Sunday 20 March 2016

Catherine Wheel



St. Catherine's Church in Chioggia, near Venice, Italy, is a place for Catherine Wheel aficionados.

There are two wheels on the facade, although the one next to the figure above the door is not easy to make out.

There is a third wheel with the spikes (or flames) clearly visible, built into the stone floor of the courtyard (below).

Inside the building there are more wheels. There is a golden coloured Catherine Wheel fixed to the ceiling directly above the centre of the aisle and another featured together with a spear on the side of pulpit. There may even be others.

As a youngster in Wales the brightly spinning Catherine Wheel was my favourite firework. On Guy Fawkes Night, the 5th November, I was allowed to pin the mysterious wheel to the coal shed door and set alight the magical blue touch paper.

First the red glow and then the small shoot of golden flame. Quickly it rocked back and forth and then as I held my breath it set off spinning on its mad journey; it was a glorious sight to young eyes; spitting out its silver and golden sparks, making those hypnotic fiery rings, until all too soon its power was spent and it idled almost suddenly into the darkness of lost light.


This post linked to Inspired Sundays.


9 comments:

  1. The Catherine Wheel was also my favourite. I like the information you have given on St Catherine's church and the photographs. Thank you.

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  2. Thanks Rachel. I think while you were commenting I was doing some editing. There is now a link to Chioggia. And a little bit more about how the firework affected me.

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  3. I used to love Catherine Wheels too until I learnt about St Catherine and after that I just felt sad and decided to prefer Roman candles instead.

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    Replies
    1. It appears the Catherine story may contain more legend than fact, so don't be too sad Gerald.

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  4. something that is new to me

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Tom of the Backroads and the Slow Lane.

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  5. __Holding the wheel with her left hand, perhaps turning that wheel... as it would be turning on a wagon.

    wheel of fire
    in this penalty spins
    the sign

    _m

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  6. All in the name of God and the Saviour of course!

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