2012Wandering2013: St Biagio Day in Coresse Terra, Rome

I never heard about St Biagio Day before the celebration. I google about it :

The memory of Saint Biagio is underlined on February 3, by celebrating one of those most significant moments of the new season - Par San Biasi, doi ore squasi, the proverb says pointing out the longer permanence in the sky compared to the winter solstice. Saint Biagio is represented as an old hermit who lives in a cave and survives with the help of wild animals that bring food to him from the woods. Among the miraculous healing that has been attributed to him, the most famous one talk about a baby that got a big fish bone stuck in his throat. The saint touched his throat and the bone melted, this is the reason why Saint Biagio is considered to be the protector of the throat and of all the sicknesses related to it, such as throat ache, laryngitis, and hoarseness. Also in the modern official liturgy there is still a brief and strange ceremony: two blessed candles are crossed over the people's throats and Saint Biagio's protection is called upon with their words: "For the prayers and the merits of Saint Biagio, God will free you of throat ache and any other aches". Saint Biagio lived in Sebaste, in Cappadocia (modern day Turkey) between the third and fourth century and he was martyred by having his limbs pulled off with big combs similar to the ones used to comb wool, therefore, he is also considered the patron of the wool combers.

3rd February 2013. Evening celebration