Katalin’s Day 25 November The Hungarian name Katalin comes from the original Greek name „Ekaterini”, which has no clear meaning, although some say it comes from the Greek name „Khatrosz”, which means „archer” or „marksman” (perfect aimer). In Hungarian, it is very probable that the name Katalin has a close relationship to the name Katherina, which comes from the Latin „Catherina”. The name Katalin is one of the most popular names in our country. It is an original Egyptian-Greek-German-Hungarian name, which means: crown, always pure. On 25 November 1642, Pope Orban VII decreed a holiday on this day in honor of the virgin and martyr Saint Catherine. According to tradition, St. Catherine was imprisoned, tortured, and beheaded by Caesar Maximinus because she had followed the Christian religion. One legend says that angels took her body to Arabia’s mountains. She was an honored and famous saint of the middle ages, appearing in many of the fine arts. Several churches in our country chose her as their “guardian saint”. Folklore: After Katalin’s Day, neither wedding feasts nor dances were usually held as this day is immediately before the beginning of Advent. Weather prediction is connected to this day. It was commonly believed that if there was frost on Katalin’s Day, then there would be mud at Christmas. On Katalin’s Day girls put a branch into water to bud by Christmas to prophesy their future love. Sayings: “Even Little Kate knows that.” It means everybody knows that, it is a simple thing. “Stands like a child in Kate.” It means something stands firmly. “It is easy to take Kate to dance.” It means it is easy to persuade her. “Lazy Kate is slothful mother’s daughter.” It means if the daughter is lazy her mother is also lazy. “What’s the matter with Kate?” It means: What’s the problem? György’s Day 24 April The Greek name Georginus was transformed into Hungarian, György. Its meaning is tiller, farmer. Dragon Killing Saint George was the patron of the knights and gunsmiths. George came from Persia, and he was captured by the Roman emperor, Diocletian. He didn’t endorse the emperor’s Christian persecutor policy, therefore he was put into prison and in 304 he was killed. He died as a martyr which is honored in the oriental and the western churches since the Middle Ages. In the fully-developed Western version, a dragon makes its nest at the spring that provides water for the city of "Silene" (perhaps modern Cyrene) in Libya or the city of Lyddia, depending on the source. Consequently, the citizens have to dislodge the dragon from its nest for a time, in order to collect water. To do so, each day they offer the dragon first a sheep, and if no sheep can be found, then a maiden must go instead of the sheep. The victim is chosen by drawing lots. One day, this happens to be the princess. The monarch begs for her life to be spared, but to no avail. She is offered to the dragon, but there appears Saint George on his travels. He faces the dragon, protects himself with the sign of the cross, slays it and rescues the princess. The grateful citizens abandon their ancestral paganism and convert to Christianity. Folklore: Common habits in popular belief: On Saint George’s Day the shepherds drove the animals to the pasture for the first time every year. This was girded with some tricks to avert malign effects and influences. For example, the animals were driven out with birch branch; shepherds put garlic around the animals’ necks; the house and the stable were fumigated. To Saint George’s month the old calendars recommend several medical advices, such as diet, sauna, fresh air and cupping. Saying: “There is Saint George’s Day at their home.” It means they are moving. “After George’s Day you can’t hit grass back even with hammer.” It means plants are growing faster after 24 April. Pongrác’s, Szervác’s, Bonifác’s and Orbán’s Days 12, 13, 14, 25 May Szervác has Latin origin, it means freed, liberated. Pongrác also has Latin origin; it means all strength, power. Bonifác originates from Latin it means person of good fate; benefactor. Orbán derives from Latin Urbanus, meaning citizen. Its other meaning is intelligent. The Ice Saints is the name given to St. Mamertus, St. Pancras, and St. Servatus in Hungarian folklore. They are named so because their feast days fall on the days of 12, 13 and 14 May and this period was noted to bring a brief spell of colder weather in the Northern Hemisphere under the Julian