The Feast of St. Isidore the Ploughman is celebrated in Madrid, Spain, with eight days of
bullfighting at the Plaza de Toros, colorful parades, and many artistic, cultural, and
sporting events. Street vendors sell pictures of the saint, small glass or pottery bells
believed to ward off harm from thunder and lightning, and whistle-stemmed glass roses,
which provide a noisy accompaniment to the feasting and dancing that go on.

San Isidro (c. 1070-1130) is the patron saint of Madrid and also of farmers. He worked
on a farm outside Madrid. According to legend, one day, as his master was spying on
him to see how hard he was working, an angel and a yoke of white oxen appeared at
Isidro's side. He was canonized in 1622, and local farmers still attend a special mass on
his feast day, May 15. The Festival of San Isidro is celebrated in other Spanish towns as
well, particularly Leÿn and Alicante.

San Isidro is also the patron saint of Saipan, capital of the Northern Mariana Islands in
the western Pacific Ocean near Guam. While dance groups practice, men form hunting
and fishing parties to provide food, and youth organizations clean and prepare the
festival site. The fiesta begins at the end of a novena (nine days of prayers and special
religious services). It features games of skill and traditional dances with prizes for the
winners, and a great variety of foods.

Philippine towns and villages also commemorate St. Isidro. In Quezon Province, ornaments made from rice meal dyed in bright colors, called kiping, are attached to the
fronts of houses. Townspeople and the priest parade through town and when that's over,
the kiping are eaten.

Full story... https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Feast+of+San+Isidro+the+Farmer

--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v7.0
* Origin: The Hobby Line! BBS - hobbylinebbs.com (954:895/1)