Saint Nicholas

Feast of Saint Nicholas, December 6. Patron saint of children.
Saint Nicholas' Day, December 6. The Christmas Day in the Netherlands where it known as Sinter Klaas, which became "Santa Claus". See also Christmas, and Netherlands.

Saint Odilo

Feast of Saint Odilo, January 1. He created All Soul's Day.

Saint Oswald

Feast of Saint Oswald, August 5. In Grasmere, England, is celebrated Rush-Bearing Day on the nearest Saturday, when children bring garlands and rushes to the churchyard of Wordsworth's grave.

Saint Patrick

Feast of Saint Patrick, March 17. Patron saint of Ireland. He was born in Britain and was captured by Celts and taken to Ireland as a slave. When fifteen, he escaped and made his way back to Britain. Later he became trained as a monk, and returned to Ireland. Mainly thanks to Patrick's influence, Ireland had an age of literacy while the rest of Europe plummeted into the Dark Ages.
Saint Patrick's Day, March 17. Honors the patron saint of Ireland by commemorating his death. It is the national holiday of the Republic of Ireland (Eire). The custom is that one must wear green on this day or get pinched. New York has celebrated it with a parade since 1762. It is observed in Rome with religious services.
Pilgrimage to Purgatory, June 1. According to a legend, Patrick opened to earth to give the Irish pagans a view of the demons in hell. On this day pilgrims travel to the Cave of St Patrick located on a small island in Lough Derg.

Saint Paul

Feast of Saint Paul, June 29. Apostle. His feast day is celebrated jointly with Saint Peter's.
Feast of Saint Paul's Shipwreck, February 10.
Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, January 25. This is one of several days on which the superstitious believe the weather can be predicted.

If St. Paul's day be fair and clear, It does betide a happy year; But if it chance to snow or rain, Then will be dear all kind of grain' If clouds or miste do dark the sky, Great store of birds and beasts shall die; And if the winds do flie aloft, Then war shall vexe the kingdom oft.

Saint Peter

Feast of Saint Peter, June 29. Apostle. Observed by Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches. One of the oldest saints' days.
Saint Peter's Day, June 29. Celebrated in Bonaire.
Peter's Chair at Rome, January 18.
Feast of Peter's Chair at Antioch, February 22.
Feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of the Apostles Peter and Paul, November 18.
Lammas Day, August 1. A festival in memory of St. Peter's imprisonment and his miraculous deliverance [in 1753?]. Also known as Feast of St. Peter's Chains.

Saint Polycarp

Feast of Saint Polycarp, January 26. Bishop of Smyrna. He was one of the 'Apostolic Fathers' who were so named because they were disciples of the Apostles, as Polycarp was of Saint John the Evangelist. He was burned at the stake in 166 AD after refusing to denounce Christ. His martyrdom is described in Butler's Lives of the Saints

The flames, forming themselves like the sails of a ship swelled with the wind, gently encircled the body of the martyr, which stood in the middle, resembling not burning flesh but bread that is being baked or precious metal refined: And there was a fragrance like the smell of incense. The order was given that Polycarp should be pierced with a spear, which was done: and a dove came forth, and such quantity of blood as to quench the fire. Nicetas advised the proconsul not to give up the body to the Christians lest, said he, abandoning the crucified man, they should worship Polycarp.

Saint Prisca

Feast of Saint Prisca, January 18. Prisca was thirteen years old on this day when she was decapited after four days of torture for refusing to denouce Christ.

Saint Romuald

Feast of Saint Romuald, February 7. Romuald was so shocked after witnessing the duel in which his father killed another, that he retreated to a Benedictine monastary. Later he became a desert hermit.

Saint Rose of Lima

Feast of Saint Rose of Lima, August 30. Patron saint of South America and the Philippines. The first South American saint. A holiday in her homeland Peru.