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Blackmailing Saint Anthony

Today, June 13th, we celebrate the Day of Saint Anthony (Dia de Santo Antônio).

 

He is one of the most popular saints in Brazil, mainly because of his fame as the matchmaker saint. 

 

 An old tradition (probably inherited from the Portugueses) consists in people leaving the saint's image upside down (or bury it upside down, or even boil it) blackmailing him to only put him in his normal position after they found a husband / wife.

 

Another way to force poor Saint Anthony

 to give a helping hand to the desperate singles is removing the baby Jesus from his arms

and keeping them separated until a good wife (or husband) is found.

 

I don't know if it works or not, but, just in case...

COMMENTS
Liliana said at 6:49 p.m. on Jun 13, 2007:
"Just in case"...!!!! Obrigada, mi sugerencia tuvo cietto eco. ¡¡¡¡Qué creativo!!!! Me encantan los distintos estilos que elegiste.
I think it is not only a Portuguese tradition, but Spanish tradition, too. It is very usual to find it in novels and theatre plays from Spain (and Hispanic Latin America, too). I only know that women (not men) make this with the saint.
¿Tenés las referencias, de dónde es cada imagen? Muy interesante la última de abajo, a la derecha, el vitreaux también derecho y el ícono.
Noe said at 6:51 p.m. on Jun 13, 2007:
Jejeje... aca en Mexico tambien es comun esta tradicion con el mismo santo =)
Wlk68 said at 6:52 p.m. on Jun 13, 2007:
"Just in case..." LOL This is a delightful tradition. Maybe I'll give it a try. Every little bit helps. :-)
PaulBarfoot said at 6:59 p.m. on Jun 13, 2007:
Very cool! An interesting tradition. Thanks for sharing it. Now I hope St Anthony gets busy and does his part.
Eduardo.affonso said at 7:09 p.m. on Jun 13, 2007:
Thanks, RETA!

LILIANA: Suponho que a origem seja portuguesa, até porque o Santo Antônio é lisboeta. Mas pode ser que a tradição de chantagear os santos seja mesmo ibérica (tem tudo a ver com o espírito ibérico, não? essa coisa de religiosidade fervorosa aliada a uma tendência à heresia, à passionalidade). Claro que a coisa é muito mais feminina que masculina (afinal, se todas querem arrumar marido, por que se preocupar em arrumar uma mulher??). Não tenho mais as referências das imagens. Busquei na internet, em sites brasileiros, espanhóis, americanos. Gosto mais das figuras mais ingênuas, como a que deixei em formato maior.

NOE: Me lo imaginaba. Somos todos muy parecidos, no?

WENDY: Cooking the image seems to be more efficient. I'm not sure if the food will taste well, but... who cares? Please keep me informed of the results!
Eduardo.affonso said at 7:12 p.m. on Jun 13, 2007:
PAUL: I'm sure Saint Anthony needs more helpers than Santa Claus at Christmas time...
Liliana said at 7:30 p.m. on Jun 13, 2007:
Esa "maior" de tamaño es la más común, por eso no me llamó la atención... No sabía que San Antonio era portugués...
Y sí, seguramente es una tradición ibérica.
Love2laugh said at 8:05 p.m. on Jun 13, 2007:
hahahaha.. Eduardo. When I first saw it, I thought... "OH NO.. his tabblo is upside down" ... then saw your writing and explaining it. I got such a laugh out of it. Hmmmm... I wonder if it works. :) This is delightful ... and creative. Love it !!
Experience said at 8:06 p.m. on Jun 13, 2007:
Complimenti per questo tabblo Eduardo... in Italia il 13 Giugno è S. Antonio da Padova. Il mio saluto.
Hilah said at 8:11 p.m. on Jun 13, 2007:
Sounds like a really fun tradition. Did you bury St Anthony upside down?
Rita.Mandarino said at 8:14 p.m. on Jun 13, 2007:
Adorei Eduardo

Mas vc tá precisando disso? ahahaha não acredito! Mas a tradição existe e dizem funciona! Adoro suas fotos e mais que isso gosto das histórias. Vc está me inspirando e até já criei um Tabblo pra mim. Hoje postei umas fotos, tímidas ainda, mas com o tempo vou acertando ....
bj
Pkeener said at 8:39 p.m. on Jun 13, 2007:
Love the Deliscious Title! Yummy! I am hungry AND single. Hmmm, I wonder if boiled St Anthony goes well with a salad and some wine. Then a little chocolate for dessert. Beautiful Tabblo, Eduardo. I would have NEVER thought to put these two colors together and they really bring out the colors of his robe and the stem of the flowers. Has it worked for you? Come on, tell us the truth!
Eduardo.affonso said at 8:45 p.m. on Jun 13, 2007:
SHEILA: Try it and then tell me whether it works or not.

