The legend of San Marco’s rosebud
This is one of the two stories that give rise to the old tradition of San Marco's rosebud, presented by Venetians every 25th April to their lovers.
In the second half of the 9th century, the daughter of Doge Orso I Partecipazio, Maria, fell in love and was loved by a handsome young man, Tancredi. He came from a poor family and her father was against the match.
The girl decided to advise Tancredi to go and fight against the Turks, to compensate for his origins by the glory of his feats. Tancredi’s reputation was soon known all over the world but unfortunately the valiant met the dead near a rose bush. Before dying he picked a rosebud coloured by his blood and asked his friend Orlando to sen dit to his lover as an extreme gesture of love. On 25th April, the day after having received the message by Orlando, Maria was found dead on her bed, with the rosebud on her breast. This poetic gesture is preserved by tradition because from that time every 25th April Venetians use to give a rosebud to express their sentiments to their lovers.
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Saint Mark day
Saint Mark's day it's on the 25th of april. In this day Venice celebrates Saint Mark, the patron saint of the city. The 25th of april Italy celebrates also its freedom from the war and the fascism and nazism.
Saint Mark's day
Venetians used to sanctify the 25th of April before that day became the National Holiday of Italy liberation from fascism. April the 25th was in fact the feast of Saint Mark, the patron saint of the Ancient Republic of Venice, whose relic was transferred in Venice from Alexandria of Aegypt in the year 828 by two Venetian merchants.
When: On Apr-25-2010
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