October 28.

St. Simon, the Zealot, Apostle. St. Jude, Apostle. St. Faro, Bp. of Meaux, A. D. 672. St. Neot, A. D. 877.

St. Simon and St. Jude.

A festival to these apostles is maintained on this day in the church of England, whereon also it is celebrated by the church of Rome; hence their names in our almanacs.

Simon is called the Canaanite, either from Cana the place of his birth, or from his having been of a hot and sprightly temper. He remained with the other apostles till after pentecost, and is imagined on slight grounds to have preached in Britain, and there been put to death. Jude, or Judas, also called Thaddeus and Libbius, was brother to James the brother to Christ, (Matt. xiii. 55.) Lardner imagines he was the son of Joseph by a former wife. Some presume that he suffered martyrdom in Persia, but this is doubtful.*[1] [Audley.]

---

This anniversary was deemed as rainy as St. Swithin's. A character in the "Roaring Girl," one of Dodsley's old plays, says, "as well as I know 'twill rain upon Simon and Jude's day:" and afterwards, "now a continual Simon and Jude's rain beat all your feathers as flat down as pancakes." Hollinshed notices that on the eve of this day in 1536, when a battle was to have been fought between the troops of Henry VIII., and the insurgents in Yorkshire, there fell so great a rain that it could not take place. In the Runic calendar, the day is marked by a ship because these saints were fishermen.*[2]

---

FLORAL DIRECTORY.

Late Chrysanthemum. Chrysanthemum scrotinum.
Dedicated to St. Simon.
Scattered Starwort. Aster passiflorus.
Dedicated to St. Jude.

Notes [all notes are Hone's unless otherwise indicated]:

1. Audley. [return]

2. Brand. [return]