#Saint Uncumber

[t0rschlusspan1k]

In the STORIEL collection of Gwynedd Museum and Art Gallery in Bangor, there is a wooden figure, around two feet tall, made by a Flemish carver around the year 1520. It represents Saint Wilgefortis, and the story behind this sixteenth-century object encompasses bearded women, oppressed people and gender fluidity within religious iconography. Interpretations of Wilgefortis's legend disrupt the binaries of male and female, and the human and the divine. Taking a close look at the figure, the face has a high forehead, with arched eyebrows and downcast eyes that suggest a humble or contemplative expression. The person has long, curling hair and a short, neat beard. It seems that the clothing on this figure is particularly feminine: there are beads on a necklace, ruched folds of the undershirt at the neck, and a cinched waist with a floral motif in the middle. Seen from the side, the figure seems to have a bust. The feet are covered by a shroud tied loosely at the ankles. The folds of fabric and waves of hair suggest softness.

Saint Wilgefortis (details), c.1520, wood by unknown artist

No arms are visible, and a cloak covers the shoulders. The angle of the shoulders, raised up, suggests the arms may have been splayed out, like on a crucifix – perhaps they were broken off, as the rectangular holes at the sides attest. How did a Flemish object come to be in Wales? The collection website explains the item was originally owned by Captain John Jones, a master mariner who collected objects on his travels and set up his own museum in Bangor. In Europe, after the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century, many churches were stripped of decoration and these works of art were destroyed or even looted and sold, as part of the Beeldenstorm ('image storm'). This Flemish image of Saint Wilgefortis, usually venerated by Catholics, clearly didn't escape the looting. Also known as 'The Bearded Lady', Wilgefortis is known for her facial hair. The legend goes: the young Christian Wilgefortis was the daughter of the pagan King of Portugal, who arranged for her to be married to a suitor. The young woman, who had taken a vow of chastity, prayed to be made repulsive and released from the betrothal. Her prayers were answered in the form of a luscious beard. The new facial adornment put off the potential husband, and Wilgefortis's father was so angry that he had her crucified. Her story made her a popular saint with women who were in unhappy, abusive situations. The variations of her name across Europe echo parts of her tale: Saint Uncumber ('disencumbered'), Saint Ontkommer or Kümmernis ('ohne Kummer', without anxiety), Saint Liberata or Librada ('liberated'). Wilgefortis sounds also like virgo fortis ('courageous virgin' in Latin). [...]

[read more]

[maypoleman1]

20th July

St Margaret’s and St Uncumber’s Day

Saint Margaret by Joan Reixach. Source: St Bride’s, Liverpool

Today is St Margaret of Antioch’s Day. Margaret, a very early Christian lady in in third century Syria, resisted the amorous advances of the pagan Roman governor, Olybrius. He tried bribery, charm, even torture to get the virginal Margaret into his bed but was met with steadfast refusal. Eventually, wearying of serial rejection, Olybrius had Margaret chained to a stake and fed to a local dragon. The virtuous woman was swallowed whole and once in the beast’s belly, made the sign of the cross, causing the dragon’s abdomen to split open, killing the creature. Margaret stepped out unscathed. As can probably be imagined, Margaret never actually existed and as early as 494, the Church declared her a fabrication, This cancellation however, did not stop Margaret becoming the patron saint of women in labour.

Saint Uncumber. Source: John Rylands Library blog

Today is also St Uncumber’s Day. In a similar tale of brave virginity, the Christian Italian noblewoman, Wilgefortis, had taken vows of chastity and therefore was outraged to be forcibly married to the King of Sicily. She prayed her husband would find her unattractive and the following morning found she had sprouted a full beard. The King immediately divorced her. Uncumber’s father was so ashamed at his daughter’s alarming appearance that he had her crucified. Almost as fictitious as St Margaret, Wilgefortis/ Uncumber nonetheless stuck up for harassed women. If a wife was troubled by an unpleasant husband and she offered oats to the saint’s shrine or statue, Uncumber would send a satanic horse to the marital home who would carry the annoying spouse off to Hell.

[travelling-my-little-pony]

Masquerade is looking around Venice (and the surrounding islands).

In Italy.

Masquerade is looking at a painting by Bosch. In the Galleria dell’Accademia.

This is photo number 153 of 366.

[ian-thebean]

Hot tip for all you ladies out there:

If your husband cannot satisfy you in matters of conjugal love, consider taking a trip to the statue of Saint Uncumber in St Paul’s cathedral. If you set a peck of oats at her feet, she’ll straight up destroy your husband! Once Saint Uncumber has carried him off, maybe try one of those convents you’ve heard so much about. I hear it’s a very fulfilling place for those inclined to assist their sisters in Christ.

