• Thanks for stopping by. Logging in to a registered account will remove all generic ads. Please reach out with any questions or concerns.

St Barbara‘s Day

  • Thread starter Thread starter RCA
  • Start date Start date

RCA

Sr. Member
Inactive
Reaction score
1
Points
230
Dec 4 is St Barbara‘s Day and is celebrated by all gunners because she is our patron saint.

Barbara was a Greek living in Heliopolis, Egypt in the 3rd or 4th century AD, and converted to Christianity against her father‘s wishes. Some legends say that her father, Dioscorus, presented her with a prospective husband whom she refused to marry as he was not a Christian.

He had a tower built for her, either to imprison her or to house her hammam, but she ordered three windows to be made in it, as a symbol of the Holy Trinity and an outward demonstration of her faith. Her father was angered and had her beheaded (some say he carried out this act himself). Suddenly, a violent storm broke out and he was struck by a bolt of lightning which killed him outright.

Saint Barbara was invoked to grant safety from lightning, later becoming the Patron Saint of gunners, who were at risk from fiery elements, and consequently of the Royal Regiment. The red zig-zag flash against a navy ground serves as a reminder.

At this point on 4 Dec gunners will raise a toast to St Barbara and the Queen.

So to all you heathen non-gunners out there remember we can reach out and touch someone and more importantly we aim to please.

Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt

Ubique
 
Happy St. Barbara‘s Day, Gunners. I‘m the son of a Gunner, so I guess I better say it on here cause it looks like no one else will.

Hope it‘s been a happy one, RCA.
 
There are some differing opinions on St Barbara, but there usually pretty similar.

Some sites to check out...

http://www.folkstory.com/articles/stbabs.html
http://home.it.net.au/~jgrapsas/pages/st_barbara.htm
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintb01.htm
http://sill-www.army.mil/pao/pabarbar.htm
 
The Navy also celebrates St.Barbara Day.

http://www.tridentnews.ca/PDFArchives/Dec13_2004.pdf

It is a blast as NWT's and Lady Gunners (NESOP's) hold competitions.See Link

When Osborne Head Naval Gun Range was active, St.Barbara's day was the highlight of the year as ship's gunnery teams squared off followed by sociables and usually a trip to the New Palace (to have those days back)

CROW :'(
 
Indeed it is a good event that normally draws quite a crowd here in Halifax and many retired Military members come out for the event.

Since the closure of Naval Gun Range, the event is now conducted on the HMCS Sackville, one of Canada's Naval Corvettes.

 
Back
Top