calendar. Folklore: Pongrác, Szervác and Bonifác they are the Ice Saints of the gardens, as they can bring back dawn frosts on the up warming spring days which is not appropriate for any single vernal plant. Pongrác is coming in a fur coat, Szervác is still freezing and Bonifác is burring. There is no connection between the legend of the saints and the weather observations but folklore made up a story. In Topolya it is known that: Pongrác got frozen in his fur coat in hot weather, Szervác drowned into the dry River Tisza, Bonifác was bit to death by mosquitoes – that’s why they are angry at us and that’s why they come back from year to year in order to annoy us. In Berettyóújfalu people believe when Szervác, Pongrác, Bonifác are angry, they bring frost. In Nagydobrony people think if the cold is big at the time of Ice Saints, then bad crop is expected. In Zagyvarékas it is thought, when there is no cloud in the sky, there will be a lot of wine. Orbán is considered to be the fourth Ice Saint. The cold on Orbán’s Day harms the grapes the mostly. Because of this in many places sculptures were raised. The wine-producer villages expected the protection of the vineyards and the assurance of the abundant vintage from him. Saying: “The three “áces” bring lots of wine if you can’t see any clouds these days.” It means vintage will be excellent. “He put on Orbán’s mitre.” It means he is drunk. Péter and Pál’s Day 29 June The origin of the name Peter is Hebrew - it means rock. The name Paul origins from Latin, it means short man. Saint Peter and Paul are the principle pillars of the Church founded by Christ. Saint Peter was chosen by Christ to be his first Vicar on Earth; he was endowed with powers of the keys of the kingdom of heaven and charged with the role of Shepherd of Christ's flock. In St. Peter and his successors, we have a visible sign of unity and communion in faith and charity. Divine grace led St. Peter to profess Christ's divinity. St. Peter suffered martyrdom under Nero, in about the year 64 AD. He was buried at the hill of the Vatican; recent excavations have revealed his tomb on the very site of St. Peter's Basilica. Saint Paul was chosen to form part of the apostolic college by Christ himself on the road to Damascus. Selected to bring Christ's name to all peoples, he is the greatest missionary of all time, the advocate of pagans, the Apostle of the Gentiles. St. Paul was beheaded in the Tre Fontane along the Via Ostiense and buried nearby, on the site where the basilica bearing his name now stands. Folklore: The Hungarian tradition believes that the stem of the wheat breaks on Peter and Paul’s Day. During the mass the harvesters participate in, the priest blesses them and their working tools. Then in their best clothes they harvest some wheat and the following day, 29 June, they start work. The folk custom believes who first hears chimes this day will get married by the end of the year. Sayings: “He was left behind like the Wallachians by Saint Paul.” It means he was left in trouble. “Saint Peter is rolling the barrels.” It is a funny expression for thundering. “He is as old as Saint Peter’s donkey.” It means he is very old. “Saint Peter has lost his pipe.” It is said when there is a strong wind. “Paul knows what he is reaping.” It means he knows what to do. Balázs’s Day 3 February It comes from the Roman name Blasius which meant "lisping" from Latin Blaesus. St. Blaise, who had studied philosophy in his youth, was a doctor in Sebaste in Armenia, the city of his birth, who exercised his art with miraculous ability, good-will, and piety. When the bishop of the city died, he was chosen to succeed him, with the acclamation of all the people. His holiness was manifested through many miracles: from all around, people came to him to find cures for their spirit and their body; even wild animals came in herds to receive his blessing. In 316, Agricola, the governor of Cappadocia and of Lessek Armenia, having arrived in Sebastea at the order of the emperor Licinius to kill the Christians, arrested the bishop. As he was being led to prison, a mother set her only son, choking to death of a fish-bone, at his feet, and the child was cured straight away. Regardless, the governor, unable to make Blaise renounce his faith, beat him with a stick, ripped his flesh with iron combs, and beheaded him. Crossed candles (left unlighted for safety reasons) are used for the blessing of throats on the feast day of St.