La Festa di Santa Lucia

Every year on December 13, people across Italy celebrate the feast day of Santa Lucia (Saint Lucy), patron saint of the blind and of her hometown, Siracusa, Sicilia.

Who was Santa Lucia?

Santa Lucia was persecuted for her faith around 300 C.E., making her one of the earliest recorded Christian martyrs. According to the traditional story, the young woman refused to marry a powerful pagan man who had fallen in love with her legendary eyes. Spurned, he sent soldiers to blind her, but miraculously her eyes were restored. That is why she is venerated as the patron saint of the blind around the world.

A feast of light

Lucia translates to "light" in Latin — perhaps not a coincidence. The feast falls around the winter solstice, the shortest and darkest day of the year, so it often centers on light. In the days of yore, it gave people a reason to gather, burn candles and torches, and enjoy an abundance of food and drink.

At the table

Celebrations vary by region, but this is still an Italian holiday, so expect feasting. Families across Italy typically gather on December 13 for a meal of casarecce (literally homemade pasta), roasted meats and light sweets.

Northern Italy: the saint and her donkey

In the north, Santa Lucia is said to visit homes on the eve of December 13, riding her donkey, to bring presents to good and obedient children (and sometimes even adults). Families leave out coffee and cake for the saint and water and hay for the donkey, to refresh them for their next visit.

Southern Italy: parades in Siracusa

The south favors religious parades and feasts. In Siracusa, celebrations begin the night before, when the statue of Santa Lucia moves from its chapel to the high altar of her candle-lit cathedral. On December 13, a procession of 60 men in green berets carries her through the entire city, with stops at the most important cathedrals and, finally, the Ionian Sea.

Buone Feste.