Today we want to tell you the story of Saint Lucy and, in particular, the traditional Christmas dessert dedicated to her. Between history, legends, and culinary tradition, we will share some interesting facts about this Saint.
Lucy was a young woman from Syracuse, orphaned by her father, whose mother was seriously ill. For this reason, she was promised in marriage at a very young age to a young nobleman. Lucy was deeply religious and, to help her mother overcome her illness, she went on a pilgrimage to the tomb of Saint Agatha, who appeared to her saying that she herself would heal her mother and that one day Lucy would become the patron saint of Syracuse. After returning from the pilgrimage, Lucy’s mother was healed, and Lucy, who had converted to Christianity during the era of Roman paganism, decided to dedicate her life to Jesus, giving away all her possessions and helping others. To take revenge for her refusal, the man to whom Lucy had been promised in marriage denounced her to the Roman authorities, who at the time persecuted Christians.

Martyrdom and the birth of the cult of Saint Lucy

After the denunciation, Lucy was put on trial, but nothing could stop her, and thus her persecution and martyrdom began: to everyone’s surprise, Lucy even survived the flames and died as a martyr on December 13th, 304 AD in Syracuse, becoming the patron saint of the city.

Alongside this account, confirmed by Christian sources, there are also various popular legends passed down through the centuries. The most famous one tells that during her martyrdom, Lucy’s eyes were gouged out; for this reason, she is still today venerated in Syracuse as the protector of eyesight.

Traditions, curiosities, and celebrations around the world

But there are also other interesting facts about this Saint. The first one is: “Saint Lucy, the shortest day of the year”; indeed, her feast day is associated with the winter solstice, although the real shortest day is December 21st. Another sweet tradition comes from Northern European countries, where children write letters to Saint Lucy, hoping she will bring them gifts on the night between December 12th and 13th. On December 13th, children dressed in white, wearing wreaths and holding candles, take part in a procession dedicated to her. Saint Lucy is venerated all over the world, and here is another curious fact: in the Caribbean there is a small island named Saint Lucia, where the 13th of December is also widely celebrated.

Cuccìa and Sicilian culinary tradition

Sicilian culinary tradition dedicates a typical dessert to the Saint: cuccìa. There is a well-known legend linked to this dessert. It is said that the year after Saint Lucy’s death, a severe famine struck what are now the provinces of Ragusa and Syracuse. The city of Syracuse was particularly affected. But at dawn on December 13th (the anniversary of the Saint’s death), thirteen ships appeared in the port of Syracuse, unloading a vast cargo of grain. At noon sharp, the ships mysteriously disappeared. The miracle that saved the population from starvation is remembered through «cuccìa». From that moment on, it was decided that every year on that day people would eat only cuccìa and legumes, avoiding flour-based foods (bread and pasta).

The recipe for cuccìa

For those curious to try this delicious dessert and perhaps hope for a small miracle, here are the recipe and some tips:

Soak the wheat overnight, drain it and cook it over medium heat with water and a little salt for about three hours. Then turn off the heat and cover the pot with a cloth. In a separate bowl, work the ricotta cheese with sugar until you obtain a very smooth sweet cream. Whip the ricotta with an electric mixer. Add chocolate chips, candied orange cut into small cubes, and finally the wheat, drained and dried with a cotton cloth. Mix everything well, pour into single-serving glass or ceramic bowls, and refrigerate. Before serving, sprinkle with a light dusting of ground cinnamon and a few chocolate chips.

And with that, we wish you all… happy cuccìa!

Photo source: from the web