The Santa Lucia’s Cuccìa is prepared on December 13, the day in which the saint, a martyr from Syracuse, is celebrated not only in Northern Europe but also in various parts of Northern Italy and even in Brazil.

The legend tells that when young Lucia ascended to Heaven, she was so sorrowful, and Saint Peter, her protector, allowed her to descend to Earth on the night between December 12 and 13 bringing gifts to all the children.

Lucia was born in 283 and died on December 13 of 304 (or 307 or 310) in Syracuse, and her eyes became her defining feature as she is often depicted holding a plate with her eyeballs.

Saint Lucia is the patroness of sight, probably because her name shares the same root as the word lux (light).

This particular iconography has also influenced culinary traditions, as, for example, the glazed taralli from Puglia are called Saint Lucia’s Eyes.

The saint is also the patroness of wheat, honored with preparations based on cooked wheat, which is the origin of this dessert, cuccìa, dedicated to her.

This simple dish of cooked grains has now become a rich and delicious dessert, popular not only in Sicily but also in Calabria and Southern Italy.

Tradition narrates that in 1763, during a severe famine in Palermo, the population was at their wits’ end. While praying, a dove appeared with a sprig of wheat in its beak.

It was a fortunate omen because, on the same day, December 13, a ship loaded with wheat arrived at the port, which was boiled to feed all the poor and hungry people.

What a wonder these traditions and legends from our wonderful Italy are, don’t you think? And cheers to the recipes that come from all this!!!

P.S. All the information I summarized in the introduction and the recipe itself for the Santa Lucia’s Cuccìa I took from a beautiful and interesting book, one of my latest purchases titled
“Santa Pietanza: Traditions and Recipes of Saints and Their Festivals”

written by Lydia Capasso and Giovanna Esposito Guido Tommasi Editore and with delightful illustrations by Gianluca Biscalchin (cost €16).
I recommend it as a Christmas gift as it talks about food and many traditions, even foreign ones, related to Christian saints and martyrs!
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