When Did St. Elmo's Fire Get Its Name From Saint Erasmus?

💡 The Answer

• Saint Erasmus (also known as St. Elmo) was a 4th-century martyr and the patron saint of Mediterranean sailors.
• The name dates back to medieval times when sailors observed the glow on masts and invoked his protection.
• Writers like Pliny the Elder described similar phenomena, but the Christian name became standard in the Middle Ages.
• The link persisted through maritime folklore, with the glow seen as a good omen during storms.