St. David Coloring Page
This St. David coloring page shows the bishop of Wales in his miter, holding the Gospels and preaching from a little hill with a white dove on his shoulder, with daffodils and leeks at his feet. The PDF is free to print. David is the patron saint of Wales.
The story of St. David
About 1,500 years ago, in a green corner of Wales by the sea, a baby named David was born. His mother was a holy woman named Non. In Welsh, people call him Dewi Sant.
David grew up to be a monk. He started a monastery in a quiet valley near the sea, at a place now called St Davids. Life there was very simple. The monks did not use oxen to pull their plows. They pulled the plows themselves! They ate bread and vegetables, they drank only water, and they prayed a great deal. People gave David a nickname: David the Waterman.
One day there was a big meeting of church leaders at a place called Brefi. So many people came that the ones in the back could not see or hear the speakers. An old story says that when David began to preach, the ground under his feet rose up into a little hill, so that everyone could see him. And a snow-white dove came down from heaven and sat on his shoulder the whole time he preached. Those are legends, but they show how much the people of Wales loved and trusted him.
David became a bishop. Before he died, he gave his people a message that the Welsh still remember today: "Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed, and do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about."
St. David died on March 1, probably around the year 589. He is the patron saint of Wales. His feast, St. David's Day, is March 1.
What to color
- His miter and vestments: white or gold, with red, green or gold robes.
- The dove: white, for the dove of Brefi.
- The Gospel book: red or brown with gold edges.
- The little hill: bright green grass.
- The daffodils: yellow with green stems.
- The leeks: white and green, the colors of the Welsh flag.
- The sheep: fluffy white on green hills.
A prayer to pray together
No prayer written by David has come down to us, so we simply ask him:
St. David, pray for us.
Children can add: help us do the little things with love.
Ideas for families and classrooms
- Color this page on St. David's Day, March 1.
- Wear a daffodil or a paper leek on March 1, as people in Wales do.
- Do the little things: make a "little things" list (make your bed, share, say thank you) and check them off.
- Look at the Welsh flag with its red dragon, and find Wales and St Davids on a map.
- Talk about it: David said to do the little things. What small, kind thing can you do today?
Read the full story: St. David of Wales in the encyclopedia.
Frequently asked questions
What colors should I use for St. David?
Give David a white or gold miter and vestments in red, green or gold. The dove is white. Daffodils are bright yellow with green stems, and leeks are white at the bottom and green at the top, the national colors of Wales.
Why does St. David have a dove on his shoulder?
His old life says that while David was preaching to a big gathering at Brefi, a snow-white dove came down and sat on his shoulder the whole time. It is a traditional story, and the dove is his best-known sign.
Why do Welsh people wear leeks and daffodils on St. David's Day?
The leek has been linked with St. David's Day for hundreds of years. The daffodil became popular later, in the 1800s. Both are worn on March 1 to honor Wales and its patron saint.
Is this coloring page free for schools?
Yes. Print as many copies as you need for your home, classroom or parish.
Sources
- Rhygyfarch, Life of St. David, trans. A. W. Wade-Evans (1923, Internet Archive)
- Amgueddfa Cymru (Museum Wales): St David's Day in Wales
- D. Simon Evans, ed., The Welsh Life of St David (University of Wales Press, 1988)