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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…)

In memory of Xabier Sáenz de Gorbea, transmitter of Basque art

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Posted on 2018-07-13 in
Xabier Sáenz de Gorbea

Courtesy of Sonia Rueda.

Xabier Sáenz de Gorbea (Las Arenas 1951 – Bilbao 2015), Gure Artea Prize laureate in 2012, soon became a major presence on the Basque art scene, due perhaps to his work capacity, which allowed him to develop his influence and expand his knowledge on multiple levels. (more…)

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