Día de San Isidro, patron saint of Madrid

Today is a holiday here in Madrid, one for which I am extremely thankful. Somehow as of late most holidays have been just as busy as normal days for me, just with more big event type stuff (since most people are actually free on holidays). So, I am very much enjoying a quiet day off. I got up late and just laid in bed for a little while, am enjoying a long quiet time with the Lord, enjoying not being rushed, and hoping to get some cleaning at home done, caught up on things set aside, working on some sewing, painting, and knitting projects (a couple dresses i started in the fall, some paintings for the living room that are half done, and some sweaters for some newborn twins of some friends). I am overjoyed to say the least - to have time to just lay around and read and be creative...

So, who was San Isidro? No one seems to know, but this is his day supposedly. Typically people go to the grassy area of San Isidro today, dress up in typical madrileño garb and eat some special desserts of the day. Tradition says that Isidro was married to Santa María de la Cabeza (Saint Mary of the Head, because her head is often carried around in processions - or that's what wikipedia says). The following is also taken from wikipedia:

Isidore is widely venerated as the patron saint of peasants and day laborers, as he had been one himself. Isidore was born to very poor parents near Madrid, about the year 1070. He was in the service of the wealthy Madrid landowner Juan de Vargas on a farm in the vicinity of Madrid. Every morning before going to work, Isidore was accustomed to hearing a Mass at one of the churches in Madrid. One day his fellow-laborers complained to their master that Isidore was always late for work in the morning. Upon investigation, so runs the legend, the master found Isidore at prayer while an angel was doing the ploughing for him.

On another occasion, his master saw an angel ploughing on either side of him, so that Isidore's work was equal to that of three of his fellow-labourers. Isidore is also said to have brought back to life his master's deceased daughter, and to have caused a fountain of fresh water to burst from the dry earth in order to quench his master's thirst.

Isidore married Maria Torribia, a canonized saint, who is known as Santa María de la Cabeza in Spain because her head (cabeza in Spanish) is often carried in procession, especially during droughts. Isidore and Maria had one son, who died in his youth. On one occasion their son fell into a deep well and, at the prayers of his parents, the water of the well is said to have risen miraculously to the level of the ground, bringing the child with it, alive and well. Isidore and Maria then vowed continence and lived in separate houses.

Isidore died on May 15, 1130, at his birthplace close to Madrid. When King Philip III of Spain was cured of a deadly disease by touching the relics of the saint, the king replaced the old reliquary with a costly silver one.

So that's how the story goes.