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When in Wales, one must seek out the Dragon—the mighty symbol of the land. 

 

Y Draig Goch, the Red Dragon, embodies universal strength and majesty and is a creature steeped in the myths of cultures across the world.

 

In Welsh legend, the tale of Y Draig Goch is entwined with the story of a Celtic king named Vortigern. 

In his quest to build a mighty castle, Vortigern chose the hillside of Dinas Emrys as the perfect site. Yet, no matter how his men laboured, the castle's foundations mysteriously crumbled to the ground each night.

 

Desperate for answers, Vortigern sought the wisdom of a young boy, believed to be Merlin, the legendary magician from the tales of King Arthur. Merlin revealed that beneath the chosen site lay an underground lake where two dragons—one red, one white—had been locked in a deep slumber after a titanic battle.

 

At Merlin’s advice, Vortigern’s men dug into the earth and uncovered the hidden lake. As the waters receded, the two dragons awoke, enraged and ready to fight once more. They clashed in a fierce and fearsome battle,  as the fight wore on, the red dragon summoned its final reserves of strength and triumphed over its rival.

 

The red dragon's victory was seen as a powerful omen, and it was this dragon that would come to represent Wales. To this day, Y Draig Goch adorns the Welsh flag, a symbol of resilience and victory. 

By night, the dragon gleams triumphantly among the stars, and each October, it reigns down fiery stars from its mouth in the form of the Draconids—a celestial meteor shower that celebrates its enduring power and majesty.