Historical information

An example of a bookmark that is handmade in a convent. The message is that the recipient have a happy feastday. A reminder of when religious in the Catholic church took the name of a saint as their patron and the feast-day of that saint was celebrated annually as a birthday being the recipients birthday into the order.

Significance

When a person entered a Catholic religious order prior to the Second Vatican Council they adopted a saint's name and celebrated that saint's feast-day as their birthday into the order. This bookmark is a rare survivor and reminder of this cultural and religious practice still observed in some cases.

Physical description

A small shaped card with a colour print of a briar rose sealed with celluloid stitched around the edges and having a thin brocade silk ribbon threaded through. The words A Happy Feast are written on the small card.

Inscriptions & markings

Inscribed 'A Happy Feast'.