Posts Tagged ‘Rome’
History of St Joseph’s Day: Why isn’t it more popular?
Reading Time: 4 minutesHISTORY OF ST JOSEPH Podcast version arch 19 is Saint Joseph’s Day, or the Feast of St. Joseph. It is celebrated by the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran Churches worldwide. The terms feast and festival are often used interchangeably and often refer to a religious holiday. What is the history of the holiday…
Read MoreHistory of St. Patrick: Was He British?
Reading Time: 5 minutesHISTORY OF ST. PATRICK Podcast version lthough much of the life of the patron saint and Apostle of Ireland is shrouded in legend, St. Patrick was probably born around AD 389. Stories are told of Patrick’s many contests with Druids, pagans, and polytheists, as well as the well-known but curious story of him driving…
Read MoreHistory of the Ides of March: Who Should Beware?
Reading Time: 4 minutesHISTORY OF THE IDES OF MARCH Podcast version ccording to the ancient Roman calendar, the ides fell on the 13th of the month except for March, May, July, and October, when it fell on the 15th. Something epochal occurred on the Ides of March in 44 B.C.
Read MoreHistory of the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste: Roman Empire vs. Christian Legionnaires
Reading Time: 3 minutesHISTORY OF THE 40 MARTYRS OF SEBASTE Podcast version remarkable event took place in the early 4th century Roman Empire. The early church historian Bishop Eusebius tells the story of his contemporary, the Roman Emperor Constantine, who, before a battle against his rival Emperor Maxentius in 312 AD at the Milvian Bridge outside of…
Read MoreHistory of March: Why in like a Lion and out like a Lamb?
Reading Time: 3 minutesHISTORY OF MARCH Podcast version he month that can come “in like a lion and out like a lamb” is named after Mars, the Roman god of war (and agriculture). Indeed, in French, the month is called Mars. It shares the name with the fourth planet in the Solar System, the blood-colored “Red Planet,”…
Read MoreHistory of St. Valentine’s Day
Reading Time: 4 minutesHISTORY OF ST. VALENTINE’S DAY Podcast version he day we associate with love and romance has a history that traces back almost three millennia to ancient Rome but winds through Roman North Africa, England, and the United States. St. Valentine was martyred on February 14. However, Valentine or Valentinus is the name of at least…
Read MoreHistory of New Year’s Resolutions: Where Did They Begin?
Reading Time: 3 minutesHISTORY OF NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS Podcast version s I mentioned previously, New Year’s Day celebrations began in pre-Christian times, beginning with the Babylonians in March, but later changed to January by the Romans. Where did we get the idea of New Year’s Resolutions, and why at the beginning of the year?
Read MoreHistory of Telemachus: the Monk Who Ended the Roman Gladiatorial Games – January 1, A.D. 404
Reading Time: 5 minutesHistory of Telemachus: the Monk Who Ended the Roman Gladiatorial Games – January 1, A.D. 404 Podcast version January 1, A.D. 404, marked Rome’s last known gladiatorial games. What part did an obscure Christian monk from the East play in this epic change in Roman entertainment? his is the story of St. Telemachus,…
Read MoreHistory of New Year’s Day: Why on January 1?
Reading Time: 4 minutesHistory of New Year’s Day: Why on January 1? It wasn’t always on this date. This article discusses its history.
Read MoreHistory of New Year’s Eve
Reading Time: 4 minutesHISTORY OF NEW YEAR’S EVE Podcast version ew Year’s Eve, according to the Gregorian Calendar, is the last day of the year, known as Old Year’s Day or St. Sylvester’s Day. You may remember reading that Emperor Constantine was considered the first “Christian” Roman Emperor. St. Sylvester, the Bishop of Rome, baptized Constantine in…
Read MoreHistory of Holiday Fruitcake
Reading Time: 4 minutesHISTORY OF HOLIDAY FRUITCAKE Podcast version ecember 27 is National Fruitcake Day. You may be wondering: “My friendly neighborhood historian is writing an article on fruitcake? Is he as nutty as a fruitcake?” And therein begins our tale…
Read MoreHistory of the Feast of St. John: Which St John?
Reading Time: 3 minutesHistory of the Feast of St. John. Who was St. John the Apostle and what was his role in history?
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