[brookston]

Holidays 7.20

Holidays

The Binding of the Wreaths (Lithuania)

Cleat Dancing Day

Common Mullein Day (French Republic)

Deepfake Awareness Day

Dia del Amigo (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay)

Engineer’s Day (Costa Rica)

Falun Gong Persecution Anniversary Day (China)

Frantz Fanon Day

Friend's Day (a.k.a. Dia del Amigo; Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay)

International Ambigram Day

International Chess Day

International Ride MTB Day

July Plot Anniversary Day

Liam Payne Appreciation Day

Lempira Day (Honduras)

Mammal Day

Man on the Moon Day (a.k.a. Moon Day)

Nap Day

National Biplane Day

National Dental BIller’s Day

National Heroes Day

National Megan Day

National Moon Day

National Natalie Day

National Pennsylvania Day

National POW-MIA Recognition Day

National Secretary Day (Mexico)

National Tell A Girl She's Beautiful Day

Peace and Freedom Day (North Cyprus)

Space Exploration Day

Special Olympics Day

Sumarauki (Iceland)

Sun’s Rest Festival (Elder Scrolls)

Tree Planting Day (Central African Republic)

Ugly Truck Day

Vigil for Peace, Justice and Respect for Human Rights (Colombia)

Women’s Union Day (Laos)

World Jump Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Fortune Cookie Day

International Cake Day

National Ice Cream Soda Day

National Lasagne Day

National Lollipop Day

National Milkshake Day (Australia)

National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day

3rd Thursday in July

Get To Know Your Customers Day [3rd Thursday of each Quarter]

Latitude Festival (Suffolk, UK) [3rd Thursday thru Sunday]

Independence Days

British Columbia Province Day (Canada; 1871)

Colombia (from Spain, 1810)

Libernesia (Declared; 2022) [unrecognized]

Republic of Plymouth (Declared; 2015) [unrecognized]

Samana Cay (Declared; 2008) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Ansegisus (Christian; Saint)

Apollinaris of Ravenna (Christian; Saint)

Aurelius, Bishop of Carthage (Christian; Saint)

Barsabas (Christian; Saint)

Ceslas (Christian; Saint)

Ealhswith (a.k.a. Elswith; Christian; Saint)

Editha (Christian; Saint)

Elias (Christian; Prophet)

Elijah (Christian; Saint)

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Amelia Bloomer, Sojourner Truth, and Harriet Ross Tubman (Episcopal Church (USA))

Feralia: Day of Purification(Pagan)

Greater Bajram (Feast of Sacrifice; Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina)

Interstellar Lasagne Day Day (Pastafarian)

Jerom Aemiliani (Christian; Saint)

John Baptist Yi (Christian; One of The Korean Martyrs)

Justa and Rufina (Christian; Martyrs)

La Fontain (Positivist; Saint)

Larry the Fish (Muppetism)

Margaret the Virgin (a.k.a. Margaret of Antioch; Christian; Saint)

Max Liebermann (Artology)

Perun’s Day (Asatru/Slavic Pagan God of Thunder)

Pope John XII Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Synoika (Ancient Greece)

Thorlac (Christian; Relic Translation)

Turkish Invasion Day (Cyprus)

Uncumber (Christian; Saint)

Ulmer (a.k.a. Wulmar; Christian; Saint)

Wilgefortis (cult suppressed)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

Batman: Hush (WB Animated Film; 2019)

Breaking Away (Film; 1979)

The Bridge of San Luis Rey, by Thornton Wilder (Novel; 1927)

Buddy Steps Out (WB LT Cartoon; 1935)

Christmas in Connecticut (Film; 1945)

The Dark Knight Rises (Film; 2012)

Do You Believe in Magic?, by The Lovin’ Spoonful (Song; 1965)

Ghost World (Film; 2001)

Hairspray (Film; 2007)

Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Film; 2001)

Like a Rolling Stone, by Bob Dylan (Song; 1965)

Lucky Number (Disney Cartoon; 1951)

Mama Mia!: Here We Go Again (Film; 2018)

The NeverEnding Story (Film; 1984)

Revenge of the Nerds (Film; 1984)

Sid and Nancy (Film; 1986)

Spirited Away (Studio Ghibli Animated Film; 2001)

Stop the World — I Want To Get Off (Musical Play; 1961)

Tabasco Road (WB LT Cartoon; 1957)

Train to Busan (Film; 2016)

The Wind Rises (Studio Ghibli Animated Film; 2013)

