The ancient custom dedicated to Saint Catherine, the patron saint of women who want to get married

In this article we want to tell you about the overseas tradition dedicated to Santa Caterina, a young Egyptian girl, martyr of the XNUMXth century. There is little information about her life, but it is said that during the government of Massimino Daia, she refused to make sacrifices to the pagan gods and was persecuted.

At a young age he also refused to marry Emperor Maxentius, governor of Egypt and Syria. Caterina believed herself married to God and he would never question his faith. This decision led the emperor to become indignant at her and condemn her to death, by having her executed on a cogwheel which was supposed to tear her body apart.

However, it seems that this form of execution was postponed, so much so that she then died beheaded. The cult of Saint Catherine has always been alive and felt over time and we can also find it through the foods. In honor of him in fact in Sicily prepare the Panotti, sandwiches made with almond paste and cedar filling, created by the cloistered nuns of the Monastery of Santa Caterina in Palermo. 

Further north, however, the custom has led to creation the Dolls, also called Catherine, chocolate-glazed shortbread biscuits. Leaving Italy and heading to Quebec we find the Tire, soft sweets linked to a particular story.

How to prepare Tirè, the sweets in honor of Santa Caterina

To get back to history we must remember that Saint Catherine is the patron saint of young people looking for a husband. In the 1653 Marguerite Bourgeoys, a nun from the Congrégation de Notre-Dame decided to teach the girls at her school how to make sweets. From that day on, the custom of preparing sweets for girls as they desired remained find a love.

But let's see how these candies that express love are prepared. The ingredients necessary are: 220 g of Cassonade sugar, 14 g of corn syrup, 165 g of molasses, 60 ml of water 50 g of butter.

Pour all the ingredients into a pan and place them on the heat until they reach the temperature of 126%. At this point, turn off the The fire and pour the mixture obtained into a previously buttered pan. Level and knead the dough by pulling it. Fold it up on itself and pull it again. Continue like this until the dough takes on a golden color. Cut with scissors small rectangular shaped parts and wrap them in a suitable paper to store them.