December 21. St. Thomas’ Day: St. Thomas gray, St. Thomas gray The longest night and the shortest day. December 27. St. John the Evangelist’s Day: Never rued the man That lead in his fuel before St. John. (Robin Forby, “Vocabulary of East Anglia,” London, 1830.) Additional verses on Candlemas Day (Purification of the Blessed Virgin): If the sun shines bright on Candlemas Day, The half of the winter’s not yet away. In Latin: Si sol splendescat Maria purificante, Major erit glacies post festum quam ante. SAINTS’ DAYS ADRIAN. September 8. As also of his wife, Natalia. Anniversary of translation of his relics to Rome; anciently his festival on day of his martyrdom, March 4, 306. Patron of soldiers in Flanders, Germany, and northern France; also against the plague. Relics in Abbey of St. Adrian, Gearsburg, Belgium; and elsewhere. AFRA. August 5. Especially celebrated in Augsburg, of which city (her native one) she is patroness. Martyred Aug. 7, 304. AGATHA. February 5. Patroness of Malta, and Catania, Sicily. Died February 5, 251. AGNES. January 21. Supposed anniversary of martyrdom in 304. ALBAN. June 22. First English saint and martyr, died June 22, 303. Present town of St. Albans upon site of martyrdom. AMABLE. June 11. Patron of Riom, France. Died 475. AMBROSE. December 7. Patron of Milan. Died April 4, 397. Founder of church, now Sant’ Ambrogio basilica Maggiore, Milan, in 387. One of four Latin Fathers. ANDREW. November 30. Apostle, patron of Scotland and Russia. ANNE. July 26. Supposed anniversary of her death. Mother of the Virgin Mary. Patroness of Canada. ANSELM. April 21. Archbishop of Canterbury (1033–1109). ANTHONY. January 17. Hermit (251–356). ANTHONY OF PADUA. June 13. Died June 13, 1231. APOLLONIA. February 9. Martyred February 9, 250. Patroness of those suffering from toothache. ATHANASIUS. May 2. One of four Greek Fathers. Died May 2, 373. AUGUSTINE. August 28. Died 430. Patron of theologians and learning. Bishop of Hippo in Africa. One of four Latin Fathers. AUGUSTINE. May 26. Apostle to England in 596. Died May 26, 604. BABYLAS. September 1 (14) in Eastern Church; January 24 in Western Church (237–250). Bishop of Antioch. Relics said to have silenced the revived oracle of Apollo at Delphi, during reign of Julian the Apostate. BARBARA. December 4. Patroness of Ferrara, Mantua and Guastalla, Italy, and of armourers and gunsmiths. Died December 4, 235 (?). BARNABAS. June 11. His birthday. One of the patrons of Milan. Apostle. BARTHOLOMEW. August 24. Apostle. BASIL THE GREAT. January 1, Eastern Church; June 14, Western Church (328–380).