In Germany, Saint Barbara is revered as a patron saint of miners and in extension, the geosciences in general, including the tunneling industry .
This connection is particularly strong in the Catholic areas of Germany, as for example Bavaria.
Some university geology departments hold annual 'Barabarafests' if not on the 4th then the closest Friday, or within Baden-Württemberg, see University of Tübingen or University of Freiburg or University of Bonn or applied geosciences of the Technische Universität Darmstadt in Hesse.

In the Czech Republic, a statue of Saint Barbara is placed near the future tunnel portal during the groundbreaking ceremony of most major tunneling projects, owing to her being the patron saint of miners..
In Poland, the salt mine at Wieliczka honours Saint Barbara in Saint Kinga's chapel.
In Germany, Saint Barbara is revered as a patron saint of miners and in extension, the geosciences in general, including the tunneling industry . This connection is particularly strong in the Catholic areas of Germany, as for example Bavaria. Some university geology departments hold annual 'Barabarafests' if not on the 4th then the closest Friday, or within Baden-Württemberg, see University of Tübingen or University of Freiburg or University of Bonn or applied geosciences of the Technische Universität Darmstadt in Hesse.
In the Czech Republic, a statue of Saint Barbara is placed near the future tunnel portal during the groundbreaking ceremony of most major tunneling projects, owing to her being the patron saint of miners..
In Poland, the salt mine at Wieliczka honours Saint Barbara in Saint Kinga's chapel.
Saint Barbara