Christian martyr subjected to the torment of the fire 4 December 306 AD, the Saint has been venerated as patron of the sailors from the pre-unification Marine and confirmed in the role of the Royal Navy in the 1861. The anniversary, much felt in the Armed Force, is celebrated every year, on board and on the ground, with a religious function.
The crews, however, also link a "profane rite" to this holiday, which provides for the exchange of roles between the embarked personnel: this is the surprising "adaptation" of the Roman saturnalia over the centuries, a pagan celebration that almost coincides with the Christian calendar. This confirms the fact that, on the sea, traditions, however ancient, are handed down without interruption.
