St. Martha’s Day (Fête de la Tarasque)

Martha, the sister of Mary and Lazarus, is best known for her role in Jesus’ visit to their house in Bethany. Martha’s second legendary claim to fame is that she killed a dragon who was ravaging the Provençal countryside, in what is now known as Tarasçon in Provence, France. Every year on the last weekend in June, a procession takes place there that commemorates St. Martha’s power. In the first procession, eight men walk next to the dragon’s spiked body, which snaps at the crowd of spectators. In the second procession, the dragon trots along behind a young girl representing St. Martha. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

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