As we prepare for our annual Feast of Santa Lucia on Sunday, Dec. 9 in NYC at Cacio e Vino (Details and register at https://experiencesicily.com/events/festa-di-santa-lucia/), we must first start long before Lucia’s time, in the 7th century B.C.E. During this ancient Greek era, women devotees prayed to the goddesses Persephone and Demeter for healthful fertility and protection during various stages of their lives. Persephone was often represented adorned with flowers, earrings, and jewelry. Her dress was regularly colored rose, and in some cases, the fabric was decorated with scenes from the myth of Demeter and Persephone/Kore.

This clay bust of Kore/Persephone from the archaeological museum in Aidone (Enna Province). It is one of hundreds, proving the significance of the Demeter and Kore story. The vital myth of Demeter and Kore/Persephone explains why we have seasons–do you recall the details of the myth?