Today, December 13th, we celebrate Saint Lucia, protector of sight and eyes. A saint much loved in Italy, not only in Italy SIRACUSA (Sicily), the city where she was born. Her celebration, in reality, begins on the night preceding it, which for a long time was believed to be the longest of the year since, according to the calendar prior to the Gregorian reform, it coincided with the winter solstice. The saint lived in the XNUMXth century and was persecuted for a long time by the emperor Diocletian, who subjected her to numerous tortures to force her to convert to pagan rites. She Lucia never denied Christianity and for this she was sentenced to death. Her martyrdom occurred on 13 December 304 AD. C.
From Syracuse to Verona, a great devotion
In Syracuse, the celebrations in honor of Saint Lucia last until December 20th. The procession of his imposing statue is beautiful and well-attended, which winds from the cathedral along the streets of the city. A characteristic of this festival are the Bread-based sweets shaped into the shape of eyes, which are consumed during a folkloristic banquet.
The festival is also very popular in Lombardy, particularly in the provinces of Brescia, Mantua and Cremona, where it is especially awaited by children. On this day, torchlight processions are organised, celebrating the light brought by the saint on what was once considered the shortest day of the year. Also in Veneto the tradition of Saint Lucia exists, because her relics were moved first to Constantinople then to Venice. Furthermore, a Verona, like in Bergamo, there is a neighborhood that bears his name, as well as an annual craft and food and wine fair. Also to Bologna and Slide (Lecce) two fairs dedicated to the saint are held.
Children's letters
The feast of Saint Lucia is eagerly awaited by children, especially in Lombardy. Many of them write a little letter to the saint, asking for gifts, just like happens with Santa Claus or the Befana. A legend has it that Lucia, on the back of a donkey, goes house to house distributing gifts. For this reason, on the evening of December 12th, traditionally, biscuits and milk are prepared, together with the vin santo, to be left to the saint, and some hay for her donkey. The children go to bed early. In the morning, those who have been good will find the gifts they asked for; those who haven't been will only find coal.
CAREER
Often, Saint Lucia is represented blind, to symbolize the torture suffered during her martyrdom. According to another version, however, it was a man in love with her who asked her for her eyes as a gift. Her story is very fascinating. Lucia was born into a noble Syracusan family. Still very young, she was betrothed to a very rich man. The girl, who was a very believer, showed healing abilities and became aware of this after a pilgrimage to the tomb of Saint Agatha in Catania. She therefore decided not to marry, but to dedicate her life to God and donate her assets to the poor. Unfortunately, the man to whom she had been promised as a wife, out of revenge on her, denounced her as a Christian and she was condemned to martyrdom by Diocletian.
Saint Lucia's doghouse
One of the oldest Sicilian traditions, linked to Saint Lucia, is the cuccìa, a dessert that was prepared for the first time in 1600 after a particular event. There was a famine and the population prayed to the saint to help them. On December 13th a ship loaded with wheat arrived in port which was promptly cooked with the addition of oil and salt. According to another version, however, milk, dried fruit, ricotta and honey were added to the wheat. That dessert was given the name cuccìa and is still prepared today on December 13th, as a sign of thanks and devotion.
(Photo: Deputation of the Chapel of Santa Lucia Siracusa; Santa Lucia; Travel Sicily, Facebook Pages)
