December 13th is the feast of Saint Lucia, an extraordinary figure, whose story is a tale of courage, faith and resistance that has its roots in 3rd century Sicily.
The life of Saint Lucia
Lucia was born in Syracuse between 280 and 290 AD into a wealthy family, fatherless and betrothed to a rich patrician, her life takes an unexpected turn when her mother Eutichia becomes seriously ill.
During a pilgrimage to the tomb of Saint Agatha, Lucia has a miraculous vision. The saint promises her mother’s recovery and predicts a glorious future as patron saint of Syracuse. When Eutichia truly heals, Lucia makes a revolutionary choice for the time: she renounces riches and marriage, dedicating her life to the service of the poorest.
This decision unleashes the wrath of her betrothed, a pagan who reports her to the Roman authorities. Under the emperor Diocletian, Lucia is put on trial for her Christian faith, and despite torture and threats, she never renounces her beliefs.
Tradition tells of extraordinary episodes: Lucia miraculously survives the flames and, according to some versions, even tears out her eyes to demonstrate her unshakable faith, only to then immediately recover her sight.
The prefect Pascasio, faced with Lucia’s determination, devised a cruel punishment. Instead of immediately condemning her to death, he sent her to a brothel, believing he could humiliate and break her. But here something extraordinary happened: the young woman’s thin body became inexplicably immobile and heavy as a rock.
The soldiers tried every way to drag her away: they tied her with ropes, they even used a pair of oxen, but every effort was in vain. Lucia remained still, immobile, a symbol of unshakable faith. The subsequent tortures – boiling resin, oil and even the stake – had no effect on his clothes or his body.
Finally, she was sentenced to beheading. Before dying, Lucia prophesied the fall of Diocletian’s empire and peace for the Christian Church. Her mother immediately buried her in Syracuse, near the place of her martyrdom, where today the Sanctuary of Santa Lucia al Sepolcro stands.
Where are the relics of Saint Lucia?
The story of his remains is equally fascinating, in 878, to protect them from the invasion of the Saracens, they were hidden in a secret place. Mysteriously reappeared in Constantinople in 1039, they arrived in Venice in 1205 at the behest of Doge Enrico Dandolo during the last Crusade. Since 1925, her body has rested in the church of San Geremia, a sanctuary dedicated to her.
December 13, the date of its commemoration, was traditionally considered the shortest and darkest day of the year, before the Gregorian calendar of 1582 moved the solstice to December 21.
The testimonies of his martyrdom are documented in the “Acta Martyrum”, the official collection of the minutes of the first Christian martyrs, further confirming a story that continues to inspire faithful and non-believers.
The protector of the Light
Her name, which derives from the Latin “Lux” (light), earned her the title of protector of sight. Iconography often represents her with a plate containing her eyes, symbol of a sacrifice transformed into a miracle.
On 13 December 304 AD Lucia was finally killed by decapitation, sealing her martyrdom.
How is Saint Lucia celebrated in Italy?
Today Saint Lucia is celebrated in a very heartfelt way, especially in Sicily and Northern Italy. In Syracuse, his hometown, the celebration begins on the evening of December 12th with the National Festival of Lights. The silver statue containing his relics is carried in procession, while throughout the region the tradition of eating only legumes is observed, recalling an ancient liberation from famine.
In the North, however, it is above all a celebration for children: in Verona, Vicenza, Mantua and Trentino, the little ones joyfully await his gifts, leaving a glass of milk and some biscuits in exchange.
How is Saint Lucia celebrated around the world?
If in Italy Saint Lucia is a deep-rooted celebration, in some Northern European countries it takes on an even deeper meaning. Sweden, in particular, has made this anniversary a truly national event. Here, since the Middle Ages, the feast of Saint Lucia marks the beginning of the Christmas celebrations with an evocative tradition: the girls wear long white tunics, wear crowns of candles on their heads and parade at dawn singing traditional songs, illuminating the still dark houses of the long Scandinavian winters.
In Norway and Finland the celebration takes up these features, with processions of children dressed in white bringing light to the communities.
