Viva Santa Lucia! Cuccìa, pictured, is a pudding made from wheat berries (or barley, spelt, or farro) prepared in honor of the Feast of Santa Lucia, December 13. Cuccìa became the traditional dish of the feast because during a famine in the 17th century, Siracusans prayed to Lucia, the patroness of wheat and grain, for…
Category: divine feminine
Thank You To Cacio E Vino And All
Thank you to Cacio e Vino and everyone who came today to Celebrate La Festa di Santa Lucia! My heart is full of joy! Viva Santa Lucia! Save the dates for our San Giuseppe events: March 10 for ritual bread making and March 24 for the Feast at Cacio e Vino. Registration available in February.
Buona Madonna!
Buona Madonna! This is how my cousin Evelina in Sicily greeted me by text today. So, Happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception or la Festa dell’Immacolata to you! Today’s feast recognizes that the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, was conceived without original sin — something with which, in Catholic dogma, every person is considered…
Lucia Brought Light
The pure and beautiful Lucia was known to enter the dark catacombs of Siracusa, lighting her way with a torch in order to feed less fortunate, early Christians. It was the dawn of the 4th century, and practicing Christianity in the Roman-ruled capital was illegal. Already though, inspired by nearby Catania’s patron saint, Sant’Agata, who…
Rice Balls, Glorious Rice Balls
Before I continue with the significance of the December 13 Feast for Santa Lucia, let’s talk about the really serious stuff! That is, that Palermitani celebrate the Saint by eating arancine. Arancine (as they are known in Palermo, pictured right; Arancini, if you’re from the east side of Sicily, pictured left), are rice balls filled…
Sicily And The Myth of Demeter and Kore
The leaf-less trees along my morning walks in the New York City area are a painful reminder that winter’s arrival is imminent. And so, I think of earth’s seasonal cycles, which for centuries were explained by the myth of Demeter and Kore: Hades, the God of the Underworld, abducted the maiden Kore while she was…
Ancient Sicilian Devotion
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…
Santa Lucia Lunch Sun., Dec. 9 in New York City
In Siracusa, Sicily last spring, I thanked Santa Lucia for guiding me through last winter–a particularly long and arduous one for me. Now, days from the winter solstice, I invite you to join me for our annual Experience Sicily luncheon celebrating the patroness of light, eyes, sight, and wheat on Sunday, Dec. 9 in New…
Celebrate Santa Lucia in New York City
The days are short, with evening coming early–too early for my liking. This is why I have an affinity for Santa Lucia, the patroness of light: I seek her support during these cold, dark months. Please join me for the annual luncheon celebrating the Feast of Santa Lucia on Sunday, Dec. 9 in New York…
The Madonna Of The Milicia River
My heart is heavy knowing about the loss of life because of the Milicia River spontaneously swelling in Casteldaccia, Sicily over the weekend due to torrential rains. When I heard the tragic news, I immediately thought of the Madonna of the Milicia, the sacred painting, pictured, that is venerated in Casteldaccia and Altavilla Milicia, coastal…