“The patron saint of playgrounds is St. Francis of a seesaw”

Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone (1181-1226) is known as St. Francis of Assisi. There is no St. Francis of a See-Saw, but there are jokes.
 
“I pray to the saint of ups and downs. St. Francis of a See-Saw” was posted on the newsgroup misc.writing on March 30, 2002. “The Pope has named himself after St Francis of A see-saw, the patron saint of Ups and Downs” was posted on X/Twitter by Steve Wheeler Education on March 14, 2013. “I’m a fan of St Francis of a Seesaw - the patron saint of ups & downs” was posted on X/Twitter by Justin Brash on December 3, 2025.
 
“Who’s the patron saint of playgrounds? St Francis of a see-saw!” was posted on X/Twitter by boyzone 5 ever on March 13, 2013. ” Who is the patron saint of playgrounds? St Francis of a see-saw. Just hope the children are up on the ecclesiastical canon” was posted on X/Twitter by Jon Venn on April 11, 2014. “The patron saint of playgrounds is St Francis of a seesaw” was posted on X/Twitter by Robert Wilkinson on December 3, 2025.
 
 
WIkipedia: Francis of Assisi
Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone (c. 1181 – 3 October 1226), known as Francis of Assisi, was an Italian mystic, poet and Catholic friar who founded the religious order of the Franciscans. Inspired to lead a Christian life of poverty, he became a beggar and an itinerant preacher.
   
Wikipedia: Seesaw
A see saw (also sometimes known as a teeter-totter in North America) is a long, narrow board supported by a single pivot point, most commonly located at the midpoint between both ends; as one end goes up, the other goes down. These are most commonly found at parks and school playgrounds.
   
Google Groups: misc.writing   
Ritualistic Devotion
Molly
Mar 30, 2002, 9:29:32 AM
(...)
I pray to the saint of ups and downs. St. Francis of a See-Saw.
 
X/Twitter
Steve Wheeler Education
@SteveWheeler
@daveowhite Glad you have balance. There is a patron saint for balance. His name is St Francis of a see-saw
12:10 PM · Apr 20, 2010
 
X/Twitter
boyzone 5 ever
@spacenycgirl
Who’s the patron saint of playgrounds? St Francis of a see-saw!
6:56 PM · Mar 13, 2013
 
X/Twitter
Steve Wheeler Education
@SteveWheeler
The Pope has named himself after St Francis of A see-saw, the patron saint of Ups and Downs
4:16 AM · Mar 14, 2013
 
X/Twitter
Jon Venn
@jonvenn
@RichardAyoade Who is the patron saint of playgrounds? St Francis of a see-saw. Just hope the children are up on the ecclesiastical canon.
6:51 AM · Apr 11, 2014
 
X/Twitter
Mr Bartholemew
@DrZorbas
The patron saint of playgrounds is Francis of a See-Saw
12:40 PM · Jul 9, 2019
 
Facebook
Jollyboat Crew
Laurence JT ·
August 5, 2019 at 9:54 AM ·
The patron saint of playgrounds…
St Francis of a seesaw!
   
X/Twitter
Amber Goth
@AmberGoth
Well, my follower numbers are mysteriously going up and down again like a yoyo, so time again for me to pray to the Patron Saint of Ups & Downs, St. Francis of A See-Saw…(just love that #leunig joke, apologies for repeating it yet again.)
(Illustrations are shown.—ed.)
6:01 AM · Sep 20, 2019
 
X/Twitter
Rikardo INO
@InoRikardo
Who is the patron saint of playgrounds?  St. Francis of a see-saw!
2:34 AM · Dec 20, 2022
     
X/Twitter
Nick Carter
@NickCarter1976
A little unknown fact, but the Patron Saint of Playgrounds is ... St Francis of a Seesaw.
4:41 AM · May 6, 2023
 
X/Twitter
Olaf Falafel
@OFalafel
Which Saint goes up and down?
Saint Francis of a Seesaw
6:43 PM · Jul 26, 2023
 
X/Twitter
Justin Brash
@just_brash
Today is the feast of St Francis of Assisi but I prefer to follow the lesser known St Francis of a Seesaw - the patron saint of ups & downs.
9:49 AM · Oct 4, 2023 from Sydney, New South Wales
 
X/Twitter
Nick Carter
@NCHammer76
A little unknown fact, but the Patron Saint of Playgrounds is ... St Francis of a Seesaw.
7:24 AM · May 6, 2024
   
X/Twitter 
💂🏻‍♀️👋🏻вєαя🍻🇬🇧™
@BigBearF1
Did you know the Patron Saint of playgrounds is…
‘St Francis of a Seesaw’
6:08 AM · May 7, 2024
 
Facebook
The Sid Ozalid Mega Fan Club ·
Sid Ozalid ·
September 8, 2025 at 3:13 AM ·
The patron Saint of children’s play parks - St Francis of A see-saw
 
Bluesky
Just call me Les.
‪@lesmartin.bsky.social‬
The patron Saint of children’s play parks - St Francis of A see-saw
Sep 10, 2025, 8:05 AM
· 
X/Twitter
Justin Brash
@just_brash
Yesterday (the 4th) was the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, but I prefer to follow the lesser known St Francis of a Seesaw, the patron saint of ups & downs.
12:13 AM · Oct 5, 2025
 
X/Twitter
Justin Brash
@just_brash
I’m a fan of St Francis of a Seesaw - the patron saint of ups & downs.
12:59 AM · Dec 3, 2025
 
X/Twitter
Robert Wilkinson
@robertwlk
The patron saint of playgrounds is St Francis of a seesaw.
1:51 AM · Dec 3, 2025