What is Santa Lucia and why is it celebrated?
Every year, people across Italy celebrate the feast day of Santa Lucia, the patron saint of the blind and her hometown of Siracusa, Sicilia, on December 13. Santa Lucia, or Saint Lucy, was persecuted for her faith around 300 C.E., making her one of the earliest recorded Christian martyrs.
What does Santa Lucia mean in Italian?
Lucia meaning light, Santa Lucia is also the patron saint of the blind, the eyes, the electricians, the oculists and the stonemasons, and is often invoked for eye diseases. As the patron saint of sight, she is also sollicited for sight problems, such as myopia, astigmatism, presbyopia or blindness.
How is Santa Lucia celebrated?
Families observe St. Lucia's Day in their homes by having one of their daughters (traditionally the eldest) dress in white and serve coffee and baked goods, such as saffron bread (lussekatter) and ginger biscuits, to the other members of the family. These traditional foods are also given to visitors during the day.
What is the Lucia tradition?
Tradition has it that Lucia is to wear 'light in her hair', which in practice means a crown of electric candles in a wreath on her head. Each of her handmaidens carries a candle, too. … The star boys, who like the handmaidens are dressed in white gowns, carry stars on sticks and have tall paper cones on their heads.
What is Santa Lucia known for?
Lucy, Italian Santa Lucia, (died 304, Syracuse, Sicily; feast day December 13), virgin and martyr who was one of the earliest Christian saints to achieve popularity, having a widespread following before the 5th century. She is the patron saint of the city of Syracuse (Sicily) and of virgins.
Who does St Lucia belong to?
the British Commonwealth Along with the other Windward Islands, St. Lucia became a federated state associated with the United Kingdom in 1967. Although it achieved independence in 1979, St. Lucia remains a member of the British Commonwealth.
What is the most common last name in St Lucia?
Most Common Last Names In Saint Lucia
| Rank | Surname | Incidence |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joseph | 8,527 |
| 2 | Charles | 3,872 |
| 3 | James | 3,071 |
| 4 | Alexander | 2,747 |