May 23, 1099: the building of the Cathedral of Modena officially begins. The facts surrounding the design and the construction of the Cathedral (also known as Duomo di Modena) are narrated in a document dated…

As of today, May 21, the Sun enters the zodiac sign of Gemini. Gemini, meaning "twins" in Latin, is represented by a couple of twins; namely, Castor and Pollux from Greek mythology, which referred to them jointly…

« St Dunstan, as the story goes, Once pull'd the devil by the nose With red-hot tongs, which made him roar, That he was heard three miles or more. » (Folk rhyme)   May 19 is the…

«[...] "When we cameTo the fourth day, then Gaddo at my feetOutstretch’d did fling him, crying, ‘Hast no helpFor me, my father!’ There he died; and e’enPlainly as thou seest me, saw I the threeFall…

The Catholic Church celebrates today, on the 40th day after Easter, the Ascension of Jesus to Heaven. Being one of the pillars of Christianity, it goes without saying that the Ascension is also one of the…

May 4th... be with you! Do you recognize this strange creature from a 14th-century manuscript? May 4th is considered by many to be Star Wars Day, and is celebrated as such with many events (and dedicated…

For the last 25 years, UNESCO has been celebrating May 3 as World Press Freedom Day. The aim of the Day, declared by the UN General Assembly in 1993, is that of celebrating and highlighting the principles…

Every year, the night from April 30 to May 1, part of Europe celebrates the Germanic and Scandinavian feast known as Walpurgis Night. Although its name comes from the 8th-century Christian Saint Walpurga (or Walburga) of Heidenheim,…

  April 29 is the feast day of Saint Catherine of Siena, patron saint of Italy (along with St. Francis of Assisi) and Europe (together with Benedict of Nursia, Saints Cyril and Methodius, Bridget of…

Initial "P", illumination from the manuscript "Missale ad usum ecclesiae Aquensis", ms. NAL 2661, f. 50v, 1466, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Département des manuscrits, Paris.   “But he who dares not grasp the thorn Should never crave…