December 13th, discover why we celebrate Saint Lucia 2021/12/09

As most of the festivities, Saint Lucia has distant origins that intertwine with religion and Christian history.

Saint Lucia’s celebration was born in Sicily, Italy, in the city of Syracuse of which the saint is its patron saint and remembers the young martyr assassinated on December 13th of 304, period of time in which the persecutions against Christians were strongly practiced by Emperor Diocletian.

Legend has it that Lucia took her ill mother to the Sant’Agata sanctuary asking for healing. Then she decided to donate all her family’s estate to the poor instead of sharing it with her fiancée who was a pagan who, mad at Lucia’s gesture, he denounced her before the Roman soldiers.

Lucia was sentenced to the stake but she managed to survive the fire. Later she died beheaded after receiving communion.

Saint Lucia in Italy

Saint Lucia is a very heartfelt festivity in Syracuse where traditionally a silver statue of the martyr is taken in procession from the Cathedral up to the Santa Lucia al Sepolcro basilic.

Devotion to the Saint is very well extended into some regions of northern Italy (Piacenza, Reggio Emilia, Cremona, Brescia, Bergamo, Verona and Udine). Children write a letter to Saint Lucia asking for presents. In her donkey’s back, Lucia hands out the gifts to the good children the night of the 12th to the 13th of December, almost replacing Santa Claus. Before going to bed, the youngest children leave hay or cornmeal, biscuits and saint wine over the table as a sign of appreciation.

Saint Lucia in the world

The day of Saint Lucia is also celebrated in Scandinavia but with a non-religious spirit. In these parts of the world, Lucia is represented in a white dress, a red belt tied to her waist and a candle crown on her head.

Processions are held in her honor in which only women take place and they symbolize the victory of light against darkness as the name Lucia comes from ‘lux’, light.

In Norway, Sweden and parts of Finland, girls take part carrying saffron buns and cookies.

In Croatia and Hungary, the 13th of December, wheat grains are planted which will sprout in Christmas as a symbol of the Nativity.

In the Caribbean there is an island named Saint Lucia and that day it is their National Holiday.

Saint Lucia, the longest night there is …

It was like that but not anymore: before the calendar reform Pope Gregorio XIII wanted in 1582, winter’s solstice was on December 13th so the day was much shorter because the sun would set earlier. Nevertheless, this way has been maintained since ancient times.

And, do you celebrate Saint Lucia?

For this special occasion, Tempo di Festa gives you a beautiful crown.

Just download the free PDF of Saint Lucia’s crown from our website and print as many copies as you want. Cut out the crowns, leaves and the candles.

Incolla le parti come più ti piace e la coroncina è pronta.

For your friends and colleagues, give a sweet souvenir: download and print the little gift bags with Saint Lucia’s theme and fill them with chocolates and candies.

Or you can prepare many Kinder Cereali bars with Saint Lucia’s labels: it will be a very special gesture.