MDHS is the Featured Guest Choir for Mass at St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Italy

On Friday, April 25, 2014 Mater Dei Catholic HS is going to be the featured guest choir for the evening mass at the St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy. This is not just a special day for the MDHS Choir and its family and friends but also for Venetians.

Did you know that every year on April 25 Venetians celebrate Festa di San Marco (St. Mark's Day)? The festival is traditionally held in Venice and celebrates its patron saint St. Mark.

On this day, Venetian men traditionally give a single rosebud to the women they love. This is why the celebration is also know as Festa Del Boccolo (the rosebud festival).
According to a legend, the tradition originated in the 8th century, when a man of low social standing is said to have fallen in love with a noble woman from Venice. In order to win her father's approval and gain his respect, he became a soldier and got involved in the war against the Arabians in Spain. Unfortunately he was mortally wounded in battle, but managed to pluck a rose from a nearby rosebush for his loved one. A companion was entrusted with returning the blood-stained rose to his lover. He reached Venice the day before St. Mark's Day, and gave the flower to the lady. The morning after she was found dead herself with the rose on her heart, and since that Venetian lovers use the rose bud as a sign for their undying love.