It's a day to celebrate all things Welsh and Gwent will be joining in the St David's celebrations in a number of ways. KATH SKELLON finds out more.

FROM dressing up to enjoying the finest Welsh foods to singing a song or two, Gwent will be doing its bit this weekend to make sure Wales marks St David's Day in true style.

The day celebrates the patron saint of Wales, Saint David, or Dewi Sant in Welsh, who travelled through South Wales and the west of England in the sixth century, founding religious centres along the way.

He is credited with many miracles, from curing a blind man to bringing a young boy back from the dead. Tradition has it that he died on the first day of March in 589AD, leading to the selection of this date as Wales’s national day.

Among those marking the patriotic day is Usk Church in Wales Primary School, where reception pupils at the village primary school donned Welsh costumes and made dragon-inspired puppets.Reception pupils Henry Taylor, Dilwyn Howells and Louise Jones wore a Welsh rugby top, Welsh tartan and Welsh costume respectively (front cover).

The school is also preparing to hold the school’s annual Eisteddfod on Monday.

And the Welsh costumes were also out in force at Ysgol Gymraeg Casnewydd where pupils also marked the patriotic day.

The Welsh traditions continue tonight in Brynmawr’s Market Hall where the Beaufort Male Choir will perform a St David’s Day Concert with Isata Kanneh-Mason at 7pm.

And in Caerphilly Welsh-themed stilt walkers, free face painting and traditional dance performances by local bands, choirs and community groups will also take place today.

The celebrations of Welsh history and heritage start from midday today in Tredegar Park, Risca, Twyn Community Centre in Caerphilly and Dragon Circle at Blackwood Asda and run until 2pm.

In Blackwood, shoppers will be treated to performances by the Markham and District Brass Band, Melody Makers, Markham and District Brass Band and the Welsh National Anthem. There will be a stilt-walking rugby player and free face painting stencilling.

In Risca’s Tredegar Park Crosskeys Silver Band, Rhymney Silurian Male Choir, and a stilt-walking daffodil will entertain the crowds, while in Caerphilly there will be performances by Caerphilly Community Choruses and Caerphilly Youth Choir as well as BTM Next Generation.

There will also be the chance to join in with the National Anthem at the end of the concerts.

On the day itself Cwmcarn Forst Drive has organised a St David’s Day 'Doggy Dawdle' for owners and their dogs. Starting at 10am the walk will follow a route around the Nantcarn Valley and finish with a doggy treat, a cuppa and a Welsh cake for the owner. National Welsh costume is optional for all. Entry is £4 for adults and £2.50 per child. Booking is essential by calling 01495 272001.

The National Roman Museum at Caerleon will be getting creative and offering visitors the chance to make Welsh cakes and a Welsh dragon out of junk between 2pm and 4pm, also on March 1.

In Blaenavon, the Big Pit National Coal Museum has organised St David’s Day Fun in the form of folk dancing, singing, crafts and competitions between midday and 4pm on March 1. There will be competitions for the best children’s Welsh poster (the deadline for entries is 12.30pm on the day) and one for adults in which they must write a limerick starting with the words ‘one A hithau yn ddydd G?yl Ddewi, Yr anthem na fydd tewi..' as well as a competition to create a cake on the theme of Wales. Entry is free.

Those visiting Cardiff Bay will be treated to a performance by the Pontnewydd Male Choir on the Quayside at Mermaid Quay between 1pm and 2.30pm on March 1.

Historical sites including Raglan Castle, Chepstow Castle, Tintern Abbey and Chepstow Castle will be open to visitors for free on St David’s Day between 9.30am and 5pm.

Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, is making its iconic Welsh heritage sites free to encourage people to connect with the country’s heritage.

Ken Skates, deputy minister for culture, tourism and sport, said: “St David’s Day is a day of national celebration and pride. By opening these sites for free, we’re able to give every person across Wales the chance to explore their local monuments and learn more about their heritage in honour of our patron saint.”

In Abergavenny, St David's Day will also be celebrated at an open day of Abergavenny Community Centre on Park Street between 11am and 4pm on March 1. A parent and toddler free hands-on cookery workshop will be held between 11am and 3pm and include making Welsh cakes, bread rolls and soups amongst others.

Meanwhile almost 600 soldiers from the 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh, celebrated St David’s Day in their barracks on Thursday.

All Royal Welsh personnel were presented with a leek to be worn by all ranks during a full day of celebrations that began with a formal military parade followed by a Regimental rugby tournament.

For The Royal Welsh Regiment it marked the most important day in the calendar when each officer and soldier retold the story of St David, united under a shared common bond of national pride and brotherhood.

The tradition of celebrating St David’s Day has continued for hundreds of years within the Regiment even during periods of overseas deployment. Even while recently deployed on Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan the odd leek would appear on the battlefield to honour the tradition.

Commanding officer of 1 R WELSH, Lieutenant Colonel Shon Hackney said: “Today is a very significant day for all members of The Royal Welsh as we celebrate our Welsh identity based on 326 years of antecedent heritage.”

“The new Regiment was formed on St David’s Day in 2006 and as such we always mark the occasion in a time honoured fashion. The day includes the issuing of the leeks to all ranks, a hard-fought Rugby tournament and a formal dinner night. This is the biggest Regimental day when we retell the story of St David and celebrate our Welsh roots.”

“Whilst we celebrate this occasion today on English soil in Wiltshire, the ground we stand on is firmly Royal Welsh territory.”