St. Blaise's Day definition of St. Blaise's Day in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

St. Blaise's Day

February 3

The association of St. Blaise (or Blase, or Blasius ) with the blessing of throats can be traced to a number of sources. According to one story, as he was being led to his own execution in 316, he miraculously cured a child who was suffering from a throat infection. Another story has it that he saved the life of a boy who was choking on a fishbone. In any case, St. Blaise, since the sixth century in the East, has been the patron saint of people who suffer from throat afflictions, and celebrations on this day in the Roman Catholic Church often include the blessing of throats by the priest. In Paraguay, the religious services are followed by a holiday festival ( see San Blas, Fiesta of).
Among the many tortures said to have been suffered by this saint was having his body torn by iron combs similar to those used at one time by wool-combers in England. St. Blaise thus became the patron saint of wool-combers as well, and his feast day has traditionally been celebrated in English towns where the woolen industry is important.
In Spain they bake small loaves, called tortas de San Blas ("San Blas's loaves") or panecillos del santo ("little breads of the saint"). They are blessed during mass, and each child eats a bit to prevent him or her from choking during the year.

SOURCES:
BkDays-1864, vol. I, p. 219
DaysCustFaith-1957, p. 46
DictDays-1988, p. 100
FestSaintDays-1915, p. 31
FolkAmerHol-1999, p. 70
FolkWrldHol-1999, p. 121
OxYear-1999, pp. 65, 74

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