Book of Days

EIGHTH DAY of CHRISTMAS:
St. Macarius’s Day

This Eighth Day of Christmas is given to the Feast of St. Macarius of Egypt, who was no fun at all. He is a fourth century saint from Alexandria who lived the latter part of his life as a hermit in the desert, eating only raw vegetables on most days. On special days, he ate a bit of bread dipped in oil.

Prior to his ascetic ways, though, Macarius was a confectioner, and so he is known as a patron saint of cooks, confectioners, and pastry chefs. His day could have gone either way, and the tradition for the Eighth Day of Christmas may very well have been to eat raw vegetables and talk to no one, but this is Christmastime, and folks are in a festive mood. Luckily, it is Macarius the Confectioner who gets our attention on his feast day, and tradition would have us enjoying something sweet for his day. Macarius the Confectioner certainly brought a bit of happiness to the people of Alexandria who ate his candies and confections, and today we ask him for a bit of that happiness once more.

Over the years, St. Macarius has developed a nickname, which comes from a combination of his former profession and the fact that his real name is not an easy one to pronounce for some folks. And so he has become known also as St. Macaroon. . .  which makes him a lot less ascetic and a lot more grandfatherly, perhaps. On this Eighth Day of Christmas, St. Macaroon and I encourage you to find happiness and sweetness in life.

Image: St. Macarius of Egypt, from an old Ukranian codex. [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons.