A Blessed Feast of Santa Lucia

Born in A.D. 283, St. Lucy (Santa Lucia) was a young Sicilian girl who vowed to live as a virgin in devotion to Christ. Her mother, however, arranged a marriage for her to a pagan suitor. To dissuade her mom by proof of a miracle, Lucy prayed at the tomb of St. Agatha -- who was martyred a little over 50 years earlier -- that her mother's hemorrhage would stop. When the miracle happened, her mother agreed to leave aside the topic of marriage.

Lucy's suitor, however, had other plans, and revealed Lucy as a Christian. Authorities went to collect her, planning on forcing her into prostitution -- but they were unable to budge her, even after tying her to a team of oxen. She was then tortured by having her eyes torn out. They'd planned on torturing her by fire, too, but the fires kept going out. She was then killed by being stabbed in the throat with a dagger.

Because of the above, St. Lucy is the patron Saint of Syracuse, Perugia, Malta, and, especially, those with eye problems. She is often depicted carrying her eyes (often on a plate), being tied to a team of oxen, with St. Agatha, or before her judges. She is recognized in the Litany of Saints and the Canon of the Mass.

Her relics lay in Syracuse for hundreds of years, and some were translated to Constantinople, and then to Venice where they may be venerated at the Church of San Geremia. Her head was sent to Louis XII of France, and reposes in the cathedral of Bourges.

Customs

Some may prepare for this feast by praying the Novena to St. Lucy starting on December 4 and ending on December 12, the eve of her feast.

As for the feast itself, here is a traditional prayer for the day:

O Saint, named from the light, full of confidence we present ourselves before thee, to ask of thee a holy light, which may render us cautious in avoiding the ways of sin and escaping the darkness of error. We beg also, through thy intercession, for the preservation of the light of our eyes, together with abundant grace to use it always in accordance with the will of God and without injury to our souls. Grant, O
blessed Lucy, that, after venerating and thanking thee for thy powerful patronage on earth, we may come at last to rejoice with thee in the paradise of the eternal light of the divine Lamb, thy sweet spouse Jesus. Amen.

As the prayer indicates, our Saint's name, "Lucia," means "Light," and light plays a role in the customs of the day. In Syracuse, Sicily, torchlit processions and bonfires mark this feast. Sixty men wearing green berets bear her large, silver reliquary statue, and her icon is carried to Porta Marina, where sailors greet her, sounding the sirens on their ships.

A cooked wheat porridge known as cuccia is eaten because, during a famine, the people of Syracuse invoked St. Lucy, who interceded by sending a ship laden with grain (much as St. Joseph also did for the people of Sicily). Cuccia can be made so that it's savory or sweet. Here is a sweet version:

Cuccia

2 cups dried wheatberries
1/2 tsp salt
3 cups ricotta cheese
4 TBSP sugar or 2 TBSP honey
1/2 tsp vanilla
Ground cinnamon
Optional: chopped walnuts or pistachios; shaved dark chocolate (or chocolate chips); candied fruit (candied orange peel is popular); chopped dried figs

Two days before, soak the wheatberries in a big pot and let sit for 24 hours. Then rinse, cover again with water, and soak for another 24 hours.

On St. Lucy's day, rinse the wheat once again, put it back into the pot, and cover with water by 3 inches. Add the salt, then bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a simmer and cook uncovered until the wheat is tender (about an hour or so). Run cold water over the wheat until it's chilled, then drain really well, letting it sit in a strainer over a bowl for 5 minutes or so.

Whisk together the ricotta, sugar (or honey), and vanilla until it's creamy and smooth. Fold it into the wheat. Garnish with cinnamon. Top with whatever configuration of optional ingredients you like.

In some parts of Italy, especially in the north, Lucia is said to wander the streets with her little donkey, bearing candies and gifts for children to find the next morning. Adults will ring bells in the street to let everyone know she is coming and, so it's time for children to go to bed. A little poem for the children:

Zitti, zitti fate piano
vien la Santa da lontano,
porta a tutti dolci e doni
soprattutto ai bimbi buoni.

Ma se un bimbo è cattivello,
oltre tutto un po' monello,
nulla trova nel tinello.

Quindi bimbi birichini
diventate un po' bravini,
e i cuoricini tutti spenti
con la Santa si fan contenti.

Grazie, grazie Santa Lucia,
il tuo incanto mi porti via.Hush, hush, be quiet
the Saint comes from afar,
bringing sweets and gifts to everyone
especially good children.

