St. Blaise’s Day
St. Blaise’s Day in Croatia, especially in Dubrovnik, is a vibrant celebration that fills the city with energy and tradition.
People from all over gather in Dubrovnik’s streets, adorned with flags and colorful costumes, to honor their patron saint. The festivities kick off with the release of white doves, symbols of peace and freedom.
The heart of the event is a grand procession where locals carry church banners and St. Blaise’s relics through the historic streets, creating a spectacle that blends religious devotion with communal joy. The day is filled with music, prayers, and a sense of unity that links the city’s past with its present.
The day also provides a rare chance for former offenders and exiles to return and participate freely, a custom known as “Sloboština.”
The festivities don’t end with the procession; they include concerts, traditional performances, and community gatherings that highlight the city’s deep-rooted traditions and the enduring significance of St. Blaise’s Day in the hearts of its people.
How to Celebrate St. Blaise’s Day
Dress Like a Local
Nothing says “I’m celebrating St. Blaise’s Day” quite like donning traditional attire. Dig into your wardrobe, or better yet, borrow from a local friend.
Choose something colorful with intricate designs, like traditional folk costumes. If dressing up isn’t your style, a simple ribbon in the city colors will still show your spirit.
Snap a few photos, share them online, and you’re officially part of the celebration!
Join the Procession
Feeling adventurous? Jump into the main event: the grand procession through Dubrovnik’s old town. Here’s the twist—you don’t just watch, you participate!
Carry a banner, sing a hymn, or wave to the crowd. If you’re not sure where to start, follow the sound of church bells.
Walking with the locals makes you feel like part of a centuries-old tradition, and it’s definitely more fun than just standing on the sidelines.
Enjoy the Local Food
What’s a celebration without some delicious bites? St. Blaise’s Day is the perfect excuse to indulge in local treats.
Taste some freshly baked bread, sample local cheeses, and don’t forget the classic Croatian wine. Wander through the streets, following the aroma of roasted meat and sweet pastries.
Every bite tells a story, and it’s a story you don’t want to miss.
Attend a Concert
Music lovers, rejoice! There’s no shortage of live performances during this festive time. From orchestras in beautiful churches to lively folk music in the squares, there’s something for everyone.
Check the local listings, grab a seat, and let the music transport you. It’s a perfect way to soak in the local culture while giving your feet a break from all that walking.
Light a Candle
Want a quieter, more reflective experience? Visit the Church of St. Blaise and light a candle. Take a moment to appreciate the stunning architecture and peaceful atmosphere.
While you’re there, you can also explore the beautiful relics on display. It’s a simple act, but it connects you to the deep roots of the celebration. Plus, it’s a great way to escape the bustling crowds for a while.
Visit Local Museums
If you’re curious about the history behind the celebration, take a tour of the local museums. Many offer special exhibits about St. Blaise and Dubrovnik’s rich cultural heritage.
You’ll leave with a newfound appreciation for the city and its patron saint. Plus, it’s an excellent way to spend a few hours if the weather doesn’t cooperate with your outdoor plans.
Dance Like No One’s Watching
Ready to let loose? Join the locals in some traditional dancing! Find a square where people are gathering, and just jump in.
It doesn’t matter if you don’t know the steps; the important thing is to have fun. Locals will gladly show you a move or two, and you’ll have a blast. Just don’t forget to bring your enthusiasm and comfortable shoes!
St. Blaise’s Day Timeline
c. 316 CE
Martyrdom of Saint Blaise in Sebaste
Blaise, a physician-bishop in Sebaste (in historic Armenia, now Sivas, Turkey), is martyred under the emperor Licinius, forming the historical core behind later legends about his life and miracles.[1]
6th–9th Centuries
Saint Blaise Becomes Patron of Throat Sufferers
By the 6th century in the East and the 9th century in the West, Blaise is widely venerated as a protector against throat diseases, inspired by the legend of his curing a child choking on a fishbone.[2]
9th Century
First Written Invocations for Throat Ailments
The earliest known written reference to invoking Saint Blaise for throat obstructions appears in the medical writings of Aëtius of Amida, helping cement his association with healing and the throat.[3]
Second Half of the 10th Century
Saint Blaise Adopted as Patron of Dubrovnik
From the late 900s, the people of Dubrovnik (Ragusa) venerate Saint Blaise as their patron and protector, linking the city’s civic identity with the Armenian bishop-saint known locally as Sveti Vlaho.[4]
1346–1349
Inclusion Among the Fourteen Holy Helpers
During the Black Death in central Europe, Blaise is grouped with the Fourteen Holy Helpers, a set of saints invoked together against the plague, boosting his popularity across medieval Christendom.[5]
1222
Feast of Saint Blaise Recognized in England
The Council of Oxford forbids servile work on Saint Blaise’s feast day, showing how his cult has become important enough in England to warrant legal recognition in the church calendar.
1706–1714
Baroque Church of Saint Blaise, Built in Dubrovnik
A grand Baroque church dedicated to Saint Blaise is built in Dubrovnik’s Old Town, replacing an earlier Romanesque church destroyed by fire and visually reinforcing his role as guardian of the city.[7]
History of St. Blaise’s Day
St. Blaise’s Day began in Dubrovnik in the year 972. The local people started celebrating after they believed St. Blaise saved them from an enemy attack.
Legend says that a priest saw St. Blaise in a vision, warning him about a surprise invasion. This helped the city prepare and defend itself.
The celebration quickly grew in importance. People viewed St. Blaise as a protector of the city. They honored him with a grand procession and prayers, asking for safety and blessings. Over the years, the celebration has evolved, but its core purpose remains the same.
