In Spain this meteor shower is called “Las Lagrimas de San Lorenzo,” The Tears of St Lawrence. St Lawrence was a 3rd century deacon, martyred under the Roman Emperor Valeriano by being roasted on a grill, and the Perseids reflect his tears.
San Lorenzo was a Spaniard, born near Zaragoza around 225 AD. Spain was a Roman colony, and Lawrence ended up in Rome and was made a deacon, responsible for attending to the running of Church business and the distribution of charity.
The emperor Valerian issued an order that Christian authorities be killed. The pope (Sixtus) was executed, along with other important leaders of the Christian community. Valerian then demanded that the deacons turn over the riches of the Church (which didn’t have much at that point). St Lawrence distributed any funds he had, and when Valerian came after him, he brought the lame, the halt and the blind and said to Valerian, “These are the riches of the Church.”
This earned St Lawrence a very gruesome martyrdom on August 10, 354 AD, hence the name, Tears of St Lawrence, associated with this date.
Unbelievable savagery. Spain is on my bucket list. Thanks for posting.