But if a child is naughty,
over all a bit of a brat,
he finds nothing in the dining room.

So naughty children
become good little children,
and, with little hearts at rest
with the Saint, happy.

Thank you, thank you Saint Lucia,
your charm takes me away.

In Verona, Italy, a barefoot pilgrimage to the church there named in her honor is traditional, and children place an empty plate on the table that will be filled with sweets by the time they wake up. And in the city's Piazza Bra, a great Santa Lucia market is held. The treat eaten in Verona on this day are type of shortbread called the puoti de Santa Lucia, which come with a legend: Mothers tell their children that the puoti recipe comes from Santa Lucia herself, who came to Verona many, many years ago, on December 12, disguised as an old woman. She went to the house of a family too poor to give their children toys or sweets, and she showed the mother how to make puoti. The mother knew the recipe was "magical" because when "the old woman" went to the canister get flour, she took out handsful even though the mother had no flour. The mother didn't have eggs, either, but the woman pretended to crack a few, and yolks appeared. The mother didn't have milk, but the woman changed water into milk, and then she took a stick of butter from an empty pot. She shaped the dough into the shapes of a child, and when the puoti were baked, she took some snow from outside and turned it into icing. Then the cookie "magically" multiplied into dozens, so the entire family could enjoy them.

Puoti di Santa Lucia

2 cups flour all-purpose
1/2 cup + 1/8 cup butter chopped in small pieces
1/2 cup sugar
2 egg egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
5 tbsp sugar powdered, to decorate

Sift the flour and shape it into a mountain. Cut in the butter using a pastry cutter or potato masher (so the butter doesn't get warm) until you get a crumbly mixture. Add the sugar, egg yolks, vanilla, and salt to make a smooth dough. Wrap the dough in saran wrap and put in the refrigerator and for 1 hour. Heat oven to 325F. Roll the dough to about 1/4 thickness and cut into small gingerbread man shapes (or other Christmasy shapes). Bake on a parchment-lined sheet for about 15 minutes. When cool, sprinkle liberally with powdered sugar.

In Altomonte, Cosenza, Calabria, Italy, bagpipers are heard while competitions are held to build the best bonfires. The poor are given le Nove Cose di Santa Lucia (Nine Things of St. Lucy), which includes dried figs and grain (elsewhere in the same province, it is thirteen things that are given to those in need).

To the upper East in Puglia, cookies called "St. Lucia's Eyes" are eaten:

Occhi di Santa Lucia

1 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup olive oil
3 cups all purpose flour
1 pound powdered sugar
a few TBSP to 3/4 cup water (read through recipe)

Mix together the wine and oil. Add the flour and mix until you have a firm dough. Knead for about 15 minutes. Take bits of the dough and roll into strips that are about 1/4" thick. Cut each strip into 1-inch strips, then form the 1-inch pieces into circles, squeezing the two ends together. Bake at 375F for about 30 minutes.

When it comes time to ice them you have two options:

A) a crackly-looking icing: Mix the powdered sugar and water in a pot over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring all the while. After about 5 minutes, take off the heat, dip the cookies to coat them. Put them on a board to dry and let them sit for several hours until the glaze is dry and white.
B) a thicker icing just on the top: Mix the powdered sugar with just enough water to make a thick icing. Dip just the tops of the cookies in, and set aside to let dry.

Some of the loveliest St. Lucy's Day customs are Swedish: in Sweden, the oldest daughter of a family will wake up before dawn on St. Lucy's Day and dress in a white gown for purity, often with a red sash as a sign of martyrdom. On her head she will wear a wreath of greenery and lit candles, and she is often accompanied by "starboys," her small brothers who are dressed in white gowns and cone-shaped hats that are decorated with gold stars, and carrying star-tipped wands. "St. Lucy" will go around her house and wake up her family to serve them special St. Lucy Day foods, such as saffron buns and Lussekatter (St. Lucy's Cats), shaped into X's, figure-8s, S-shapes, or crowns.

Lussekatter (makes 10-12 buns)

1/4 teaspoon saffron threads
8 ounces (1 cup) milk
1 tablespoon yeast
1/2 cup sugar
4 ounces (1 stick) butter
5 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
1 beaten egg white for egg wash
a handful of raisins, optional

Using a mortar and pestle, pound saffron threads to break down strands. In a small saucepan, heat milk to lukewarm.

Mix yeast with 1/4 cup milk and 1 tablespoon sugar. Set aside.

