Festa di Santa Lucia

Santa Lucia Celebration Online 2021 Collage

Join us in New York City to celebrate Santa Lucia on Sunday, December 10, 2023 at 3PM at Cacio e Pepe restaurant.

Celebrate La Festa di Santa Lucia or Saint Lucy in New York City

When: Sunday, December 10, 2023 at 3PM until 6PM
What: Feast of traditional Sicilian food, short folk music concert, and presentation about Santa Lucia
Where: Cacio e Pepe at 182 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003
Price: $100/person, includes full Sicilian feast menu, wine, entertainment, raffle ticket, tax, and gratuity

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MENU

**Antipasti **

  • Zuppa di Maccu di Fave (Fava bean soup)
  • Arancine di Carne (Rice balls with meat ragu)
  • Arancine di Spinaci (Rice balls with spinach)

**Primo**

  • Risotto di funghi (Mushroom Risotto)

**Insalada Mista (served family style)**

**Secondo (Choice of…)**

  • Polpette con spinaci e patate (Meat balls with spinach and potatoes)
  • Salmone, Fagioli all’uccelletto e cicoria all’aglio (Salmon, green beans and garlic chicory)
  • Polletto Al Mattone con patate arrostite e broccoli rape (Baked Cornish hen, roasted potatoes and broccoli rape)

**Dolce**

  • Cuccia con Ricotta (Sweet farro with ricotta, orange zest, and candied fruit)

**Beverages**

  • A selection of red and white wines are included
  • Coffee

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THE PROGRAM

Along with the full menu above, the afternoon will include a short concert of Sicilian folk songs and folk music inspired by Sicily.

Allison Scola of Experience Sicily will lead a presentation about the history and cult of Santa Lucia.

Your reservation cost also includes entrance into a raffle for artisanal products from Sicily and gift cards from Experience Sicily boutique tours & creative travel planning. We’ll pass out raffle entry tickets during the afternoon so you can enter.

Transportation/Arrival Details

The closest Subway stop to Cacio e Pepe is 3rd Ave L Train.

Street parking is available on Sundays. There are also a number of paid parking facilities within walking distance. Consult your GPS or navigation app for suggestions.

ABOUT THE FEAST OF SANTA LUCIA

In the days leading up to the Feast of Santa Lucia, December 13, many Sicilians refrain from eating pasta and only eat un-ground wheat grain, or “farro,” that is prepared as a dish called cuccìa. Devotees observe this ritual to remember the severe famine that struck Siracusa and Palermo in 1646.

During that time of Spanish domination, the faithful prayed to their patron saint, Lucia, seeking relief. Finally in May during a mass, a squawking quail flew into the duomo in Ortigia (NB, the name “Ortigia” comes from the Ancient Greek word “ortyx,” which means quail.). At the same moment, a messenger entered the church announcing that ships had arrived carrying wheat grain. All hailed it a miracle, attributing the relief to Santa Lucia having answered their prayers.

Now, annually for her feast day in December devotees process her precious silver statue through the streets and only eat cuccìa and arancine as homage to the patron saint of eyes, sight, light, and wheat.

Join us at Cacio e Pepe for this special event!

Register Now!

11 Comments Add yours

  1. Heather says:

    Geri, my sister April and I enjoyed Guiseppi and Valeria- when we visited Sicily last September. We had a wonderful experience learning to cook and make pasta. Also , we enjoyed the wonderful food. It was a great experience that we will never forget. This event looks fantastic and I’m sure it will be very special and delicious! I hope to go back to Sicily again sometime and have this experience again someday soon ! If you live in New York, you should go and experience the warmth and delicious food with this beautiful couple!
    Heather

    1. Allison Scola says:

      Thank you for your beautiful words Heather!

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