Saint Barbara: the story of the patron saint of storms and a saint very much our own

November 13, 2026

With her tower and her palm of martyrdom, Saint Barbara is one of the most represented saints in Christian art, and one of Spain's most popular devotions for protection. And for us, she is also a saint of the home.

Saint Barbara, Jan van Eyck, 1437 (Wikimedia Commons, public domain)

The Story of Saint Barbara

According to tradition, she was locked in a tower by her own father to keep her away from suitors, and there she secretly converted to Christianity, which cost her her life. She is especially invoked as a protector against storms, lightning, and explosions, and is the patron saint of bomb disposal experts, miners, and artillery personnel. Her feast day is December 4.

That is where the saying we have all heard at least once comes from: "Remember Saint Barbara when thunder strikes," which is said of someone who only asks for help when they are in trouble.

A Saint Who Is Very Dear to Our Family

At Khartes, we are two sisters, Marian and Bárbara, so Saint Barbara holds a very special place in our home: she is the patron saint of one of us, and one of the most beloved in our family. That is why we always have December 4 marked on our calendar.

A Gift of Protection

At Khartes Madrid, we design and handcraft medals right here in Spain that are meant to be much more than jewelry: they are a way to keep the faith and traditions of our families close to our hearts. We believe that giving a medal is an act of love: a way to tell someone that we pray for them and that we wish for them to always be protected.

We don't have a Saint Barbara medal yet (we are taking it one step at a time, and we certainly have plenty of motivation), but if you are looking for a meaningful gift for a Bárbara on December 4, or for someone in a dangerous profession, these are some of our favorite medals.