On low heat, melt butter in saucepan with milk. Add crushed saffron. Let cool.

In large bowl, mix together flour salt and remaining sugar.

Stir yeast into cooled milk mixture. Mix into dry ingredients, beating to mix well. Add beaten eggs. Knead in bowl for 5 - 7 minutes. Turn onto floured board and knead another 7 - 8 minutes.

Put dough in lightly greased bowl, turn to coat all sides, cover and put in warm, draft-free place to rise for about 1 hour.

When dough has risen, knead lightly to push out air and divide into small pieces (about 10 - 12). Using the hands, roll each small piece into a strip about 8 - 10 inches long. Shape each strip into an 'S' or a figure 8. Place on lightly buttered cookie sheets.

Cover with clean cloth and let rise again until double in bulk, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375°F.

When dough has risen, brush lightly with egg white. Some people place a single raisin in each curve of the "S" or at the center of each circle formed by the figure-8s. Bake in preheated 375° F oven for 15 minutes, or until lightly browned. Let cool on wire rack.¹

There comes to us, today, the fourth of our wise virgins, the valiant Martyr, Lucy. Her glorious name shines on the sacred diptych of the Canon of the Mass, together with those of Agatha, Agnes, and Cecily [Cecilia]; and as often as we hear it pronounced during these days of Advent, it reminds us (for Lucy signifies light) that He who consoles the Church, by enlightening her children, is soon to be with us. Lucy is one of the three glories of the Church of Sicily; as Catania is immortalized by Agatha, and Palermo by Rosalia, so is Syracuse by Lucy. Therefore, let us devoutly keep her Feast: she will aid us by her prayers during this holy season, and will repay our love by obtaining for us a warmer love of that Jesus, Whose grace enabled her to conquer the world. Once more let us consider, why our Lord has not only given us Apostles, Martyrs, and bishops as guides to us on our road to Bethlehem, but has willed also that we should be accompanied thither by such virgins as Lucy. The children of the Church are forcibly reminded by this, that, in approaching the crib of their sovereign Lord and God, they must bring with them, besides their faith, that purity of mind and body without which no one can come near to God. Let us now read the glorious acts of the virgin Lucy.

Lucy, a virgin of Syracuse, illustrious by birth and by the Christian faith, which she had professed from her infancy, went to Catania, with her mother Eutychia, who was suffering from a flux of blood, there to venerate the body of the blessed Agatha. Having prayed fervently at the tomb, she obtained her mother's cure, by the intercession of St. Agatha. Lucy then asked her mother that she would permit her to bestow upon the poor of Christ the fortune which she intended to leave her. No sooner, therefore, had she returned to Syracuse, than she sold all that was given to her and distributed the money amongst the poor.

When he, to whom her parents had against her will promised her in marriage, came to know what Lucy had done, he went before the prefect Paschasius and accused her of being a Christian. Paschasius entreated and threatened, but could not induce her to worship the idols; nay, the more he strove to shake her faith, the more inflamed were the praises which she uttered in professing its excellence. He said, therefore, to her: We shall have no more of thy words, when thou feelest the blows of my executioners. To this the virgin replied: Words can never be wanting to God's servants, for Christ our Lord has said to them:

When you shall be brought before kings and governors, take no thought how or what to speak; for it shall be given to you in that hour what to speak; for it is not you that speak, but the holy Spirit that speaketh in you. Paschasius then asked her:

Is the holy Spirit in thee? She answered: They who live chastely and piously, are the temple of the holy Spirit. He said: I will order thee to be taken to a brothel, that this holy Spirit may leave thee. The virgin said to him: The violence wherewith thou threatenest me would obtain for me a double crown of chastity. Whereupon Paschasius being exceedingly angry, ordered Lucy to be dragged to a place where her treasure might be violated; but, by the power of God, so firmly was she fixed to the place where she stood, that it was impossible to move her. Wherefore the prefect ordered her to be covered over with pitch, resin, and boiling oil, and a fire to be kindled round her. But seeing that the flame was not permitted to hurt her, they tormented her in many cruel ways, and at length ran a sword through her neck. Thus wounded, Lucy foretold the peace of the Church, which would come after the death of Diocletian and Maximian, and then died. It was the Ides of December (Dec. 13). Her body was buried at Syracuse, but was translated thence first to Constantinople, and afterwards to Venice.

— Dom Prosper Gueranger

The Liturgical Year

1. https://fisheaters.com/customsadvent6a.html