Scholastica

Scholastica (c. 480 - 543) is a Catholic saint. Born in Italy, she was the twin sister of Benedict. She was a nun and became an abbess in the Benedictine Order.

She is mentioned only in the Dialogues of Pope Gregory I.

Her feast day is February 10.

One of the events by which she is remembered is the St. Scholastica Day riot in Oxford, England of February 10, 1355. Following a dispute about beer in a tavern between townspeople and two students of the University of Oxford. The insults exchanged grew into armed clashes between locals and students over the next two days which left 63 scholars and perhaps 30 locals dead, the scholars being eventually routed.

The dispute was settled in favour of the university with a special charter. Annually, on February 10, the town mayor and councillors had to march bareheaded through the streets and pay to the university a fine of one penny for every scholar killed. The penance ended in 1825 when the mayor refused to take part.