Today’s Name Days

Apollinaris, Bernhard, Margareta (Austria)

Ilina, Iliya, Iliyana, Ilko (Bulgaria)

Apolinar, Bernard, Ilija, Margareta, Marina (Croatia)

Ilja (Czech Republic)

Elias (Denmark)

Elias, Erland, Liias (Estonia)

Maaret, Maarit, Margareeta, Marketta, Reeta, Reetta (Finland)

Élie, Marina (France)

Elias, Greta, Margarete (Germany)

Elias, Ilias (Greece)

Illés (Hungary)

Elia, Simmaco (Italy)

Namejs, Ramona, Ritma (Latvia)

Alvydas, Česlovas, Jeronimas, Vismantė (Lithuania)

Margareta, Margit, Marit (Norway)

Czech, Czechasz, Czechoń, Czesław, Eliasz, Heliasz, Hieronim, Leon, Małgorzata, Paweł, Sewera (Poland)

Ilie (Romania)

Eliáš, Iľja (Slovakia)

Apolinar, Aurelio, Elías (Spain)

Greta, Margareta (Sweden)

Elio, Eliot, Eliott, Elliot, Elliott, Marine (Universal)

Edna, Edwin, Edwina, Elias, Elijah, Ellice, Elliot, Elliott, Ellis, Ellison, Neal, Neala, Neil, Neila, Nelson, Niall, Nigel, Niles (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 201 of 2024; 164 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 4 of week 29 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Tinne (Holly) [Day 11 of 28]

Chinese: Month 6 (Ji-Wei), Day 3 (Ji-Mao)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 2 Av 5783

Islamic: 2 Muharram 1445

J Cal: 21 Lux; Sevenday [21 of 30]

Julian: 7 July 2023

Moon: 8%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 5 Dante (8th Month) [La Fontain]

Runic Half Month: Ur (Primal Strength) [Day 7 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 30 of 94)

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 30 of 31)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 7.20

Holidays

The Binding of the Wreaths (Lithuania)

Cleat Dancing Day

Common Mullein Day (French Republic)

Deepfake Awareness Day

Dia del Amigo (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay)

Engineer’s Day (Costa Rica)

Falun Gong Persecution Anniversary Day (China)

Frantz Fanon Day

Friend's Day (a.k.a. Dia del Amigo; Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay)

International Ambigram Day

International Chess Day

International Ride MTB Day

July Plot Anniversary Day

Liam Payne Appreciation Day

Lempira Day (Honduras)

Mammal Day

Man on the Moon Day (a.k.a. Moon Day)

Nap Day

National Biplane Day

National Dental BIller’s Day

National Heroes Day

National Megan Day

National Moon Day

National Natalie Day

National Pennsylvania Day

National POW-MIA Recognition Day

National Secretary Day (Mexico)

National Tell A Girl She's Beautiful Day

Peace and Freedom Day (North Cyprus)

Space Exploration Day

Special Olympics Day

Sumarauki (Iceland)

Sun’s Rest Festival (Elder Scrolls)

Tree Planting Day (Central African Republic)

Ugly Truck Day

Vigil for Peace, Justice and Respect for Human Rights (Colombia)

Women’s Union Day (Laos)

World Jump Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Fortune Cookie Day

International Cake Day

National Ice Cream Soda Day

National Lasagne Day

National Lollipop Day

National Milkshake Day (Australia)

National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day

3rd Thursday in July

Get To Know Your Customers Day [3rd Thursday of each Quarter]

Latitude Festival (Suffolk, UK) [3rd Thursday thru Sunday]

Independence Days

British Columbia Province Day (Canada; 1871)

Colombia (from Spain, 1810)

Libernesia (Declared; 2022) [unrecognized]

Republic of Plymouth (Declared; 2015) [unrecognized]

Samana Cay (Declared; 2008) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Ansegisus (Christian; Saint)

Apollinaris of Ravenna (Christian; Saint)

Aurelius, Bishop of Carthage (Christian; Saint)

Barsabas (Christian; Saint)

Ceslas (Christian; Saint)

Ealhswith (a.k.a. Elswith; Christian; Saint)

Editha (Christian; Saint)

Elias (Christian; Prophet)

Elijah (Christian; Saint)

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Amelia Bloomer, Sojourner Truth, and Harriet Ross Tubman (Episcopal Church (USA))

Feralia: Day of Purification(Pagan)

Greater Bajram (Feast of Sacrifice; Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina)

Interstellar Lasagne Day Day (Pastafarian)

Jerom Aemiliani (Christian; Saint)

John Baptist Yi (Christian; One of The Korean Martyrs)

