Rick mentioned in his Belgium Tour Guidebook (PG 241) that a golden statue above one of the guild houses features a "saint with a migraine". I used my binoculars to get a better look and in fact it appears the saint has numerous arrows sticking out of his body. This leads me to suspect it is a statue of Saint Sebastian, and he is suffering substantial pain from the arrows and not from a migraine. 🤷🏽♂️ Just saying....
Posted by
19 posts
Yes, I've seen the St. Sebastian statue, he seems to have arrows everywhere BUT his head...
But is there also one of St. Denis or St. Stephen? The former because he was decapitated and then picked up his head and walked some distance before succumbing, a prayer to him is supposed to be one powerful healer of migraines. The latter because he was stoned to death, causing the ultimate head injuries. Also patron saint of stonemasons (!).
Another much more recent saint who suffered from migraines is also useful to invoke/pray to: Saint Teresa of Avila (among others). But I doubt she or they got a mention on the guildhalls.
So, if RS referred to St Sebastian, perhaps it is because a migraine feels like a thousand arrows piercing one's brain, or something like that. But technically, don't pray to him for relief, because he won't hear you.
Posted by
Belgium
586 posts
The statue of Saint Sebastian adorns the house “De Spiegel,” formerly the hall of the handbow guild. This is house number 9.
However, you should take a look at the house numbered 11.
It features a statue that is jokingly known among the locals as the saint with a “migraine” or “headache.” At the very top of the baroque gable is a gilded statue of Saint Nicholas of Myra (Sinterklaas), the patron saint of the "meerseniers" (cobblers, tailors, tinsmiths, grocers).
Saint Nicholas is traditionally depicted with his hand pressed against his temple or the side of his head. Although historically this gesture was meant to represent deep contemplation, wisdom, or a blessing or listening posture, Antwerp residents and city guides have been joking for decades that the saint stands up there on the roof groaning from a migraine caused by all the noise on the Grote Markt.
It's funny how facts and jokes get mixed up!
Posted by
19 posts
Noise...especially at Christmas time? Hmmm, looks worth checking out:
https://fullsuitcase.com/antwerp-christmas-market/
Posted by
Belgium
586 posts
Suzzanne,
do you work for Full Suitcase?
After reading the blatant inaccuracies in the third paragraph, I’m definitely not going to read any further.
"It’s also the largest Christmas market in Flanders and one of the most visited in Belgium"
Ranking by number of stalls
- Brussels: 240–260
- Ghent: 150
- Bruges: 150
- Leuven: 120
- Antwerp: 75–100
Ranking by number of visitors
- Brussels: 4.3 million
- Ghent: 2 million
- Bruges: 1.7 million
- Antwerp: 1.5 million