Saint Blaise (or Blasius - died circa 316) was a physician and bishop of Sebaste, Armenia. He was martyred by being beaten, attacked with iron combs, and beheaded.

Blaise is traditionally believed to intercede in cases of throat illnesses, but a more striking association is his association with those working in the wool trade. In iconography Blaise is often shown with the instruments of his martyrdom, iron combs. The similarity of these instruments of torture to wool combs meant that he was adopted as patron of those working in this trade.

Blaise is the patron saint of the city of Dubrovnik (where he is known as Sveti Vlaho). He is believed to have appeared in a vision in 971 to warn the inhabitants of an impending attack by the Venetians.

His cult became widespread in Europe in the 11th and 12th centuries. In Italy he is known as San Biaggio, and in Cornwall as Saint Blazey.

In England in the 18th and 19th centuries Blaise was adopted as mascot of woolworkers' pageants, particularly in Essex, Yorkshire, Wiltshire and Norwich. The popular enthusiasm for the saint is explained by the belief that Blaise had brought prosperity (as symbolised by the Woolsack) to England by teaching the English to comb wool. According to the tradition as recorded in broadsheets, Blaise came from Jersey. Jersey was certainly a centre of export of woollen goods (as witnessed by the name jersey for the woollen textile). However, this legend is probably the result of confusion with a different saint, Blasius of Caesarea (Caesarea being also the Latin name of Jersey).

According to Brand's Popular Antiquities (1813), in areas of the English countryside it was the custom to light bonfires on St. Blaise's feast day, February 3 - evidently inspired by the sound of the word blaze.

Those who practice erotic asphyxiation as a sexual fetish sometimes refer to themselves as "Disciples of Blaise" because of his association with the throat.

Blaise is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.

Blaise is also the name of a software package developed at Statistics Netherlands (http://www.blaise.com).

Blaise Zabini is also a character in Harry Potter. He is in Slytherin.

External link

• article in the Patron Saints Index (http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintb04.htm)