Justa and Rufina (Christian; Martyrs)

La Fontain (Positivist; Saint)

Larry the Fish (Muppetism)

Margaret the Virgin (a.k.a. Margaret of Antioch; Christian; Saint)

Max Liebermann (Artology)

Perun’s Day (Asatru/Slavic Pagan God of Thunder)

Pope John XII Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Synoika (Ancient Greece)

Thorlac (Christian; Relic Translation)

Turkish Invasion Day (Cyprus)

Uncumber (Christian; Saint)

Ulmer (a.k.a. Wulmar; Christian; Saint)

Wilgefortis (cult suppressed)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

Batman: Hush (WB Animated Film; 2019)

Breaking Away (Film; 1979)

The Bridge of San Luis Rey, by Thornton Wilder (Novel; 1927)

Buddy Steps Out (WB LT Cartoon; 1935)

Christmas in Connecticut (Film; 1945)

The Dark Knight Rises (Film; 2012)

Do You Believe in Magic?, by The Lovin’ Spoonful (Song; 1965)

Ghost World (Film; 2001)

Hairspray (Film; 2007)

Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Film; 2001)

Like a Rolling Stone, by Bob Dylan (Song; 1965)

Lucky Number (Disney Cartoon; 1951)

Mama Mia!: Here We Go Again (Film; 2018)

The NeverEnding Story (Film; 1984)

Revenge of the Nerds (Film; 1984)

Sid and Nancy (Film; 1986)

Spirited Away (Studio Ghibli Animated Film; 2001)

Stop the World — I Want To Get Off (Musical Play; 1961)

Tabasco Road (WB LT Cartoon; 1957)

Train to Busan (Film; 2016)

The Wind Rises (Studio Ghibli Animated Film; 2013)

Today’s Name Days

Apollinaris, Bernhard, Margareta (Austria)

Ilina, Iliya, Iliyana, Ilko (Bulgaria)

Apolinar, Bernard, Ilija, Margareta, Marina (Croatia)

Ilja (Czech Republic)

Elias (Denmark)

Elias, Erland, Liias (Estonia)

Maaret, Maarit, Margareeta, Marketta, Reeta, Reetta (Finland)

Élie, Marina (France)

Elias, Greta, Margarete (Germany)

Elias, Ilias (Greece)

Illés (Hungary)

Elia, Simmaco (Italy)

Namejs, Ramona, Ritma (Latvia)

Alvydas, Česlovas, Jeronimas, Vismantė (Lithuania)

Margareta, Margit, Marit (Norway)

Czech, Czechasz, Czechoń, Czesław, Eliasz, Heliasz, Hieronim, Leon, Małgorzata, Paweł, Sewera (Poland)

Ilie (Romania)

Eliáš, Iľja (Slovakia)

Apolinar, Aurelio, Elías (Spain)

Greta, Margareta (Sweden)

Elio, Eliot, Eliott, Elliot, Elliott, Marine (Universal)

Edna, Edwin, Edwina, Elias, Elijah, Ellice, Elliot, Elliott, Ellis, Ellison, Neal, Neala, Neil, Neila, Nelson, Niall, Nigel, Niles (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 201 of 2024; 164 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 4 of week 29 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Tinne (Holly) [Day 11 of 28]

Chinese: Month 6 (Ji-Wei), Day 3 (Ji-Mao)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 2 Av 5783

Islamic: 2 Muharram 1445

J Cal: 21 Lux; Sevenday [21 of 30]

Julian: 7 July 2023

Moon: 8%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 5 Dante (8th Month) [La Fontain]

Runic Half Month: Ur (Primal Strength) [Day 7 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 30 of 94)

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 30 of 31)

[ithelda]

St. Wilgefortis: Supposedly in the middle ages, images of Jesus on the cross, wearing robes instead of a loincloth, were misinterpreted as being a bearded woman. A legend thus developed that a young woman named Wilgefortis was being forced into marriage, and when she prayed to be rescued from the predicament, she spontaneously grew a beard. Her fiancé no longer wanted to marry her, and her father was so furious he crucified Wilgefortis. She was revered as the patron saint of women trapped in abusive relationships.

[julieschulerart]

St. Uncumber or St. Wilgefortis is a 14th century female saint with a large beard. Art historians believe the cult may have arisen after copies of an icon wearing the eastern style tunic, instead of a loincloth, were introduced into northern Europe. The figure was mistaken for a woman and a narrative emerged to support the androgynous figure. The tale became one of a Portuguese teenage girl who took a vow of chastity and escaped her arranged marriage by miraculously sprouting a beard. In anger, her father crucified her. She is often depicted with a small fiddler below her and a silver shoe dropping from one of her feet. A supposed miracle occurred when a poor, shoeless pilgrim prayed at the base of one of her icons, and her shoes dropped at the feet of her devotee.

