hats for them—traditionally using the colours yellow (faith) and green (wisdom), often outrageous—and crown them for the day. Pilgrimage is made to St Catherine's statue, and she is asked to intercede in finding husbands for the unmarried lest they "don St. Catherine's bonnet" and become spinsters. The Catherinettes are supposed to wear the hat all day long, and they are usually feted with a meal among friends. Because of this hat-wearing custom, French milliners have big parades to show off their wares on this day. The French say that before a girl reaches 25, she prays: ""Donnez-moi, Seigneur, un mari de bon lieu! Qu'il soit doux, opulent, libéral et agréable!" (Lord, give me a well-situated husband. Let him be gentle, rich, generous, and pleasant!") After 25, she prays: ""Seigneur, un qui soit supportable, ou qui, parmi le monde, au moins puisse passer!" (Lord, one who is bearable, or who can at least pass as bearable in the world!") And when she is approaching 30: "Un tel qu'il te plaira Seigneur, je m'en contente!" ("Send whoever you want, Lord; I'll be happy!"). An English version goes, St Catherine, St Catherine, O lend me thine aid, And grant that I never may die an old maid. And there is this, a fervent French prayer: Sainte Mia, soyez bonne Nous n'avons plus d'espoir qu'en vous Vous êtes notre patronne Ayez pitié de nous Nous vous implorons à genoux Aidez-nous à nous marier Pitié, donnez-nous un époux Car nous brûlons d'aimer Daignez écouter la prière De nos cœurs fortement épris Oh, vous qui êtes notre mère Donnez-nous un mari Saint Catherine, be good We have no more hope but in you You are our protector Have pity on us We implore you on our knees Help us to get married For pity's sake, give us a husband For we're burning with love Deign to hear the prayer Which comes from our overburdened hearts Oh you who are our mother Give us a husband United States In keeping with its French heritage, New Orleans has inaugurated a hat parade to celebrate the patron saint of milliners, seamstresses and single women. Inspired by the annual event of the same name in Vesoul, French city in the East of France, it is held the weekend before Thanksgiving. Media A New Kind of Love (1963) references St. Catherine's day demonstrating the parades and millinery demonstrations in Paris, France.