|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This day is intended to honor all Christian saints, known and unknown. A reference occurs in Saint Ephrem Syrus (d. 373). In Saint Chrysostom (d. 407), it is assigned a definite date (the first Sunday after Pentecost), which is still observed in the East. The same day was associated with saints in Rome during the sixth century. In the West, however, the feast was not established firmly until the Pantheon in Rome was dedicated to Christian usage on 13 May 609 (or 610) by Pope Boniface IV, who designated 13 May as a day to commemorate "all saints." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The observance on 1 November dates from Pope Gregory III (d. 741), who dedicated a chapel in the basilica of Saint Peter's to "all the saints." Pope Gregory IV (d. 844) ordered its universal observance, and Pope Sixtus IV (d. 1484) added the octave. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Gaelic Samhain, a summer-end festival, also came at this time. In practice, All Saint's Day and All Soul's Day (the next day) are generally melded into a single two-or three-day festival to honor the dead. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11.) Saint Martin's Day. The date for Saint Martin's Day is celebrated on 11 November of the year. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Martin of Tours is said to have been a Hungarian army officer, who cut his cloak in half in order to share it with a seminaked beggar, in Amiens, France, in A.D. 337. Martin later became the Bishop of Tours. Roman Catholics celebrate this day, and Protestants celebrate Martin Luther's birthday (10 November 1483) and baptism (11 November 1483). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This day is known as Martinmas in England and was one of the Quarter Days when feudal dues were collected and hiring fairs were conducted. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A peculiarly interesting legend has it that St. Martin was obliged to go to Rome and set off on foot. He was met by the Devil, who taunted him for walking instead of riding in a fine carriage. St. Martin changed the Devil into a mule, leaped on its back and rode on his way. Whenever his mount slackened its pace, St. Martin goaded it by making the sign of the Cross. At last, thoroughly defeated, the Devil cried: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signa te signa, temere me tangis et angis: Roma tibi subito motibus ibit amor. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This statement would certainly seem to be diabolical in nature because it is two palindromes, which can be loosely translated to mean: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Cross, cross thyself. Thou plaguest and vexest me without necessity, for owing to exertions, thou wilt soon reach Rome, thy desired goal." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12.) Saint Nicholas's Day. The date for Saint Nicholas's Day is celebrated on 6 December of the year. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saint Nicholas was Bishop of Myra in southwest Asia Minor in the fourth century. He is said to have persuaded the governor from executing three innocent men and to have forced him to confess to accepting a bribe to have them killed. Nicholas was probably imprisoned during the reign of Diocletian. The emperor Justinian ordered a church built in Constantinople to honor Nicholas. The shrine at Myra was a center for pilgrimage for many years until Italian sailors stole his remains in A.D. 1087 and |
|
|
|
|
|