Ancient Greeks and Romans often connected meteorological events to the action of divinities and address them for obtaining an intercession. The spread of Christianity and the polytheism end meant that ordinary people often thought that bad weather was due to the devil; this couldn’t be accepted by the Church. However, after some centuries, the Church accepted the "specialization" of saints by intercessions with the Almighty for meteorological miracles and graces. Over the time, these devotions spread so much so that the Pantheon of Meteorophile Saints, included those in charge of obtaining rain or to stop it, those against storms, lightning, floods, etc. The rites associated with weather-providential saints developed for centuries and became part of the European immaterial tradition. Although currently popular devotion has decreased in Europe, the mass-media still report some rites, held in some areas of Continent, to obtain divine intercession to fight drought or to stop rains.
Popular Religious Traditions and Meteorological Events in Western Europe during the Vulgar Era: The Meteo - Providential Saints
Matteo De Vincenzi;Gianni Fasano
2023
Abstract
Ancient Greeks and Romans often connected meteorological events to the action of divinities and address them for obtaining an intercession. The spread of Christianity and the polytheism end meant that ordinary people often thought that bad weather was due to the devil; this couldn’t be accepted by the Church. However, after some centuries, the Church accepted the "specialization" of saints by intercessions with the Almighty for meteorological miracles and graces. Over the time, these devotions spread so much so that the Pantheon of Meteorophile Saints, included those in charge of obtaining rain or to stop it, those against storms, lightning, floods, etc. The rites associated with weather-providential saints developed for centuries and became part of the European immaterial tradition. Although currently popular devotion has decreased in Europe, the mass-media still report some rites, held in some areas of Continent, to obtain divine intercession to fight drought or to stop rains.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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