Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 5 1887.djvu/79

71 NOTES AND QUERIES.

Superstition in Sicily.—A Naples correspondent writes:—In the province of Catania (Sicily), the festival of San Filippo, the patron saint of Calatabiano, is celebrated in a strangely superstitious manner. The ignorant population of that district believe that San Filippo had the power of restoring to health all those afflicted with epilepsy, insanity, or other nervous maladies—in short, that the invocation of the saint is sufficient to cast out the evil spirit. On the day of the festival such afflicted persons from all the country around are brought by their relations to be cured instantaneously at the church of Calatabiano. On arriving they are seized by robust peasants, who attempt to make them kiss the image of the saint, and cry "Viva San Filippo!" Some, as might be expected, are too stupid to obey, others struggle furiously in the hands of their captors, who then resort to the most savage means of compulsion, tearing off their clothes, pulling their hair, and even biting them, continuing the torture throughout the day until the victims pronounce the sacramental words. This being accomplished, the unfortunate invalids are again consigned to their relations, who take them home with tears of joy, only to be bitterly undeceived by finding them later on worse than before. This year the same scene was repeated, but was soon put a stop to by a policeconstable, who in the name of the law arrested all who refused to renounce the barbarous custom.—Rotherham Advertiser, 7 June, 1884.

Saint Patrick and the Devil,—Can any one give the legend about St. Patrick and the Devil? I used to hear it in the neighbourhood of the Shannon when a boy, but forget it. It was somewhat like the story of Andriamatoa in the Journal, ante. vol. ii. p. 45, being a trial of skill. All I remember is, the saint gave the devil a