St Anthony's Day : 17 January

Today is the Feast Day of St Anthony of Egypt (aka Anthony the Great, c. 250 to 356), the Patron Saint of Butchers.

He was born at Coma, near Heracleopolis Magna in Fayum, and died at Mount Colzim. He gave all his property away and lived as a hermit to the ripe old age of nearly 105.

There appears to be no obvious reason why he was a patron saint of butchers. But, he's also considered the Patron Saint of Pig Farmers, and as such is often depicted with a pig at his side. Apparently that part is all just a misunderstanding, though. The speculation is that he was pictured with pigs because pork fat was often used as an ointment, and St Anthony did some healing.

He is not the same as St Anthony of Padua.

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