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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 Blaise and the cord

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Posted on 2023-02-03 in
Iturria: Labayru Fundazioaren Argazki Artxiboa.

Source: Labayru Fundazioa Photographic Archive.

St. Blaise’s day is on 3 February and is one of the dates noted for beliefs and rituals whose roots probably lie in the earliest times, as they seem to coincide with nature waking up after winter.

The church, yet again, replaced it with the worshipping of the Armenian Blaise of Sebastea, St. Blaise, physician, bishop of Sebastea and Christian martyr. The devotion to this saint spread throughout Europe during the Middle Ages and he has been considered as the protector against sore throats ever since. And all the customs still practiced today can be traced back to that aspect.
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St Blaise’s Fair in Abadiño (Bizkaia)

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Posted on 2019-02-01 in
Mari Karmen Berrizbeitia. Sanblasak begietan: argazkilariak Abadiñoko ferian [Eyes on the Feast of St Blaise: photographers at the Abadiño fair]

Mari Karmen Berrizbeitia. Sanblasak begietan: argazkilariak Abadiñoko ferian [Eyes on the feast of St Blaise: photographers at the Abadiño fair].

The feast of St Blaise, on 3 February, is celebrated in many localities one way or another, but in Abadiño (Bizkaia) the occasion is a very special one. There is evidence of an agricultural and livestock fair held in this town since the 17th century. The said fair is well known throughout the Basque Country and used to be attended by people from all over the peninsula. (more…)

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