ANTONIO: Lo stesso qui! Ma non credo che S. Antonio abbia il potere di trovare fidanzate anche in Italia...

HILAH: At first I found it weird and disrespectful. Now I think it just funny. I don't have any image of any saint to bury (I'm atheist) but I hope these 13 pics posted upside down are enough.

RITA: Tem tabblo e nem me avisa? Qual é o seu nick? Não sei se estou precisando ou não de apelar para esse tipo de simpatia, mas espero mudar de estado civil antes dos 13 dias regulamentares. Quanto ao tabblo, ele é cheio de macetes, que vc vai pegando aos poucos. Tem mil variações de formatos, cores, fontes, leiautes. É uma brincadeira e tanto, vc vai gostar. Cheguei até a fazer um tabblo sobre o vício do tabblo. Depois te mando o link.
Love2laugh said at 8:53 p.m. on Jun 13, 2007:
Eduardo ... I haven't tried it yet, but you did put the pictures upside down. :) But your single TOO...hahahaha... !! So maybe it does not work ? The secret might be "GOOD" wife or husband..huh??? hahahaha... I had one, but I will admit I think there could be another one. :) The trick is HIM finding me. You know I'm giggling over here, because I would love to say more just for fun ... but will behave. :)
Liliana said at 8:55 p.m. on Jun 13, 2007:
¿¿Trece días es el plazo...?? ¡¡¡Eso sí que no lo sabía!!! Depois me conte... :) Y ahora que leo al italiano...¡¡claro!! San Antonio es ¡de Padua, no de Lisboa, para nosotros más popular!
Eduardo.affonso said at 9:07 p.m. on Jun 13, 2007:
PAM: I think boiled St. Anthony goes well with Portuguese green wine and sardines. Hmmm These colors came naturally because of that naïf image (the big one), and I thought it would be fine to try something unusual. The "simpatia" (that's the Portuguese word for this kind of "witchcraft") seems to be working: have already a date for tomorrow. Let's hope St. Anthony is not just fooling me.
Eduardo.affonso said at 9:14 p.m. on Jun 13, 2007:
SHEILA: You must leave St. Anthony buried (or hang) upside down for 13 days. As I want things to happen faster, I posted 13 pics at once and hope the saint will accept the deal. Tomorrow I tell you whether it worked or not. And I appreciate your good behavior :-)

