Sicilians celebrate with a parade in Syracuse, when a precious silver statue of the saint is carried through the town before being placed on display in the Basilica di Santa Lucia al Sepolcro. It's returned to the cathedral in a second parade seven days later. The grateful residents were so hungry they ate the wheat whole without bothering to grind it. Even now, many Sicilians abstain from eating bread and pasta on December 13th in honour of their saviour saint. In the north of Italy, meanwhile, Santa Lucia celebrations are more indulgent.
In parts of Veneto and Lombardy, especially Verona, Crema, Cremona and Bergamo, the saint has become a sort of Father Christmas figure, visiting in the night to bring children gifts. Youngsters write letters and leave them out for her to find, while on the night before December 13th, they set out milk or coffee for Lucia, biscuits and wine for the helper who accompanies her, and flour or hay for the donkey she rides. They must go bed and keep their eyes shut tight, however, or Lucia — the patron saint of sight — might throw stinging ash in their eyes.
Obedient children wake up on Saint Lucia's Day to find sweets and presents awaiting them. Hay left out for Saint Lucia's donkey in Crema. The tradition is said to stem from an occasion when Lucia saved Verona from an eye affliction that was plaguing the northern city's children.
Desperate parents walked barefoot to her shrine, convincing reluctant children to join them by promising them that the saint would bring treats. Other parts of Italy honour Lucia's association with eyes — one legend states that her torturers gouged out her eyes before she died, another that with light she brings sight — by making gli occhi di Santa Lucia , Saint Lucia's eyes.
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Despite their slightly off-putting name, these little round biscuits made with flour, oil and white wine are a traditional December 13th treat in Puglia. People everywhere in Italy have a more mundane reason to pay attention to Saint Lucia's Day: Iceland may have a population of just over , people all with equally unpronounceable names but that doesn't stop it churning out a stream of globally-renowned people. Take our quiz to discover your Icelandic spirit animal. Search Italy's news in English.
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The historical Lucia came from what is today Italy: After further attempts to torture her, Lucia was beheaded. Where is she worshipped? Burial of Saint Lucy by Caravaggio As you'd expect, Lucia's feast day is a big occasion in Sicily — but the north of Italy, especially Lombardy, has its own traditions of celebrating the saint that date back centuries. What do Italians do on Saint Lucia's Day? Take our quiz to discover your Icelandic spirit animal. Search Italy's news in English. News categories Milan Naples Turin More….
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