San Cristóbal: history of the patron saint of drivers

San Cristobal is drivers pattern, no one doubts that. But do we know anything about the history that caused this? Dating back to the XNUMXrd or XNUMXth centuries BC and beginning to be commemorated in the XNUMXth century, it is clear that helping drivers is not a task that was adopted from the beginning. Actually it started out as patron of the muleteers (freight carriers with draft animals), but that evolved over time.

San Cristóbal is the very popular giant that once could be seen at the entrance of the cities. It was believed that simply by looking at his image the traveler would be free from all danger during the trip. Later, road professionals began to carry his image for the same purpose, and little by little it was extended to all types of drivers.

When is San Cristobal

The festivity of San Cristóbal is celebrated on July 10. However, for the Catholic Church its commemoration does not belong to the roman calendar. In other words, it is not one of the important celebration dates within Catholic religious practice. It was only for a period of 16 years between 1954 and 1970.

This does not mean that it is not a day celebrated by some people and places of which he is patron. For example, Restábal and San Cristóbal de La Laguna, in Tenerife, in San Cristóbal de Tosas (Gerona) and in San Cristóbal de Couso (Pontevedra). Also in Valladolid, with the traditional blessing to taxi drivers. As well as in other places in Spain, due to its special relationship with the motor world.

History of San Cristóbal

They say that Cristóbal was a tall and stocky man (2,3 meters), who worked on the bank of a river carrying anyone who wanted to cross it. It is said that he was a generous man and that he crossed whoever he was. On one occasion, he crossed a boy and was surprised because, when he was crossing the river, he became more agitated than usual and the weight of his passenger increased until it almost crushed him. Arriving at the shore the boy revealed to him that he was Jesus. Then, she disappeared before her eyes.

That is the reason why, Saint Christopher is represented carrying the Child Jesus, as you can see in his medals for the car. Hence, it was taken as a pattern, at first by the muleteers' guild, which was extended to truck drivers (its modern equivalent) and later to all drivers.

It is also one of the 14 holy helpers and, although it is not as well known for it because it is an extinct disease, Saint Christopher is also invoked against the bubonic plague. He was assassinated in the third or fourth century before Christ, without the exact date being known. His skull is believed to be in the museum of sacred art in the Church of Saint Justin in Rab, Croatia.

Images 2 and 3 – Church in Valladolid