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Sacred foundations, excuse for fun?
Candlemass, St. Blaise and St. Agatha

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Posted on 2024-02-02 in

Singing in the round on St. Agatha’s Eve in Galdakao (04/02/2011). (Photo: E. X. Dueñas)

Even though Carnival has been called the highlight of winter at other times in this country, the celebration of St. Agatha’s Feast Day – with the preamble of Candlemass and St. Blaise’s Day – were what could be called a “festive trilogy” combining the sacred and entertainment, in terms of Catholicism and leaving the Christmas cycle to one side.

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Saint Barbara’s relation to dynamite

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Posted on 2019-11-29 in
Galdakao (Bizkaia), años 1960. Fundación MAXAM.

Galdakao (Bizkaia), 1960s. MAXAM Foundation.

The festivity of St Barbara of Nicomedia is celebrated on 4 December. Because of her legendary association with lightning, Barbara is perhaps best known as the patron saint of armourers and dynamiters, miners and quarry workers, electricians, and artillerists. The Catholic Church named her protector against storms, hail and lightning.

It was once a widespread practice to light a candle blessed at Candlemas, on 2 February, while offering an invocation prayer for protection over the house. In Gernika, for instance, this or slight variants of it was said: Santa Bárbara bendita / que en el cielo estás escrita / con papel y agua bendita / en la hora de la cruz / santa muerte amén Jesús. (Blessed Saint Barbara / written in heaven / with paper and holy water / at the hour of the cross / holy death amen Jesus). (more…)

Candlemas

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Posted on 2017-02-03 in
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Churching. Bilbao, 1967. Rafael Agirre. Labayru Fundazioa Photographic Archive.

Candlemas is the Christian festival held on 2 February to commemorate the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple and the Purification of the Virgin. The Christmas cycle begins on St Nicholas’ Day (6 December) and concludes with the visit of the Magi (6 January). Candlemas marks the start of the carnival season. Celebrations culminate on Shrove Tuesday and Lent follows. (more…)

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