LILIANA: Diz a lenda que a coisa deve durar 13 dias. Agora fiquei na dúvida, porque sempre achei que só houvesse um Santo Antônio. Será que o de Pádua não nasceu em Lisboa?? Até onde sei, Santo Antônio é lisboeta, não italiano. Lá vou eu ter que pesquisar de novo.
Love2laugh said at 9:53 p.m. on Jun 13, 2007:
13 days ?? Eduardo, do I look that patient? hahahaha.... I can see you have the same impatience, so tell me tomorrow if the women are BEATING YOUR DOOR DOWN wanting to marry you. OK ? Something tells me... THEY ARE .... even without you putting this tabblo up. :)
Rita.Mandarino said at 10:09 p.m. on Jun 13, 2007:
eu me cadastrei como rita.mandarino. Já coloquei umas fotos que tirei hoje lá de cima do sumaré mas não chegam aos pés das suas...sniff
Liliana said at 10:14 p.m. on Jun 13, 2007:
Investigá, investigá... debe de haber miles de Santos Antonios. No te asombres si hay uno de Alcántara, Toledo o Cadiz, los españoles no se perderían la oportunidad. ¡O uno brasileño! ¡¡Ustedes ya tienen uno!!
¿Así que mañana será uno de los "días D"?¿Y que las mujeres te tirarán abajo las puertas? Sorte!!!! ;)
Pkeener said at 11:24 p.m. on Jun 13, 2007:
I was so drawn to that image, but didn't think it was Naif? It looks so realistic. Anyway, I already bought my medal, so maybe I can just wear it on my neck? Good luck on your date! I hope my dinner works for me!
Abking said at 11:49 p.m. on Jun 13, 2007:
Poor St. Anthony gets rough treatment. I hope it's worth it for everyone!
NavyMom said at 12:37 a.m. on Jun 14, 2007:
what a delightful tabblo. fingers crossed that my lastest client [a single guy] wins in the multiple offer bid in ' little Italy.' If he does, i'm putting st. anthony in his house.
Mashpee_Paula said at 9:01 a.m. on Jun 14, 2007:
Fascinating Tabblo Eduardo ~ i did not know that Saint Anthony was a "matchmaker." As I mentioned to you before, I always learn something from your tabblos!! Good luck to you!! Thanks!
ps: My son's name is Anthony! :)
Engelgrafik said at 9:29 a.m. on Jun 14, 2007:
Very interesting tabblo, Eduardo! St. Anthony is also the patron saint of fishermen I believe. I also know that in Beaumont, Texas, of all places, there is a consecrated cathedral that is named in his honor, St. Anthony of Padua.
DEE-Trow said at 10:34 a.m. on Jun 14, 2007:
Better to be safe than sorry! Very well done, Eduardo!
OscarDaniel said at 11:19 a.m. on Jun 14, 2007:
Prabéns pelo tabblo Eduardo, grande ideia! e muito boas fotos!
Anjad said at 3:50 p.m. on Jun 14, 2007:
Very interesting tabblo Eduardo. Thanks for sharing.
EMA said at 6:24 p.m. on Jun 14, 2007:
Sanit Antony is Portuguese and did not know about that tradition. Poor me!
Luckily I'm married already!
Thank you Eduardo! I loved your tabblo!
Liliana said at 7:53 p.m. on Jun 14, 2007:
¡¡¡¡Ja,ja!!!! Mirá lo que aprendí hoy de otros brasileños: ¡que algunos ponen al santo...en el freezer! ¿Será ruso, finalmente, no portugués ni italiano...? ;)
Jigs said at 7:35 a.m. on Jun 15, 2007:
First time I've heard of this story of Saint Anthony. We usually regard him as the saint of the "Lost and Found" - like if you lose something, especially something you can't afford to lose, like your car keys or your passport or even your teeth (ja ja ja), you just pray to St. Anthony and he'll find it for you and lead you to it.
Pkeener said at 9:32 a.m. on Jun 15, 2007:
Yes, I had always thought that, too, Jigs, in fact i need him badly for all the things I have lost! But you know how Brasilians are...seems it's all about Amor with them!
Liliana said at 9:20 a.m. on Jun 16, 2007:
Pam, sorry...! The tradition come from Spain and Portugal. So AMOR is not Brazilian :) !!!!
Pkeener said at 9:27 a.m. on Jun 16, 2007:
Hi Liliana. Thank you for the info! :)
Liliana said at 11:16 a.m. on Jun 16, 2007:
Sorry, Pam, I wanted to say "AMOR is not ONLY Brazilian"...
Vinca said at 9:04 a.m. on Jun 17, 2007:
LOL Eduardo. The things people do! People do strange things all over the world but this one is really funny and wicked. All for a spouse. LOL..all the best to you in your blackmailing :o) Very interesting and enjoyable tabblo Eduardo. Well done :o)
Katkee said at 9:42 a.m. on Jun 17, 2007:
~i believe in the powers of St Anthony~it worked for me~
Eduardo.affonso said at 1:18 p.m. on Jun 18, 2007:
KATKEE: It haven't worked for me - yet.

VINCA: I used to find it weird, disrespectful, stupid - now I find it just funny.

JIGS: We have another saint for lost things, São Longuinho (don't know how to write his name in English). Brazilians pray to St Expeditus to get urgent things, to Saint Judas Tadeo to get impossible things (nothing seems to be inpossible for him to get) and St. Rita of Cascia for difficult (yet not impossible) things. And, of course, to St. Anthony, to find a spouse.