[actualmermaid]

Today's queer saint of the day is St. Wilgefortis, a bearded lady and virgin martyr.

This cool poster was brought to my attention by a follower who spotted it in their local lesbian bar. It's an original design by Maïc Baxane, who has it available for purchase on their Etsy

Once upon a time, there was a young, beautiful woman named Wilgefortis (or Débarras, or Liberata, or Uncumber, or a variety of other names in European languages). Her father planned to marry her off to a cruel and impious king, so Wilgefortis prayed to God for deliverance. She grew a beard, and her would-be husband rejected her. Her father became so angry that he crucified her, but she went to heaven with Jesus, Mary, the angels, and the virgin martyrs of old.

This story may not be "true" in a historical sense (if it is, what "really happened" is obscured behind centuries of myth and legend). What is fascinating about St. Wilgefortis is how popular and widespread her cult was, and still is, with people on the margins. She is venerated by lesbians, trans women, chaste and asexual people, people fleeing misogynistic violence, intersex people, gender-nonconforming people, drag performers, sex workers, women with beards and men without them, and many many others. Her cult arose in the 14th century, but was oh-so-helpfully "debunked" by the Church a few hundred years later. In present times, St. Wilgefortis gets the last word, and she remains a patron saint for bearded ladies and the people who love them.

Read more about St. Wilgefortis here

[thefifthbusiness]

Part 4 Summary

Boy’s sugar company thrives during the Depression

Everything that has sugar in it has Boy’s sugar in it

He claims that he must provide people with the necessities

Tries out the bread business, keeps the price steady, but reduces the content.

Boy is the head of Alpha Corporation, which controls all the companies which make things

Boy continues to see Dunstan frequently

Boy mostly complains about Leola, she can’t keep up with Boy’s social advancement, she isn’t a pretty girl anymore

She can’t keep up with fashions, Boy tries to force her to wear proper fashions, shopping trips end with Leola in tears

She can’t learn to speak the language. She tried to rebel against Boy’s language rules, and he gave her the silent treatment.

Boy changes a great deal, and Leola not at all

Boy thinks aloud to Dunstan

The n00dz incident

Boy took amature nude pictures of Leola and makes Dunstan develop them

Boy shows them off to Dunstan despite Leola being uncomfortable with it, Boy calls Leola a prude, says she’s a stunner, basically says she only has physical worth

Dunstan is mad at how Boy treats Leola. He tells him about the King Candaules and Gyges story

Dunstan visits Mary Dempster every Saturday morning

Orpheus Wettenhall, Bertha Shanklin’s lawyer

Bertha dies, leaves Mary Dempster in Dunstan’s care with an annual allowance of 5000

Wettenhall commits suicide because he invested all his clients money in the stock market, which crashed

Without money, Dunstan reluctantly puts Mrs. Deptford in a public hospital for the insane

Becomes involved with the Bollandists, group of Jesuits who record all available information about saints in the Acta Sanctorum

Dunstan sends his notes on Uncumber to the Bollandists, who ask to publish it and invite him to visit

The letter that the Bollandists send him makes Dunstan very happy

Padre Blazon

Father figure to Dunstan, Dunstan trusts him and tells him about his feelings towards Mary and wanting to make her a saint

Padre Blazon tells him that he shouldn’t need to have the world’s approval for Mary to be a saint, she will always be a saint to him

Also tells him that the definition of a saint is not well established, based on politics, “miracles” happen often and are dependent on society’s understanding of the world, “Oh, miracles! They happen everywhere. They are conditional” (174)

Boy

Dunstan is invited to many of Boy’s dinner parties as the Writer™, he adds elegance and intellect, classy, offends nobody

Boy cheats on Leola with a variety of women, “real women”, he is very sexual

Boy spoils his daughter Caroline, but treats his son David badly. Boy wants David to be manly, doesn’t let him play with dolls, sends him to boarding school. He dotes on Caroline, calls her the prettiest girl in the room (never says this to Leola)

Leola does everything in relation to Boy, he is always right, she never stands up for herself, Boy treats her with exasperation and “chivalrous patience”

Boy is a mess when his hero, King Edward, is abdicated. He is neglectful of his family, bullies Leola

Leola finds out about the cheating via a note in Boy’s pocket, Boy doesn’t give a shit and leaves the house, Leola tries to seduce Dunstan, Dunstan rejects her and leaves, Leola tries to commit suicide but doesn’t know where to cut??? What a joke lmao. Leola leaves a suicide note for Dunstan saying that she always loved him

