Friday, January 2, 2009

Feast Day of St. Marcarius

Today, let us celebrate the Feast Day of St. Marcarius, the patron saint of cooks, confectioners, and pastry chefs.

St. Marcarius of Alexandria, also known as the Younger, was a successful merchant of fruits, candies and pastries, including sugar plums. Around 335 A.D., when he was about 40 years old, he converted to Christianity. He primarily spent the rest of his life as a hermit, engaged in penance, prayer and contemplation. He was well known for his ascetic ways, serving as a model for others.

It is traditional to eat sugar plums today so you can find plenty of recipes for sugar plums here.

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