≡December 4th, Saint Barbara
December 4th, Saint Barbara 's Day, is a date dedicated to the patron saint of miners and workers who work in confined spaces and with explosives. The origin of the festival dates back to the story of Saint Barbara, a young woman who lived in the 3rd century in the city of Nicomedia, in present-day Turkey. According to tradition, Barbara was the daughter of a wealthy pagan who imprisoned her in a tower to protect her from outside influences. During her confinement, she converted to Christianity and, upon being discovered, faced the wrath of her father and the authorities who tortured her for her faith. Finally, she was executed by her own father, who, in an act of revenge, was struck by lightning at the moment of her death, symbolizing the divine protection she always had. Saint Barbara was canonized in the Middle Ages, and since then, she has been venerated as the protector of miners and all those who work in risky situations.
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