A virgin martyr slain by her father for converting to Christianity, St Barbara’s feast day, December 4, is the start of Christmas season in Syria and Lebanon and the occasion for European traditions involving blossoms. In Germany, Austria, the Czech lands and Slovakia a ‘Barbara twig’ is cut from a cherry tree and placed in water. If it blooms on or before Christmas Eve the family will see a marriage in the year to come. In Provence and parts of the Middle East wheat and lentils are sown on St Barbara’s Day and if they germinate are served on Christmas.
When her father chopped off her head he was instantly struck dead by a bolt of lightning. For this explosive reason Barbara is the patron saint of miners and artillery men.