STINKFEST: It’s today in East Bradford, of course – the annual
Stinkfest, a tribute to the wild leek which grows so abundantly in
our woods.[neWLine]

The Stinkfest runs from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on East Main Street in
the vicinity of South Kendall Avenue, and will feature a variety of
leek-based cuisines and entertainment ranging from outhouse races
to the crowning of the “”Lil’ Stinker.””[neWLine]

One of the organizers of the Stinkfest forwarded to us an email
from John and Jill Gapski who are from Wales, a country which has
its own special connection to the leek. They had inquired about
information on the Stinkfest.[neWLine]

The Gapski write: “”We are from Wales, one of the countries that
make up the United Kingdom. We were very interested to learn of
your annual Leek Festival as the leek is an ancient symbol of
Wales. It dates back many hundreds of years to the Hundred Years
War between England and France.””[neWLine]

“”The Welsh were generally acknowledged as the best archers in
the world, and the longbow the most powerful weapon of the time,
far superior to the French crossbow.[neWLine]

“”The English employed the Welsh bowmen as mercenaries. At that
time, not all soldiers were issued with uniforms and the Welsh
bowmen were concerned about how they would be able to recognise
each other in the heat of battle. As it happened, they were
encamped next to a field of leeks, and they came up with the idea
of attaching a leek to their hats or to their tunics to identify
themselves to their allies.[neWLine]

“”To this day, soldiers of the Welsh Regiment wear a metal leek
as their cap badge, and the Welsh Guards have a green and white
plume, signifying the leek, attached to their bearskin
hats.[neWLine]

“”If the Welsh Guards are on duty at Buckingham Palace on St
David’s Day, the 1st of March, the Queen presents them each with a
leek which they then eat raw.[neWLine]

“”Also on St. David’s Day, it is common for Welshmen all over
the world to wear a leek in their lapel.[neWLine]

“”The currency used in the UK is the British Pound. .ó1 is a
small golden coin with the Queen’s head on the face and on the rear
the symbol of one of the countries that make up the UK. On the
Welsh .ó1, this is of course, the leek.””