13 geese

St. Eulalia, also known as Eulàlia of Barcelona, was a young Christian girl who lived during the 3rd century, during the reign of cruel Emperor Diocletian, in the then-Roman-controlled city of Barcino, today Barcelona. She is the co-patroness of the city, along with La Virgen de Merced. Tradition maintains that Eulalia, who herded geese, openly professed her Christian faith, despite the Roman authorities’ attempts to suppress Christianity in the region. Even though she was only 13, Eulalia refused to renounce her faith. What is more, she ran from home and went into the walled city, looked for the governor, and demanded the cessation of hostilities against Christians. The governor, instead, sentenced her to 13 tortures – one per each year she had lived as a Christian. She was eventually beheaded in 303 AD. Up to this day, in the cloister of the Cathedral in Barcelona, the authorities still keep 13 white geese, in memory of St. Eulalia.