bonus points if you include any in a Welsh Witch drink!)

This time of year is a perfect time to get outdoors and cherish nature in all its glory; give thanks for your foraged goodies and celebrate with loved ones the abundance of delicious offerings the world gives. You can check out our full range of Welsh Witch craft spirits here, where we make tipples inspired by the Welsh countryside and locally inspired ingredients.

Love and light,
Welsh Witch HQ x

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Welsh Witch on Wrexham: Competition, Challenges & Community

A tale of gins: setbacks and springboards

In December 2019, many moons ago in the North Wales hills, the Welsh Witch distillery bloomed to life, ready to take on the world. Armed with beautiful botanical beverages fit for any occasion, Jade (the Welsh Witch herself) and her magic set to taking the gin-dustry by storm with her mystical branding and winning flavour combinations. Of course, in March 2020, the whole world changed when Covid took over the world and shut down life as we knew it. Welsh Witch had to adapt to running a business without being able to interact with customers face to face and engaging in events and talks to get exposure and increase our brand awareness.

Then… things got even more interesting

Now, if this wasn’t hard enough, in November 2020, we then got the news that two Hollywood A-Listers had bought our local town football club, Wrexham AFC. At first, we didn’t think twice about it, but once we found out who had bought the club, we were a little apprehensive! Of course, one of these A-Listers, Ryan Reynolds, is a major shareholder in global gin company Aviation, and the other, Rob McElhenney, owns a whisky company – of everyone it could have been! Not ideal for a small distillery based in Wrexham!

A short time later, Ryan Reynolds was sending pubs in the area free cases of Aviation gin, and then shortly after that they launched a Wrexham AFC edition of Aviation gin. This was interesting news for Jade as a one-woman band just trying to get the magic of the Welsh Witch distillery out there into the big wide world; but she took it in her stride and continued doing what she does best.

Jade busy making potions in her Wrexham distillery

But, little did Jade know this bump in the road in the shape of two Hollywood A-Listers would be the momentum needed to get Welsh Witch off the ground and put Wrexham on the map and radar of flavour and football enthusiasts alike. We’re very grateful things worked out the way they did, plus: a healthy dose of competition did us good! Our spirits have been going from strength to strength winning awards and enchanting the masses; distilled and brewed in the distillery featuring Welsh and Celtic inspired botanicals and ingredients. You can read more about our Spiced Rum Gold Award right here on the Welsh Witch blog.

 

Wrexham AFC going from strength to strength

Did you know: Wrexham AFC is the third oldest professional club in Wales! After being taken over by the new dynamic duo in town, the first year they weren’t promoted to the EFL but this has recently changed, hooray! This newfound success prompted a parade around Wrexham, which was a spectacle of community and enthusiasm, something in these trying times that is more important than ever. Keeping up with their male counter-parts, Wrexham AFC Women team have also been accruing achievements left, right and centre, including their recent promotion to semi-professional status following a string of tough wins. Reynolds’ wife and Gossip Girl icon Blake Lively’s premium mixer business is also their latest sponsor (we bet the Hollywood couple always have a G&T ready to go at home!)

 

Jade has admitted to not being a huge football fan but has always consistently backed Wrexham when the time calls for it. Something she has always admired is the fans for travelling up and down the country; the love and dedication of supporters behind the club is nothing short of heart-warming.

Documentaries and determination

If you’d like some more backstory on the club itself, the documentary Welcome to Wrexham (available on Disney+ and Amazon Prime) is a good insight into the club and its growth and success from the beginning. Hollywood aside, we can attest that the team have played with their heart and soul for the town and continue to do Wrexham proud. Their resilience and determination makes them so entertaining to watch; they are all workhorses and play with all the fire in their bellies just like the Welsh dragon. For that reason Wrexham have gained worldwide fans and recognition, with new fans travelling all the way from the United States to watch them play. And not dissimilarly, Wrexham AFC have scheduled games across the pond where their newfound success we’re sure will be admired and encouraged all the same.

 

Wrexham community spirit and bringing people together

Of course, we’re not here to throw shade on Reynolds and McElhenney. We’re actually here do to the opposite: to thank them! The effect these two have had on the entirety of Wrexham is heart-warming, inspiring and uniting for the passionate community of Wrexham. And, we can’t lie, Aviation gin is good (but don’t tell anyone we said that!) and we are flavour enthusiasts after all, so we can give credit where it’s due. We feel very lucky to be a part of this exciting time and we’re grateful for all the opportunities it’s given the Wild Moon Distillery.

welsh_gin

Our botanical beverages inspired by Celtic folklore are true to Welsh history and traditions

And of course, talking of community spirit; the stadium Wrexham Racecourse Ground is hosting Kings of Leon for an exciting performance just next week! We’re most excited to be welcoming them to our home turf and hope they can soak up the community spirit here (Jade herself will be in the crowd cheering away!). Here’s to hoping it’s a magnificent evening, and maybe they can kick back and enjoy a Welsh Witch gin after the show?!

 

Welsh Witch, to North Wales and beyond

What we do know, is that we’re prouder than ever to be at the heart of the Wrexham community making our potions and elixirs. It’s a wonderful feeling being a part of this place that is full of so many passionate individuals, whether that be for sports, food and drink, or just general Welsh pride. We’re thankful for all of our customers and supporters, wherever you may be – Wrexham or beyond! Jade feels extremely lucky, and it’s a very exciting time in the business journey and we welcome you along for the ride while we continue to expand, make magic and share the wisdom of the Welsh Witch to all the corners of the world.

If any of our tipples have tickled your fancy, you can shop the entire Welsh Witch collection, here.

Everybody is welcome here in Wrexham to enjoy the football, botanical beverages or the good old Welsh fire and enthusiasm!

 

Love and light,

 

Welsh Witch HQ x