December 26, Boxing Day, is called St Stephen's day.

St Stephen was stoned to death in Jerusalem by a mob, including Saul of Tarsus, who did not take kindly to St Stephen's criticism of some Jewish practices.

We must be on our guard against giving interpretations that are hazardous or opposed to science, and so exposing the Word of God to the ridicule of unbelievers.
-St Augustine

Every Easter service our local vicar never fails to mention that the word 'icon' comes from the name Veronica. Veronica was the woman who helped Jesus when He was dragging the heavy wooden cross on the way to Mount Calvary where He was to be crucified.

Anyway Veronica was so moved by the pain and suffering of Lord Jesus Christ that she run from the watching crowd and with a white cloth she cover the face of our Lord to try to dry off the blood and sweat from Christ's face. The cloth was imprinted with God's face and this was called an icon which was lifted from St Veronica's name.

Did you know?




Apparently during the 15th century people used to bathe once a year.

Most people married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and they still smelled pretty good by June, however, since they were starting to smell, brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide their body odour. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

True or false?

hehehehe

St Swithin

July 15 is St Swithin's Day.

There is a folklore and even a rhyme attached to this day.

'St. Swithin's day if thou dost rain
For forty days it will remain
St. Swithin's day if thou be fair
For forty days 'twill rain nae mair.'

Apparently on his death bed, St Swithin who was then the bishop of Winchester, left instructions that his remains should be buried where he can be trodden and rained on.

His wishes were followed initially but after nine years the monks of Winchester decided that he be entombed in a glorious shrine within the Cathedral. so on 15 July 971, his remains were transferred but ocassion was met with heavy burst of rain. And it had rain on every anniversary afterwards.

It has now came to be know that if it rains of St Swithin's day, then the following 40 days will be a wash-up.


St Swithin is famous for charitable gifts and building churches.
His emblems are raindrops (of course) and apples