Saint Blaise's Day

Saint Blaise was a physician and bishop of Sebastea, Armenia. This place is now called Sivas and it is located in Turkey. He became Christian martyr by being beaten, tortured with iron carding combs and then beheaded. Saint Blaise is popular in Armenia, Croatia (especially in the city of Dubrovnik), Germany, Great Britain and Italy.

Saint Blaise

Saint Blaise (in Italian San Biago) is known as the saint of throat and all illnesses related to it. It is believed that he once performed a miraculous healing by putting hist hands on the throat of a baby that had a fish bone stuck in his throat. Saint Blaise's Day is celebrated in different parts of Italy on the 3rd of February. On that day Italians eat Panetone leftovers and drink a glass of red wine. This is done to “bless the throat.” Saint Blaise celebrations include special mass, parades with music and bonfires. A town of Mugnano di Napoli is known for a huge fireworks set on the festive day.