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Santa Lucia's
Feast
@2021 - SICILYKIOSK tutti i diritti riservati
@2021 - SICILYKIOSK tutti i diritti riservati
On 13th Decemeber, tradition join up religion and popolar faith: it's the feast dedicated to patron saint of Siracusa: Santa Lucia.
Protector of the "cuccioli" (eyes)
History tells that Lucia was born in 283 in Siracusa, daughter of extraordinary beauty and of a nobiliar city.
She was promised herself to a rich man but from a young age he consecrated her life intimately to God and, unbeknownst to her parents, she converted to Christianity.
When her mother was sick seriously, Lucia went to pilgrimage to Catania in order to pray on the Sant'Agata's tomb where she promised to stay faithful to her love vote for Jesus. She gave away all her riches in order to give them to poor people, she dedicated herself to weak, orphans,widows and to sick persons.
Her suitor felt refused and, during the periodo of paganism, reported Lucia to court of Roman Empire with the charge to be christian.
Lucia didn't knock out; she was taken to trial and she subjected with braveness the worst tortures.
It was the 13 December of the 304 when the miracles happened: Lucia, thank to Saint Spirit, remained miraculously unhurt, after she died with a sword shot in the throat.
It is tells that during the tortures, The eyes of Lucia was tore away and for this she become the protector of the vision. Although, there aren't official sources that verify this horrible detail.
The emblem of the eyes on the tray is probably to be linked to the popular devotion that has always invoked it as a protector of sight, because of the name Lucia which means light.
The celebrations starts on 9th November when the silvery simulacrum of Saint Lucia comes to the chapel dedicated to her in the Cathedral but just from the 30 November, the musical band turns joyfully through the streets of Ortigia, announcing the beginning of the Tredicina.
The Holy Masses follow one another and every evening the blessing and the kiss of the relic take place. The 12 December is the eve and from the early hours of the morning the devotees begin to flock to the Cathedral to assist in the translation of the Simulacrum from the Chapel to the High Altar.
On the 13 December devotees arrive to the Cathedral to participate to the Mass and in the early afternoon the procession of the relics and the silvery simulacrum begins, which cross the city to reach the Basilica of Santa Lucia al Sepolcro.
To make this feast really special is the pilgrimage:
a great contest of people, often barefoot as a sign of thanks, accompanies the Patron Saint through the streets of the city to the cry of "Sarausana jè" (She is siracusana).
During these days of feast, the citizen are used to prepare votive loaves in the shape of eyes and eat the cuccìa.
(cooked wheat seasoned with ricotta, honey or cooked wine).
INFO
On 13th December.
Siracusa
When tradition and religion join up, they create an unmissable show.
Attend to Santa Lucia's Feast and taste a little of tradition tipically sicilian.