The festivities originally started small, with locals coming together to give thanks. As time passed, it became a city-wide event, welcoming people from neighboring areas.
Dubrovnik’s citizens have kept this tradition alive for over a thousand years, showing their respect and gratitude to their patron saint.
Today, St. Blaise’s Day is more than just a local holiday. It’s a UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage event. People from all over the world come to witness the colorful celebration and experience Dubrovnik’s rich history and culture.
From humble beginnings, this special day has become a proud symbol of Dubrovnik’s strength and unity.
Facts About Saint Blaise
Saint Blaise is a rare figure whose legacy bridges medicine, faith, labor, and civic life. Known both as a healer and a martyr, his story shows how early Christian saints could shape everyday practices—from workplace traditions and public holidays to rituals still observed in churches today. His influence spread far beyond his lifetime, leaving deep marks on European religious, social, and cultural history.
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Physician Before Bishop
Early Christian writers consistently describe Blaise as a trained physician in Sebaste before he became a bishop, which helps explain why his later reputation focused on healing, especially of illnesses of the throat. His medical background is emphasized in both ecclesiastical biographies and modern encyclopedias as a key part of his identity.
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Patron of the Wool Trade Through His Torture
Blaise’s unlikely role as patron saint of wool combers and the wider wool trade stems from the instrument of his martyrdom: iron combs similar to tools used to card sheep’s wool. In medieval Europe, especially in wool-producing regions of England and Central Europe, guilds of wool workers adopted him as their heavenly protector and sponsored processions and pageants in his honor.
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A Medieval Saint of European Labor Law
By the early 13th century, Blaise’s feast was so important in England that the Council of Oxford in 1222 formally prohibited “servile labor” on his day, effectively making it a day off work for many people. This ecclesiastical decision shows how devotion to the saint influenced not only religious practice but also the regulation of work and rest in medieval society.
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Blessing of the Throats as a Catholic Sacramental
The well-known Blessing of the Throats, in which a priest places two crossed, blessed candles near a person’s neck and prays for protection from throat ailments, is a formal sacramental of the Roman Catholic Church. The rite, codified in the Church’s Book of Blessings, draws on the long-standing tradition that Blaise miraculously cured a boy choking on a fishbone.
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Dubrovnik’s Baroque Church Built After a Disaster
The Church of St. Blaise in Dubrovnik, a focal point of the city’s devotion, is a flamboyant Venetian Baroque structure completed in 1715 after a fire destroyed the earlier medieval church in 1706. Designed by Venetian architect Marino Gropelli and commissioned by the Dubrovnik Senate, it incorporates a salvaged 15th‑century silver statue of Blaise holding a model of the city, visually tying religious art to urban identity.
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UNESCO-Recognized Intangible Heritage in Dubrovnik
The Festivity of Saint Blaise in Dubrovnik, rooted in practices attested since at least 1190, is inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. UNESCO highlights the event as an outstanding example of how processions, music, crafts, and shared rituals can sustain a city’s sense of continuity and community over many centuries.
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From Armenian Bishop to Mediterranean City Protector
Historically, Blaise was a 4th‑century bishop and martyr in Sebaste (in what is now Sivas, Turkey), yet by the late first millennium his cult had spread widely enough that Dubrovnik on the Adriatic adopted him as its heavenly protector. Local tradition holds that his warning in a vision thwarted a planned Venetian attack in 971, a legend that has deeply shaped the city’s civic identity and iconography.
St. Blaise’s Day FAQs
Is Saint Blaise recognized only in the Catholic Church, or in other Christian traditions as well?
Saint Blaise is venerated in several Christian traditions. He is honored as a bishop and martyr in the Roman Catholic Church and appears in early Eastern Christian sources. He is also commemorated in the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches, and some Anglican and Lutheran calendars list him as an early Christian martyr and saint. [1]
Why is Saint Blaise considered a patron of both throat illnesses and wool combers?
Saint Blaise’s connection to throat illnesses is linked to a traditional account in which he healed a boy who was choking on a fishbone, leading people to invoke him against throat diseases. His association with wool combers comes from stories that he was tortured with iron combs resembling tools used in preparing wool, after which medieval wool workers and related trades adopted him as their patron. [2]
What kinds of patronages are commonly associated with Saint Blaise?
According to traditional accounts, Blaise was a physician who later became bishop of Sebastea, in what is now Sivas in modern Turkey. He is believed to have lived in the late third and early fourth centuries and was martyred during the persecutions of Christians, likely in the early 300s. Much of the detailed storytelling about his life developed centuries later, but his status as an early bishop and martyr is broadly attested. [3]
Why is Saint Blaise sometimes included among the “Fourteen Holy Helpers”?
In Western Christian tradition, Saint Blaise is often listed among the “Fourteen Holy Helpers,” a group of saints especially invoked in medieval Europe for assistance in various difficulties. He is included primarily because of his reputation for protection from throat ailments, which made him a popular intercessor in times when infectious diseases were common and poorly understood. [4]
How did Saint Blaise’s cult become widespread beyond his local region?
Saint Blaise’s veneration appears to have spread from his original setting in Sebastea to both Eastern and Western Christian communities by the early Middle Ages. By at least the ninth century he was well known in Western Europe, where churches were dedicated in his honor and devotional practices linked to his patronages became established, helping to entrench his reputation across a wide geographic area. [5]
Why is Saint Blaise linked with animals in Christian tradition?
Some traditional stories describe Saint Blaise as a hermit-bishop who cared for wild animals and healed them while living in a cave. In one legend, he is said to have intervened when a wolf stole a poor woman’s pig, leading to the animal’s safe return. These tales contributed to his being considered a protector of animals as well as of humans suffering from illness. [6]
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