How not to lose your virginity...BONUS EPISODE - The Eve of St. Agnes

About this episode

The episode discusses the problematic history of St. Agnes and the rituals associated with dreaming of a future husband on her eve.

So it turns out my favourite poem of 1986 is rather beautiful but quite problematic! Agnes herself came from a wealthy Roman family and, when she refused to marry any of her many suitors (girls can be so picky!) she was killed, oops, I mean martyred. She was 12 years old. She became the patron saint of virgins and sometime later it became a thing to try to dream of your future husband by following special rituals on on the Eve of St. Agnes, January 20th. I did give this a go back in the day but I don’t think I ever managed to go to bed without eating...

Topics covered

• virginity
• poetry
• St. Agnes
• rituals
• history

Keywords

• Agnes
• patron saint
• dreams
• rituals

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Eve of St. Agnes

More episodes of Diary of a (teenage) Diva!

• "Pretty...but too virginal" March 1987 · June 2, 2026 · 34 min
• "Roses are red, violets are violet..." February 1987 · May 26, 2026 · 46 min
• "Rough seas and broken bones" January 1987 · May 19, 2026 · 49 min
• "Hot and sticky in the bathroom" BONUS - Lucy's Letter · January 11, 2026 · 6 min
• "Very tasty legs" BONUS - Neil's Letter · January 9, 2026 · 9 min
• "I think I'll show off unmercifully" December 1986 · April 21, 2025 · 49 min