#SaintOfTheDay

Happy St Agnes Eve!

Upon St Agnes’ Eve,
Young virgins might have visions of delight,
And soft adorings from their loves receive ...

Traditionally it is the night where unwed women perform rituals before bed to dream of their future husbands.

So who was St Agnes? She was a Roman woman who lived in the early 4th century. A Prefect wanted to find his son a wife and picked Agnes as the proposed bride. Agnes however, determined to remain pure and devote herself to religious piety, refused and declared "Jesus Christ is my only spouse".

As a punishment, the Prefect sent her to a public brothel, but the "Hand of God" intervened; all the men who attempted to rape her were immediately struck blind or rendered paralysed. They attempted to burn her at the stake but the kindling would not ignite. Eventually a centurion beheaded and martyred Agnes.

To find out who your husband will be, follow these instructions to the letter: "...three girls are required to make a dumb cake. Two must make it, two bake it, two break it, and the third put a piece under each of their pillows. Strict silence must be preserved."

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#GothicAdvent Day 10:

"From this night to when Christ is born,
The Magi walked from dusk to dawn,
This food we give to keep them fed,
Our souls they keep when we are dead."

Some people say that it was on this day that the Three #Magi first met on the road to #Bethlehem. Because of their blessed hearts, forever more, these mysterious wise men from the east keep watch over the dead of children who pass away at this time of the year.

To help The #ThreeWiseMen on their journey, the people of the Island would make "Magi Tablets". The treats would be left outside the doors of houses, with some honey to dip them in.

There would be two bowls, one marked with a cross, these must be left for the Magi themselves. Woe-be-tide anyone touching their tablets, for it was said, the Magi themselves were entitled to curse those that stole from them.

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