The feast of St Catherine of Alexandria is celebrated on November 25th. St Catherine was the matchmaker saint. She is also known as the patroness of fashion. The holiday was celebrated by young dressmakers and milliners. Young women would dress the statue of the saint as part of their formal training. Catherinettes were unmarried female workers whose 25th birthday falls during that year. The catherinette would be crowned by their boss with an elaborate bonnet in the colors of green and gold. The bonnet symbolized the girls availability. The entire ritual was to help ward off the fate of being a spinster. I believe it is still being celebrated today but it is more a day of drinking and wearing a funny hat. This ytown spinster needs a yellow and green hat before november! (www.bide-et-musique.com)
2 Inspired Comments:
Love the story of the catherinettes but no such thing as a spinster. merely a woman currently at liberty. xoxoxo
Hello! I love your blog! =)
Thank you for this charming historical tidbit! I love learning about things like this... and now I know I have a saint I can turn to when I am having bad hair days! ;-)
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