Feast of St. Barbara (December 4th) - Sw. Barbary
A virgin descended from the tribe of Jesse who was martyred in Asia Minor, St. Barbara is a popular Saint in Poland.  She is a patroness of the mountaineers, who have a deep devotion to her and regard her as a special protectress of those engaged in dangerous occupations, especially of the miners.  In other parts of the country on her feast the peasants drops seeds of wheat and branches of the cherry-tree into the water which are to float down the river and burst forth with blossoms on Christmas Day.  Hence these are called: "Galazki Sw. Barbary" - "St. Barbara's branches."