Santos Populares - Santo António

The saint's connection with bread comes from a story attributed to him in which, one day, seeing so many people with nothing to eat, he took bread from the convent where he lived and distributed them.

The tradition is that the Bread of Santo António is bought so that the house never runs out of food. It is blessed and must be kept for one year to be eaten the following year, on June 13th. The secret to it lasting for years without spoiling is in the recipe – It's made with little salt and without yeast.

Source: stoantoniolisboa.com

You've probably heard that Saint Anthony is a matchmaker, but did you know that the statue of this saint can help you get or keep great love?

We're talking about an ancient tradition that anyone can do all year round.

Tradition says that whoever throws a coin at the statue in Largo de Santo António da Sé will be happy in their relationship or find love soon.

But for that, the coin needs to land in the book that the Saint has in his hand. There are even those who say that the number of attempts corresponds to the number of years remaining for the desired to come true.

Source: museudelisboa.pt

It was tradition in some Portuguese houses, at this time of year, to have figures of Santo António upside down, with the aim of girls finding a groom.

Santo António's biographer, Fernando Nuno, tells the story of a girl who wanted to marry her neighbor, but the family had no money for her dowry.
Saint Anthony is said to have said that he should leave the matter in the hands of God. Except that, in secret, Santo António himself got the money for the wedding, collecting it from the donations given at the church.

He will have sent the money anonymously to the bride. There are, however, several other stories and legends about brides and grooms that give the Saint the designation of Matchmaker Saint.

Sources: sicnoticias.pt; lisboasecreta.com; rfm.sapo.pt