Why We Celebrate Saint Lucy’s Day – The Bringer Of Light And Patron Of The Blind

Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - On December 13, the Feast of Saint Lucy is celebrated in some countries. This memorable Christmas holiday is of great importance, mainly in Scandinavia and Italy.

Christmas season card with Lucia in the snow. Adèle Söderberg (1880-1915) Credit: Public Domain

It's called St. Lucy Day (also known as St. Lucia Day). The celebration is in honor of Saint Lucy. She was a martyr who became a patron of the blind and those with eye disorders who died during the Diocletianic Persecution.

The Woman Was Killed Because She Wanted To Help Poor People

Known as St. Lucia of Syracuse, the woman was honored in the Middle Ages and remained a well-known saint in early modern England. According to legend, she brought food and aid to Christians hiding in the catacombs using a candle-lit wreath to light her way and leave her hands free to carry as much food as possible.

In addition, she helped her fellow Catholics hiding in the dark underground catacombs who were at risk of persecution.

Saint Lucy was also well known for her beautiful eyes. It was said that her eyes radiated her love for Christ.

Lucy was born to rich and noble parents in the year 283. Her father was of Roman origin but died when she was five, leaving Lucy and her mother without a protective guardian. Her mother's name, Eutychia, indicates she was of Greek origin. Lucy was deeply religious and wanted to devote herself to God. She didn't want to get married. Instead, she wanted to do something for poor people.

However, her mother feared Lucy's future arranged marriage to a young man from a wealthy pagan family. Lucy's mother suffered from a bleeding disorder, and her condition made Lucy deeply worried.

Saint Lucy by Cosimo Rosselli, Florence, c. 1470. Credit: Public Domain

One night, while dreaming, Lucy saw Saint Agatha martyred fifty-two years during the Decian persecution. The saint told Lucy that because of her faith in God, her mother would be cured, and Lucy would be Syracuse's glory, as she was of Catania.

With her mother cured, Lucy took the opportunity to persuade her mother to allow her to distribute a significant part of her riches among people experiencing poverty.

Lucy Becomes A Martyr

The Pagan man who proposed to Lucy was furious when he heard the news. He destroyed Lucy's life, denouncing her as a Christian to the Governor of Syracuse, Sicily.

That was a time when many Christians were persecuted for their faith.

Saint Lucy by Cosimo Rosselli, Florence, c. 1470. Credit: Public Domain

When the Governor of Syracuse learned the jewelry had been given away to people experiencing poverty, he became furious. The governor sentenced her to forced prostitution, but when guards went to fetch her, they could not move her even when they hitched her to a team of oxen.

Saint Lucy celebration in a Swedish church. Credit: Claudia Gründer - CC BY-SA 3.0

The governor ordered her killed instead. After torture that included having her eyes torn out, she was surrounded by bundles of wood set afire; they went out. She prophesied against her persecutors and was executed by being stabbed to death with a dagger. Her name is listed in the "Nobis quoque peccatoribus" prayer in the Canon of the Mass.

Legend says her eyesight was restored before her death. That was why she became the patron saint for people who are blind and suffer from eye disorders.

The Feast Of St. Lucy

St. Lucy (Lucia) feast day brings various celebrations in various countries. Her feast is also tied in with the celebration of light and winter, as her name means light, and her feast day originally coincided with the winter solstice, which marked the shortest day of the year.

Crypt of Saint Lucy, under the Cathedral of Saint Domnius in the Diocletian's Palace in the ancient city of Split in Croatia. Credit: Adobe Stock - Barbara

Croatians Place A Plant On A Christmas Tree

In Croatia, it is customary to plant Christmas wheat on the feast of St. Lucy. Plant the seeds into a small soil dish, and place the plate in a moderately warm room, keeping it watered. The fresh wheat shoots should be about 8 inches soft green by Christmas Eve.

The wheat then can be placed next to the manger or crib scene as a gift to Jesus. It can also be a table decoration with a candle in the center.

It also reminds us of the Eucharist feeding our souls and as the staff of life that nourishes all humanity.

Important Feast In Italy

Saint Lucy is celebrated all over Italy. Sicilians still commemorate Saint Lucy's intervention during a severe famine in 1582. Miraculously, ships filled with grain appeared in the harbor on December 13.

It is custom to eat plenty of "Lussekatter" (Lusse buns) on the feast of Saint Lucy. Credit: Per Ola Wiberg - CC BY 2.0

To this day, Sicilians refuse to eat anything made of wheat flour, which means forgoing pasta and bread. Instead, they eat the most popular dish, Cuccia, made with boiled whole wheat berries, ricotta, and sugar. The people were so hungry that they didn't take the time to grind the grain into flour but cooked the grains immediately.

Luciadagen In Sweden

Alongside Midsummer, the Lucia celebrations represent one of the highest cultural traditions in Sweden. It is a special feast day in Sweden called Luciadagen.

It is custom to dress a girl in a white dress with a red sash around her waist and a crown of candles on her head. There was a time when real candles were used, but this was much too dangerous. Instead, Lucia's girl wears a crown with white lighted electronic candles.

The crown is made of evergreen Lingonberry branches that symbolize new life in winter. It is custom that there is a Saint Lucia celebration in every school, and some towns and villages also choose a girl to play St. Lucia in a procession where carols are sung.

A national Lucia is also chosen. Lucias also visits hospitals and old people's homes, singing about St Lucia and handing out 'Pepparkakor' ginger snap biscuits.

Small children sometimes like dressing up as Lucia (with the help of their parents!). Also, boys might dress up as 'Stjärngossar' (star boys), and girls might be 'tärnor' (like Lucia but without the candles).

Eating so-called "Lussekatter," buns flavored with saffron and dotted with raisins on St. Lucy's Day in Sweden, is trendy.

The feast is charming to watch in the northern part of the country, where you can see the Lucia procession walk outdoors in the dark from house to house in the snow, holding candles.

Saint Lucy's Day is also celebrated in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Bosnia, Malta, and certain places in the United States.

Written by Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com

Updated on December 10, 2023

First version of this article was originally published on December 13, 2015

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