[ingek73]

Today I heard a wonderful story of St. Wilgefortis(aka St.Uncumber)

I was attending a very interesting talk about the dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch. One of his paintings shows Saint Wilgefortis, a woman from Portugal who did not want to marry, prayed to Jesus Christ who answered her calls and made a beard magically appear. Her betrothed didn't fancy her after that(wimp) so the wedding was off but according to the story her dad wasn't much pleased either and had her crucified like Jesus. As a saint she became popular in paintings and statues and someone for woman in unhappy marriages to turn to. The story first appeared when people in the middle ages saw eastern depictions of a bearded person on a cross and they thought it had to be a woman because of the clothes, thus the St. Wilgefortis legend was born. Cool right? Untill...... you hear that the people got confused with gender roles and it was actually Jesus Christ on a cross, wearing a tunic which they mistakenly thought was a dress... Oh to have been there when they first had the discussion. 'Beard or not, she's wearing a dress so obviously a woman.' 'But where did she get the beard?' 'Ah.. erm'

[ingek73]

When I attended an symbolism in art course I was informed about Saint Uncumber (Wilgefortis) who was a christian but was told by her dad she’d have to marry a non christian. Sobbing the night before the wedding she prayed for help, and woke up with a beard. Her bethrohed didnt want her anymore and she was burned at the stake.

Or so the story goes.

Our lecturer told us that it all started with a picture from the east with a beard, but westeners argued that that could not be Jesus because the figure wore a dress so it had to be a bearded women instead.

It was actually Jesus in traditional clothing.

[julieschulerart]

St. Uncumber or St. Wilgefortis is a 14th century female saint with a large beard. Art historians believe the cult may have arisen after copies of an icon wearing the eastern style tunic, instead of a loincloth, were introduced into northern Europe. The figure was mistaken for a woman and a narrative emerged to support the androgynous figure. The tale became one of a Portuguese teenage girl who took a vow of chastity and escaped her arranged marriage by miraculously sprouting a beard. In anger, her father crucified her. She is often depicted with a small fiddler below her and a silver shoe dropping from one of her feet. A supposed miracle occurred when a poor, shoeless pilgrim prayed at the base of one of her icons, and her shoes dropped at the feet of her devotee.

[brookston]

Holidays 7.20

Holidays

The Binding of the Wreaths (Lithuania)

Cleat Dancing Day

Dia del Amigo (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay)

Engineer’s Day (Costa Rica)

Friend's Day (a.k.a. Dia del Amigo; Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay)

International Chess Day

Lempira Day (Honduras)

Mammal Day

Man on the Moon Day (a.k.a. Moon Day)

Nap Day

National Biplane Day

National Dental BIller’s Day

National Moon Day

National Pennsylvania Day

National POW-MIA Recognition Day

National Secretary Day (Mexico)

National Tell A Girl She's Beautiful Day

Peace and Freedom Day (North Cyprus)

Space Exploration Day

Special Olympics Day

Sumarauki (Iceland)

Sun’s Rest Festival (Elder Scrolls)

Synoika (Ancient Greece)

Tree Planting Day (Central African Republic)

Ugly Truck Day

Vigil for Peace, Justice and Respect for Human Rights (Colombia)

Women’s Union Day (Laos

World Jump Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Fortune Cookie Day

International Cake Day

National Ice Cream Soda Day

National Lasagne Day

National Lollipop Day

National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day

Third Wednesday in July

International Balloon Dog Day [3rd Wednesday]

National Hot Dog Day [Wednesday closest to 19th; also 3.30 & 9.10]

Take Your Poet to Work Day [3rd Wednesday]

Independence Days

British Columbia Province Day (Canada; 1871)

Colombia (from Spain, 1810)

Feast Days

Ansegisus (Christian; Saint)

Apollinaris of Ravenna (Christian; Saint)

Aurelius (Christian; Saint)

Barsabas (Christian; Saint)

Ceslas (Christian; Saint)

Ealhswith (a.k.a. Elswith; Christian; Saint)

Elijah (Christian; Saint)

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Amelia Bloomer, Sojourner Truth, and Harriet Ross Tubman (Episcopal Church (USA))

Greater Bajram (Feast of Sacrifice; Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina)

Interstellar Lasagne Day Day (Pastafarian)

Jerom Aemiliani (Christian; Saint)

John Baptist Yi (Christian; One of The Korean Martyrs)

Justa and Rufina (Christian; Martyrs)

La Fontain (Positivist; Saint)

