Article by Gaia S.A. S1 En
Do you remember when you were in primary, it was December 13th, you were outside your classroom waiting restlessly in the dark; afar you could hear ritual chanting and the smell of gingerbread cookies impregnating the corridors, then suddenly a group of Scandinavian children appear singing and the parents handing out gingerbread cookies? Or were you one of the singers? This day we celebrate Santa Lucia.
This tradition comes from Scandinavia, where children celebrate Santa Lucia with a parade of singers and candles. Santa Lucia is also celebrated in Italy but the celebration is more like any other name day such as Saint Maria or Saint Nicholas.
Primary school celebrates Santa Lucia with all the Scandinavian children walking around the school in the morning with electric candles, singing and handing out gingerbread cookies. The lights of the corridors are dimmed, creating a warm atmosphere. At the end of the parade, all the singers stand around the Christmas tree in front of the secretary’s office and sing their last song. Tears are shed every time, by teachers and parents and sometimes among the kids if they did not get enough cookies.
Santa Lucia is a saint from the Catholic church but is mostly celebrated in Scandinavian countries and Italy. She is one of the few saints to be celebrated by protestants. She is celebrated on the 13th December, the day of her death 1716 years ago. This used to be the longest night of the year (winter solstice) until the calendar changed (in 1582). The winter solstice is now on the 21st December. The candles in the parade represent Santa Lucia giving light to those who don’t have any.
Lucia lived from 283-304ad and was from Syracuse in Sicily. She was born into a rich and noble family. Her mother suffered a bleeding disease. During a pilgrimage, Lucia had a vision of Saint Agatha, who told Lucia that because of her faith her mother would be cured and Lucia would be the glory of Syracuse. With her mother cured Lucia decided to donate a great share of their riches to the poor. Paschasius (the emperor) saw this, and since he was pagan and she was Christian he didn’t like her becoming so popular. He tried to make her renounce her faith in God because he knew others would follow. When she refused, he sentenced her to be defiled in a brothel, as she had already promised her virginity to God.
The guards weren’t able to move her so they attempted to kill Lucia. First they put wood all around her and lit it on fire, but the flames didn’t touch her. Only when someone thrashed a sword at her throat she got to her end.
According to later accounts Paschasius ordered guards to take out Lucia's eyes after being told that his throne would be overruled. Another version was that Lucia took her own eyes out to discourage one who admired them. When she was buried it was found that both of her eyes had been magically restored. She is the saint of the blind because she was blind when she died.
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