Dusty Feasts

Official feasts used to be an important part of the human community. People would gather together to remember something sacred, express their faith and hope for the future, and / or just be together formally, recognizing each other as being part of a shared community. Few things express a desire for shared companionship and social intimacy more than dining together. Sadly, the gathering together for feasting is increasingly a relic of the past – at least here in the West.

It need not be so! Today we will remember the ancient feasts.

THE FEAST DAY OF ST. Mungo

This feast is a Christian religious celebration of St. Mungo, a sixth century missionary in Britain, and the founder and patron saint of Glasgow, Scotland. 

Who is St. Mungo?

Kentigern (Welsh: Cyndeyrn Garthwys; Latin: Kentigernus), known as Mungo, was a missionary in the Brittonic Kingdom of Strathclyde in the late sixth century, and the founder and patron saint of the city of Glasgow.

Name

In Wales and England, this saint is known by his birth and baptismal name Kentigern (Welsh: Cyndeyrn). This name probably comes from the British *Cuno-tigernos, which is composed of the elements *cun, a hound, and *tigerno, a lord, prince, or king. The evidence is based on the Old Welsh record Conthigirn(i).^[2] Other etymologies have been suggested, including British *Kintu-tigernos ‘chief prince’ based on the English form Kentigern, but the Old Welsh form above and Old English Cundiʒeorn do not appear to support this.

Particularly in Scotland, he is known by the pet name Mungo, possibly derived from the Cumbric equivalent of the Welsh: fy nghu ‘my dear (one)’.^[4] The Mungo pet name or hypocorism has a Gaelic parallel in the form Mo Choe or Mo Cha, under which guise Kentigern appears in Kirkmahoe, for example, in Dumfriesshire, which appears as ecclesia Sancti Kentigerni in the Arbroath Liber in 1321. An ancient church in Bromfield, Cumbria, is named after him, as are Crosthwaite Parish Church and some other churches in the northern part of Cumbria, for example St Mungo’s Church, Dearham.

St. Mungo is known for Four Miracles. 

via https://catholicsaints.day/mungo/

Miracle One: Here is the Bird that Never Flew

The first miracle took place during Mungo’s time with St. Serf. A group of boys killed St. Serf’s pet robin, and Mungo, filled with compassion, held the dead bird in his hands and prayed to God, bringing it back to life.

“Oh Mighty Lord, breathe life into this tiny creature, so it may fly again.”

Miracle Two: Here is the Tree that Never Grew

The second miracle involves a fire which Mungo rekindled using only a hazel branch.

Miracle Three: Here is the Bell that Never Rang

When a holy bell was brought from Rome by Mungo as a gift, it got lost in the River Clyde. Miraculously, a fish retrieved it.

Miracle Four: Here is the Fish that Never Swam

In the final miracle, Mungo exposed an unfaithful queen’s deceit by retrieving a ring thrown in the river, found inside a fish’s belly.

How is St. Mungo’s Feast Day celebrated?

Saint Mungo, also known as Saint Kentigern, is an important figure in the Catholic Church, particularly in Scotland. He was a 6th-century bishop and the patron saint of Glasgow.

On his feast day, which is on January 13th, special services and masses are held in his honor within the Catholic Church. These services often include readings about his life and miracles, prayers for his intercession, and reflections on his teachings. In his birthplace of Glasgow, Saint Mungo’s feast day is sometimes marked with additional celebrations or events, such as educational activities or concerts.

Saint Mungo is mainly celebrated in Scotland, but his influence also extends to parts of England and Wales. Some churches in these countries hold special services or celebrations in his honor. His feast day is recognized in the wider Catholic calendar, so individual Catholics around the world may also choose to honor Saint Mungo on January 13th.

As the patron saint of Glasgow, Saint Mungo played a significant role in establishing this city as a religious center. Today, his influence can be felt not only in the numerous buildings named after him, but also in the city’s coat of arms, which includes symbols associated with his miracles.

What do you eat for St. Mungo’s Feast Day?

As St. Mungo is most commonly celebrated in Scotland, it might make sense to celebrate the Feast Day with food that native Scots might eat. To that end, I am going to provide a Mince & Tatties recipe. 

Ingredients for Mince & Tatties

• 500g (1lb) minced beef
• 1 large onion
• 2 carrots
• 2 tbsp butter
• 5 tbsp flour
• 350-450ml beef stock/gravy *see recipe method for details

STOCK OR GRAVY?

We prefer to use stock to flavour our mince and tatties, but lots of people swear by gravy granules and water instead. Gravy will thicken the mixture faster than stock, and you can use a little less flour (try 3 tbsp instead).

MINCED BEEF

We’ve made our mince and tatties with both lean beef (less than 5% fat) and beef with 20% fat. We have to say the 20% beef is usually a bit tastier, but of course, you can use lean beef and add additional seasoning or try some of the variations below if you like too.

directions

• Dice the onion and peel and chop the carrots into circles.
• Heat a saucepan or pot to a medium heat, melt the butter and add the onions, cooking them until they are soft.
• Add the mince, using a wooden spoon to break it up so there are no big lumps.
• Add the flour and stir thoroughly.
• Add the carrots and stock/gravy. You should have enough to cover the meat. It will reduce through the cooking process but if it does so too quickly you can add a bit more.
• Turn to a low heat and simmer until the meat and carrots are tender and it has all thickened up. This will be approximately an hour. You can also cover with a lid if the stock is reducing too quickly.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Meanwhile, prepare your mashed potatoes as desired (we like lots of butter and seasoning!) and then serve with any other sides like peas or skirlie.

St. Mungo in Popular culture:

St. Mungo was most well-known and remembered in the United Kingdom – primarily in Scotland – until the late 1990s. However, the Saint then became far more well-known globally due to his being the namesake of the primary hospital of Magical Britain in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series – St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.

What is a prayer you to for St. Mungo’s Feast Day?

“St. Mungo, patron saint of our beloved Glasgow, you brought light during the darkest times, your strength, faith, and love for the lord inspire us. Guide us as we navigate through the storms of life. Amen.”

When is St. Mungo’s Feast Day celebrated?

St. Mungo’s Feast Day is celebrated annually on 13 January.

I hope all who celebrate have a wonderful day!