Margaret the Virgin (a.k.a. Margaret of Antioch; Christian; Saint)

Perun’s Day (Asatru/Slavic Pagan God of Thunder)

Pope John XII Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Thorlac (Christian; Relic Translation)

Uncumber (Christian; Saint)

Ulmer (a.k.a. Wulmar; Christian; Saint)

Wilgefortis (cult suppressed)

Kermy (Muppetism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

Breaking Away (Film; 1979)

The Dark Knight Rises (Film; 2012)

Do You Believe in Magic?, by The Lovin’ Spoonful (Song; 1965)

Hairspray (Film; 2007)

Like a Rolling Stone, by Bob Dylan (Song; 1965)

Mama Mia!: Here We Go Again (Film; 2018)

The NeverEnding Story (Film; 1984)

Revenge of the Nerds (Film; 1984)

Sid and Nancy (Film; 1986)

Spirited Away (Studio Ghibli Animated Film; 2001)

Stop the World — I Want To Get Off (Musical Play; 1961)

The Wind Rises (Studio Ghibli Animated Film; 2013)

Today’s Name Days

Margareta (Austria)

Ilina, Iliya, Iliyana, Ilko (Bulgaria)

Apolinar, Bernard, Ilija, Margareta, Marina (Croatia)

Ilja (Czech Republic)

Elias (Denmark)

Elias, Erland, Liias (Estonia)

Maaret, Maarit, Margareeta, Marketta, Reeta, Reetta (Finland)

Élie, Marina (France)

Elias, Greta, Margarete (Germany)

Elias, Ilias (Greece)

Illés (Hungary)

Elia, Simmaco (Italy)

Namejs, Ramona, Ritma (Latvia)

Alvydas, Česlovas, Jeronimas, Vismantė (Lithuania)

Margareta, Margit, Marit (Norway)

Czech, Czechasz, Czechoń, Czesław, Eliasz, Heliasz, Hieronim, Leon, Małgorzata, Paweł, Sewera (Poland)

Eliáš, Iľja (Slovakia)

Apolinar, Aurelio, Elías (Spain)

Greta, Margareta (Sweden)

Elio, Eliot, Eliott, Elliot, Elliott, Marine (Universal) Edna, Edwin, Edwina, Elias, Elijah, Ellice, Elliot, Elliott, Ellis, Ellison, Neal, Neala, Neil, Neila, Nelson, Niall, Nigel, Niles (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 201 of 2022; 164 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 3 of week 29 of 2022

Celtic Tree Calendar: Tinne (Holly) [Day 12 of 28]

Chinese: Month 6 (Héyuè), Day 22 (Jia-Xu)

Chinese Year of the: Tiger (until January 22, 2023)

Hebrew: 21 Tammuz 5782

Islamic: 20 Ḏū al-Ḥijjah 1443

J Cal: 21 Lux; Sixday [21 of 30]

Julian: 7 July 2022

Moon: 50% Third Quarter

Positivist: 5 Dante (8th Month) [Cervantes]

Runic Half Month: Ur (Primal Strength [Day 9 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 30 of 90)

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 30 of 30)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 7.20

Holidays

The Binding of the Wreaths (Lithuania)

Cleat Dancing Day

Dia del Amigo (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay)

Engineer’s Day (Costa Rica)

Friend's Day (a.k.a. Dia del Amigo; Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay)

International Chess Day

Lempira Day (Honduras)

Mammal Day

Man on the Moon Day (a.k.a. Moon Day)

Nap Day

National Biplane Day

National Dental BIller’s Day

National Moon Day

National Pennsylvania Day

National POW-MIA Recognition Day

National Secretary Day (Mexico)

National Tell A Girl She's Beautiful Day

Peace and Freedom Day (North Cyprus)

Space Exploration Day

Special Olympics Day

Sumarauki (Iceland)

Sun’s Rest Festival (Elder Scrolls)

Synoika (Ancient Greece)

Tree Planting Day (Central African Republic)

Ugly Truck Day

Vigil for Peace, Justice and Respect for Human Rights (Colombia)

Women’s Union Day (Laos

World Jump Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Fortune Cookie Day

International Cake Day

National Ice Cream Soda Day

National Lasagne Day

National Lollipop Day

National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day

Third Wednesday in July

International Balloon Dog Day [3rd Wednesday]

National Hot Dog Day [Wednesday closest to 19th; also 3.30 & 9.10]

Take Your Poet to Work Day [3rd Wednesday]

Independence Days

British Columbia Province Day (Canada; 1871)

Colombia (from Spain, 1810)

Feast Days

Ansegisus (Christian; Saint)

Apollinaris of Ravenna (Christian; Saint)

Aurelius (Christian; Saint)

Barsabas (Christian; Saint)

Ceslas (Christian; Saint)

Ealhswith (a.k.a. Elswith; Christian; Saint)

Elijah (Christian; Saint)

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Amelia Bloomer, Sojourner Truth, and Harriet Ross Tubman (Episcopal Church (USA))

Greater Bajram (Feast of Sacrifice; Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina)

Interstellar Lasagne Day Day (Pastafarian)

Jerom Aemiliani (Christian; Saint)

John Baptist Yi (Christian; One of The Korean Martyrs)

Justa and Rufina (Christian; Martyrs)

La Fontain (Positivist; Saint)

Margaret the Virgin (a.k.a. Margaret of Antioch; Christian; Saint)

Perun’s Day (Asatru/Slavic Pagan God of Thunder)

Pope John XII Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Thorlac (Christian; Relic Translation)

Uncumber (Christian; Saint)

Ulmer (a.k.a. Wulmar; Christian; Saint)

Wilgefortis (cult suppressed)

Kermy (Muppetism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

Breaking Away (Film; 1979)

The Dark Knight Rises (Film; 2012)

Do You Believe in Magic?, by The Lovin’ Spoonful (Song; 1965)

Hairspray (Film; 2007)

Like a Rolling Stone, by Bob Dylan (Song; 1965)

Mama Mia!: Here We Go Again (Film; 2018)

The NeverEnding Story (Film; 1984)

Revenge of the Nerds (Film; 1984)

Sid and Nancy (Film; 1986)

Spirited Away (Studio Ghibli Animated Film; 2001)

Stop the World — I Want To Get Off (Musical Play; 1961)

The Wind Rises (Studio Ghibli Animated Film; 2013)

Today’s Name Days

Margareta (Austria)

Ilina, Iliya, Iliyana, Ilko (Bulgaria)

Apolinar, Bernard, Ilija, Margareta, Marina (Croatia)

Ilja (Czech Republic)

Elias (Denmark)

Elias, Erland, Liias (Estonia)

Maaret, Maarit, Margareeta, Marketta, Reeta, Reetta (Finland)

Élie, Marina (France)

Elias, Greta, Margarete (Germany)

Elias, Ilias (Greece)

Illés (Hungary)

Elia, Simmaco (Italy)

Namejs, Ramona, Ritma (Latvia)

Alvydas, Česlovas, Jeronimas, Vismantė (Lithuania)

Margareta, Margit, Marit (Norway)

Czech, Czechasz, Czechoń, Czesław, Eliasz, Heliasz, Hieronim, Leon, Małgorzata, Paweł, Sewera (Poland)

Eliáš, Iľja (Slovakia)

Apolinar, Aurelio, Elías (Spain)

Greta, Margareta (Sweden)

Elio, Eliot, Eliott, Elliot, Elliott, Marine (Universal) Edna, Edwin, Edwina, Elias, Elijah, Ellice, Elliot, Elliott, Ellis, Ellison, Neal, Neala, Neil, Neila, Nelson, Niall, Nigel, Niles (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 201 of 2022; 164 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 3 of week 29 of 2022

Celtic Tree Calendar: Tinne (Holly) [Day 12 of 28]

Chinese: Month 6 (Héyuè), Day 22 (Jia-Xu)

Chinese Year of the: Tiger (until January 22, 2023)

Hebrew: 21 Tammuz 5782

Islamic: 20 Ḏū al-Ḥijjah 1443

J Cal: 21 Lux; Sixday [21 of 30]

Julian: 7 July 2022

Moon: 50% Third Quarter

Positivist: 5 Dante (8th Month) [Cervantes]

Runic Half Month: Ur (Primal Strength [Day 9 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 30 of 90)

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 30 of 30)

[thedurvin]

My favorite is Saint Wilgefortis/Uncumber, who was apparently invented when Christians used to seeing Christ crucified in a loincloth saw depictions where he was wearing a long gown and decided “this must be some bearded woman”

And invented a whole saint to explain the story, a patron saint for women who don’t want to be married

Art history fun fact: there’s a prominent statue of her in a Westminster chapel built by Henry VII, whose son would go on to be famous for finding reasons not to be married

I do genuinely wish there was more interest in the broader phenomena of the Dog Saint.

Heterodox Christian folklore around saints has so many different ways to be weird and heterodox, from inventing whole ass folk saints to just engaging with established saints in weird ways. We need more folk saints. Make shrines to St. Guinefort. Draw St. Christopher with a dog head.