Thirteen Eggs to St. Clare

“We become what we love, and who we love shapes what we become.” St. Clare of Assisi

My oldest friend, who is like a sister to me, shared a picture of herself standing in front of a convent with a box of eggs. My friend lives in Spain, and she went to the convent of the “Clarisas Nuns” to take the eggs as an offering. My friend’s daughter is getting married on Saturday. The nuns, in thanksgiving for the eggs, will pray for good weather on the day of the wedding.

Even though I grew up in Spain, and all my family is from there, I had never heard of this tradition. Therefore, I did a little research, and sure enough, I found out that this tradition goes all the way back to the Middle Ages. During that time, they believed that if it rained on the wedding day, the couple would not be happy, and the bride would spend the rest of her life crying. The bride had so much pressure that she would take a dozen eggs to the St. Clare convent, asking the nuns to please pray for a sunny day on her wedding day. But why St. Clare?

St. Clare of Assisi was a young Italian noblewoman who left all her wealth to follow in the footsteps of her friend and mentor, St. Francis of Assisi. She founded the Second Order of the Franciscans, known as the Poor Clares, who followed the Franciscan way of poverty and penance. It was believed back in Medieval Europe that St. Clare of Assisi was the patron saint of good weather and peace in marriage. Also, there was a connection between the name of St. Clare and the eggs. The saint’s name in Spanish is “Clara,” which is the same word used in Spanish for egg white. “Clara” also means “clear” in Spanish. This created a popular theory where giving egg whites or “claras” to St. “Clara” resulted in clear skies or “clara” weather.

The tradition says that the offer should be at least a dozen eggs, but with the passage of time in Spain, people started giving thirteen eggs… a dozen plus one for good luck. In other countries, like the Philippines, they still offer just twelve eggs, representing the twelve months of the year. The eggs should be taken by someone close to the bride, but not by the bride herself. In my friend’s case, they were taken by the mother and the aunt of the bride.

The offering is also seen as a practical gift to support the poor Clare nuns, which is an enclosed religious order that relies on donations. The nuns can use the eggs for baking and cooking for their community. The nuns also use the eggs to make pastries and cakes which they later sell. If they have an excessive amount of eggs, they also sell the eggs. The “Clarisas” in Spain are well known for their baked goods which range from biscuits and cakes to other sweet treats. A popular one is called “las Huellas de San Francisco.” It’s a crunchy almond biscuit in the shape of St. Francis’ footprints. The eggs are definitely being put to good use.

In addition to praying for good weather, the nuns also pray for the everlasting happiness of the couple that is getting married. I personally think that is more important than the weather itself. My oldest son got married seven years ago. I did not know about this tradition; otherwise, I would have asked my friend to take eggs on my son’s and his bride’s behalf to the convent in Madrid. However, I did pray for their love to last for their entire lifetime. The day of the wedding, it rained cats and dogs. The cocktail hour that was supposed to be outside overlooking a lake had to be moved indoors. But they are still happily married with two little boys, so the most important prayer was answered. And I continue praying for their happiness, as well as for my other two kids who are now married too. In their case, they did have great weather, and we did not offer eggs to St. Clare.

Even though the idea of heavenly intercession to ensure a sunny nuptial day is wonderful, I think in Spain they are going to have to stop taking eggs to St. Clare because they really need the rain. But maybe it can begin raining after my friend’s daughter gets married on Saturday.

Copyright © 2025 Christy Romero. All rights reserved.