As one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, Barbara continues to be a popular saint in modern times, perhaps best known as the patron saint of armourers, artillerymen, military engineers, miners and others who work with explosives because of her legend's association with lightning, and also of mathematicians.
Saint Barbara is probably the longing of the miners for light, transferred from the Christian legend.
Because of her connection with lightning, people often call upon St. Barbara for protection against thunder, lightning, and accidents involving explosions or gunpowder. This is why artillerymen have an annual event to celebrate and give their thanks to this patron saint.
Saint Barbara is revered in Europe as the following photographs show but also in other countries.
Saint Barbara's Day parade of miners in Silesia
Saint Barbara Shrines at the Schact Keonrad (L) and Schact Asse (R) MInes in Germany
Saint Barbara's Day, December 4, is celebrated by the British (Royal Artillery, RAF Armourers, Royal Engineers), Australian (Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery, RAAF Armourers), Canadian (Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians (EOD),Canadian Ammunition Technicians, Canadian Air Force Armourers, Royal Canadian Artillery, Canadian Military Field Engineers, Royal Canadian Navy Weapons Engineering Technicians), and New Zealand (RNZN Gunners Branch, RNZA, Royal New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps, RNZAF Armourers) armed forces. It is celebrated by the Norwich University Artillery Battery with a nighttime fire mission featuring multiple M116 howitzers.
Saint Barbara's Day is celebrated by United States Army and Marine Corps Field and Air Defense Artillery, many Marine Corps Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians.The units and sub-units celebrate the day with church parades, sports days, guest nights, cocktail parties, dinners and other activities. Several mining institutions also celebrate it, Although they do not celebrate her saint's day, she is also the patron saint of US Navy and Marine Corps Aviation Ordnancemen
Most of the Hunter Valley chapter of Friends of Saint Barbara are aware that there are many mining organisations in Europe that celebrate Saint Barbaras day, but perhaps not the extent of such celebrations in Australia and New Zealand.
Some of these can be accessed in the Events Menu.