11—St. Obert.
All that is now known of this saint is that he was honoured in Perth in Catholic ages as the patron saint of bakers. On December 10, known as St. Obert's Eve, the bakers of that city were accustomed to pass through the streets in procession by torchlight, playing pipes and beating drums, and wearing various disguises. One of their number used to wear a dress known as "The Devil's Coat." Another rode on a horse shod with men's shoes. In its {178} primitive form this pastime was probably some kind of sacred drama representing the chief features in the life of the saint; but its character had changed in the course of time.
On account of their connection with the ancient faith such performances gave great offence to the Puritans. In 1581 "an Act against idolatrous and superstitious pastimes, especially against the Sanct Obert's Play," was issued by the Session. It seems to have had little effect, for again in 1587 the bakers were required "to take order for the amendment of the blasphemous and heathenish plays of Sanct Obert's pastime." Eventually in 1588, several "insolent young men" were imprisoned for their "idolatrous pastime in playing of Sanct Obert's play, to the great grief of the conscience of the faithful and infamous slander of the haill congregation."
17—St. Crunmael, Abbot.
No particulars of the life of this saint are extant, beyond the fact that he was one of the Abbots of Iona. {179}
18—St. Flannan, Confessor.
This saint was of Irish nationality; the precise period at which he lived is uncertain. The group of islands to the west of Lewis are called after him, the Flannan Islands. On the largest of these seven islands are the remains of a chapel known as Teampull Beannachadh (St. Flannan's Chapel). This seems to indicate that the saint resided there at some period, though no record remains of the fact beyond the traditional designation of the ruins. The Flannan Islands have always been regarded by the people of Lewis with almost superstitious veneration.
St. Manire, Bishop, A.D. 824.
This was a saint of Scottish nationality, who laboured in Deeside. He was especially honoured at Crathie and Balvenie. He was a strenuous opponent of the idolatrous or superstitious practices which the half-barbarous people to whom he preached were accustomed to introduce into their worship of God. He is said to have mastered the many dialects then {180} spoken in the district which he inhabited, in order to be able to preach the Faith to all.
22—St. Ethernascus, Confessor.