Today, we join friends and family in Wales to celebrate St David’s Day.  It is an annual Welsh celebration held on the first day of March. This day honours Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, whose life and legacy are remembered with pride and cultural festivities right across the nation. Across the country, people wear daffodils and leeks. They wave the striking Welsh flag, proudly displaying its iconic red dragon. This heraldic dragon symbol, known in Welsh as Y Ddraig Goch, has deep roots in legend, folklore, and national identity.  However, what is the connection between dragons and the Dinosauria? Quite a lot, in fact!

Dragons and the Dinosauria

To vertebrate palaeontologists, the word dragon often conjures images of legendary beasts. Yet, it also has a clear connection to prehistoric life. Many dinosaur names contain the suffix – saurus, a Greek word meaning “lizard”. In China, new dinosaur species often include “long” in their names — a word that translates to dragon. For example, we recently wrote a blog article highlighting the discovery of a remarkable iguanodontid dinosaur from China named Haolong dongi. The genus name translates as “spiny dragon”.

To read our post: “Spiny Dragon” Reveals Secrets of Dinosaur Skin.

Researchers examining the Haolong dongi fossil material. Picture credit: Thierry Hubin (Institute of Natural Sciences).

Picture credit: Thierry Hubin (Institute of Natural Sciences)

Many dinosaur discoveries spark imaginations just like mythical dragons do. Their enormous sizes, sharp teeth and reptilian skins have fuelled human stories for centuries.  For instance, there are several Chinese dinosaurs represented by CollectA Delxue models. The beautiful CollectA Deluxe Beishanlong model is a favourite.   This theropod’s name translates as “Northern White Mountains Dragon”.

The CollectA 1:40 scale Beishanlong dinosaur model shown in lateral view. Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur.

Picture credit: Everything Dinosaur

To view the CollectA range of scale models in stock: CollectA Deluxe Dinosaur Models.

Dragons and Dinosaurs

Both dragons of myth and real prehistoric reptiles remind us how powerful ancient reptiles captured human imagination. They also help us celebrate cultural heritage alongside scientific discovery.

So, on this St David’s Day, let’s give a nod to Wales and its enduring dragon symbol. We acknowledge the cultural significance of this day and that dinosaurs and dragons are entwined.

Mike from Everything Dinosaur commented:

“Happy St David’s Day to all our Welsh readers and dinosaur fans everywhere!”

The Everything Dinosaur website: Dinosaur Toys.