Tag: saint lucy
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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…
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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…
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Celebrating Sicily’s Martyr, Santa Lucia
All Saints Day is a day to remember all the saints known and unknown. On All Saints Day, November 1, we also remember martyrs, like Santa Lucia of Siracusa, pictured, who adorns the city’s Duomo. Save the Date: Sunday, December 9, we are hosting our annual Festa di Santa Lucia luncheon at Cacio e Vino…
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Long Live Santa Lucia!
Viva Santa Lucia! December 13 is the Feast of Santa Lucia. Devotees wearing green caps process her priceless silver statue and sacred relics through the streets of Oritgia, Sicily. Throughout the march, faithful sing a call-and-response in reverence to their patroness: Viva Santa Lucia! Viva Santa Lucia! (Long Live Santa Lucia!) (Statue of Santa Lucia…
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Long Live Santa Lucia!
Viva Santa Lucia! December 13 is the Feast of Santa Lucia. Devotees wearing green caps process her priceless silver statue and sacred relics through the streets of Oritgia, Sicily. Throughout the march, faithful sing a call-and-response in reverence to their patroness: Viva Santa Lucia! Viva Santa Lucia! (Long Live Santa Lucia!) (Statue of Santa Lucia…
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Cuccìa for Lucia
Cuccìa is a wheat berry (also barely, spelt, or farro) pudding made in honor of the Feast of Santa Lucia, the patron saint of wheat and grain. I made this cuccìa pictured, following the recipe in Giorgio Locatelli’s Made in Sicily cookbook. Cuccìa became the traditional dish of the December 13 feast because during the…
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Crunchy On The Outside
Earlier this week, I mentioned that in the days leading up to and including La Festa di Santa Lucia, Palermitani don’t eat flour-based foods. So what do they eat then? Arancine, of course! Yes, these balls-of-gold are a masterpiece of Palermitano wheat-free street food, and Sicilians of the Conco d’Oro take their arancine very seriously…
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The Famine of 1646
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…
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A Dagger
Yes, that is a dagger in her neck! When the Christian maiden Lucia refused to participate in the activities of the Roman temple dedicated to sacred prostitution to which she was condemned, the governor of Siracusa, Paschasius, sent soldiers to remove her, however she was immovable! They brought in oxen to drag her away, yet…