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Date: Monday, January 1, 2001 
Question/Topic: Bread and salt ritual (to bless a home) 
Answer/Pointer: Saint George - To bless a new home Saint George was reputedly born in Cappadocia and was a soldier in the Roman army. Legend tell that he killed a dragon in order to save a beautiful virgin. He was martyred at Lydda during the persecutions of Diocletian, and is to day the patron saint of England. The Ritual: In order to bless a new home, the petitioner must enter every room, before any furniture has been moved into it, carrying a loaf of bread under one arm, a piece of coal, a pinch of sea salt and a fresh spring of parsley in one hand, and the image of Saint George in the other. The following prayer will elicit the blessing of the saint: "In the name of the Lord and Jesus, with the strength of the Holy Ghost and of Saint George, whom I promise to worship eternally, I ask for the blessing of this home. Keep away bad spirits, and make sure that in every corner of this house we will find hope for eternal glory. Please let us not be without bread to nourish us, coal to keep us warm, salt to purify us, and the magic of herbs to help us. In the name of Saint George who fought the dragon, let the evil forces be conauered and the good spirits win." The Offering: Once the prayer has been said all the ingredients mentioned above must be put into a bag, adding rice, sugar, coffee, a laurel leaf, three copper coins, and an ear of wheat. The bag must be kept in the pantry or in the kitchen cupboard where food is stored. Source: Saints, the chosen few, by Manuela Dunn-Mascetti. 235.2092 Dun 
Librarian: LCLCPL 
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