LILIANA: Certamente haverá quem o ponha no freezer, no microondas... A tradição pode ser ibérica, mas acho que a Pam tem razão ao dizer que os brasileiros são particularmente "amorosos" (ou "passionais", ou "afetuosos" - enfim) com relação a todos os assuntos. Mesmo sem saber, ela reforça a tese do "homem cordial", que seria a melhor definição do brasileiro, segundo Sérgio Buarque de Hollanda (ele mesmo, o historiador, pai do Chico).

PAM: There's a theory, developed by Sérgio Buarque de Hollanda, about Brazilians being "cordial men" (and women, of course). It would be part of our national identity - for the good and for the evil.

EDIT: You are Portuguese and have never heard of that? Well, maybe it came to Brazil from a different part of your country.

ANJA, ORCAR, DEE, PAULA, SHIRL, ABKING: Thanks for your comments. Hope you have really enjoyed this - and maybe you'll help me to spread this tradition around the world.

JEFF: There are two St. Anthonys, at least: of Padova (Italian) and of Lisbon (Portuguese). I don't know if this tradition is related to both of them or just to the Portuguese saint.

PAM: I think the composition and the colors are very naïf, of popular taste.
Liliana said at 5:22 p.m. on Jun 18, 2007:
Mi querido amigo: conozco a Sérgio Buarque de Holanda y ... su época. Estoy de acuerdo con lo de "hombre cordial" pero considero que aquí se está manejando otro estreotipo (les guste a los sociólogos, historiadores, brasileños en general o no) que no es justamente el de la cordialidad (con su etimología que seguramente conocés). Hablando (¡¡y mucho!!) con extranjeros , veo que para ellos el "brasileño / la brasileña ti´picos" son más que cordiales. No te enojes, sabemos que son clichés, yo siempre trato de desmoronarlo en esas charlas... confieso que con poco éxito. En esa imagen entran, ya sabés, también, el amante del carnaval, el despreocupado, el que vive por y para el fútbol... sei lá!! Es lo que compran afuera (si ustedes lo venden o no es otra historia... para el espíritu de Don Sérgio). ;)
Eduardo.affonso said at 7:29 p.m. on Jun 18, 2007:
A teoria do "homem cordial" tem sido desmentida diariamente, pela violência urbana, pela corrupção, mas mesmo isso nos choca mais porque "não se parece conosco", é como se fosse um outro brasileiro, não aquele com o qual nos identificamos. No fundo, ainda nos agarramos a essa visão idílica que temos de nós mesmos - como calorosos, cordiais, sensuais, miscigenados. Aí vem o Lula e impõe cotas raciais nas universidades (nós, que nunca soubemos de que cor somos, agora temos que optar entre ser "brancos" ou "negros", sem meios tons), nos impinge um governo que não se cansa de negar tudo o que prometia ser, eleva a corrupção a níveis nunca vistos por aqui, deixa a violência alcançar patamares de guerra civil. Não sei até quando continuaremos "cordiais"...
Liliana said at 8:19 p.m. on Jun 18, 2007:
Van a seguir "cordiais", no lo dudes... Eso va por encima de tanta violencia, corrupción y estupidez, creeme. Sabía (creo que lo hablamos tiempo atrás por mail...) sobre las "cotas raciais" y sabés que cincido com vc. Triste todo, me duele mi querido Brasil ...
Jigs said at 9:21 p.m. on Jun 18, 2007:
My favorite personal saint (since I was a student in a convent school) is Saint Anne, Mother Mary's mother. She is the saint of pleasant surprises. We'd pray every Tuesday for a pleasant surprise and she always granted us one. It's one terrific way to look forward to a blessing each week and I keep up the habit to this day.
Eduardo.affonso said at 9:51 p.m. on Jun 18, 2007:
That's great, JIGS: a saint of pleasant surprises. Maybe St. Anne got this status because she was told by an angel she was going to get pregnant when she was already old, is that right? I remember that story from my early days, at Sunday School. Wish I had that hope: a pleasant surprise each week. Would you mind to pray twice??
Nmat said at 12:16 p.m. on Jun 20, 2007:
Good luck, keep us posted ;-)
Katkee said at 12:33 p.m. on Jun 20, 2007:
~i have added St Anne to my collection of guardians~thank you jigs~i love this pleasant surprise~it's how i feel when i open your tabblos, edu.
Eduardo.affonso said at 7:12 a.m. on Jun 22, 2007:
NANCY: Nothing happened until yesterday, when I had a very promising date. Keep your fingers crossed!

KATE: I feel exactly the same when you release a new work. I think the devotion to St. Anne is spreading fast here on Tabblo - thanks to Jigs...
Jigs said at 10:37 p.m. on Jun 22, 2007:
The Holy Grandmother would, I'm sure, be pleased to find that she has so many people all around the world to spring pleasant surprises on! Our Every-Tuesday prayer ritual includes praying 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, and 1 Glory-Be and finishing off with "Dear Saint Anne, please grant me a pleasant surprise" for 3 consecutive hours of the morning. Then just sit back, do what you usually do, and let the surprise bring joy to your week. :-)
Liliana said at 7:41 a.m. on Jun 23, 2007:
Qué raro... Yo conocía a Santa Rita (de Casia) como "patrona de los imposibles"...
Esto que cuenta Jigs es muy interesante, parece casi un pase de magia: un Padre Nuestro, un Ave María, un Gloria y...¡deseo cumplido! Casi como frotar la lámpara e Aladino ;).
Pkeener said at 1:55 p.m. on Jun 23, 2007:
This is very good info, Jigs. I have always had St Chritopher around my neck, but I think I might have to find a St Anthony medal, now.
Jigs said at 10:38 p.m. on Jun 23, 2007:
There is no magic implied, Liliana! Neither is St. Anne like a genie granting wishes or desires! I guess one may consider it a naive and almost childlike approach to prayer, which you could say is typical of the people of Spain's former colonies (like the Philippines, Mexico, even Argentina), but that's like saying novenas to the saints are 9-day magic incantations that bring forth the fulfillment of one's desires. This is nothing at all like that. Whether or not you believe in the saints granting prayers, the VERY LEAST that this will do is to open and prepare your mind to unexpected blessings, big or small, that may come your way during the week. And that would be good in itself, wouldn't it?
Liliana said at 9:27 a.m. on Jun 24, 2007:
Jigs, my comment was a little ironic but here the situation is quite similar. There are lots of "advocaciones"(I don´t know it in English, matybe ther in Philipines you have a similar word from Spanish language) of St. Mary (Jesus´Mother). A lot of them are very popular (like "la Virgen de Guadalupe"in México or "la Virgen de Luján", here) and they have their "own" plegaries . It is not a critic to you not Philipine people, it was a comment about popular way to live religion. And I think many people (here, in Argentina, where I live, I speak about what I know, only) have quite "magical" view from religion.
Pkeener said at 2:10 p.m. on Jun 24, 2007:
Just a random thought, but I am reading the new Isabel Allende novel; 'Ines of MY Soul', and I dreamt I went to Chilie and was traveling with St Anthony!!
Liliana said at 3:03 p.m. on Jun 24, 2007:
Hi, Pam!!! I like your dream! Really, I consider it more original than Isabel Allende! She has a great success, she writtes a lot of novels. She is living there (in the USA) from a long time. I haven´t read "Ines of my soul" , but I know it was a best-seller here. I have to confess that I don´t like her books (I have read two or three), I think she try to "be" Gabriel García Márquez ...
Siagian said at 12:03 a.m. on Jun 26, 2007:
LOL! blackmailing AND torture too! its interesting to see how people try to "manipulate" the saints into answering a prayer.
Marranei said at 11:18 a.m. on Aug 2, 2007:
Amei o tabblo!
Não só a idéia, mas as cores...
Sem contar que achei bem legal vc divulgar essas tradições brasileiras... Congrats!
TerezaIzabel said at 1:37 p.m. on Aug 22, 2007:
I put mine upside down about 2 weeks ago & my cat, who has never touched my saint, since bringing it home more than 2 or 3 years ago, is SUDDENLY transfixed with it at different times. She sits & stares at it, sometimes she just has 2 go up & touch it with one paw, and it's different times of the day & night.

Has anyone else heard of this happening? I like to think that this is when St. Anthony is really working his hardest for me!
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