December 13 Feast Of St Lucia

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THE "FIRST FEAST OF SAINT LUCIA" IS HELD ON THIS DATE EACH YEAR IN ITALY. BEFORE BEING CHRISTIANIZED INTO A SAINT, SHE WAS ORIGINALLY A ROMAN GODDESS WHO REPRESENTED LIGHT, LABOR, AND CHILDBIRTH, "LUCINA (SHE WHO BRINGS CHILDREN INTO THE LIGHT) "MERGED WITH "JUNO" BECOMING "JUNO LUCINA". SHE SAFEGUARDED THE LIVES OF WOMEN IN LABOR. LUCINA" WAS CHIEF AMONG A NUMBER OF DEITIES WHO INFLUENCED OR GUIDED EVERY ASPECT OF BIRTH AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT. HER EMBLEMS WERE THE LADYBUG AND THE CUCKOO. HER SYMBOLS WERE A LAMP, A RITUAL OFFERING DISH, AND SHE BESTOWED THE GIFTS OF LIGHT, ENLIGHTENMENT, AND EYESIGHT." LUCINA " WAS HONORED IN BOTH SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER. ANOTHER FESTIVAL WAS CELEBRATED ON MARCH 1 AND ALLOWED MATRONS TO ASSEMBLE AND IMPLORE FOR A HAPPY POSTERITY. CANDLES WERE SACRED TO THIS" MOTHER OF LIGHT."

IN LATER YEARS, SHE EVOLVED INTO " ST. LUCIA", THE PATRON SAINT OF SYRACUSE. INDEED, MANY OF HER EARLY CELEBRATIONS INCLUDED THE" FIRES OF ST. LUCIA", AND IS STILL CELEBRATED IN SCANDINAVIA ON DECEMBER 13TH WHERE SHE IS IMMENSELY POPULAR. THE CHURCH'S ASSIGNATION OF THIS DATE BEARS INADVERTENT HOMAGE TO THE PAGAN MIDWIFE, LUCINA. INDEED, IN A SWEDISH RITUAL, THE OLDEST DAUGHTER IN THE FAMILY WEARS A WHITE GOWN AND A CROWN OF LIGHTED CANDLES....SYMBOLIZING THE RETURN OF THE SUN. AN OLD RHYME SAYS: "LUCY LIGHT, LUCY LIGHT, THE SHORTEST DAY AND THE SHORTEST NIGHT. "BECAUSE THE NUMBER 13 IS CONNECTED WITH THE FEMININE, MANY PRACTITIONERS OF WOMEN'S SPIRITUALITY HAVE HAVE ADOPTED HER AS A PATRON OF WOMEN.

THERE IS A CHRISTIAN MYTH ABOUT HER WHICH TELLS HOW SHE CUT OUT HER EYES BECAUSE A SUITOR PRAISED THEM FOR THEIR BEAUTY, AND THEN SENT THEM TO HIM. THIS HARKENS BACK TO THE ANCIENT ASSOCIATION BETWEEN LIGHT AND EYES.

The Feast of St Lucy: Luciadagen

And I will stay awake throughout the longest winter night
And dress up in a red silk sash and flowing gown of white
And serve my parents with warm sweets and sing for their delight.
And I will wear upon my head a crown of fragrant green
Ablaze with tall white candles, with golden candle-gleam,
And I will be a Lussibrud as in some wondrous dream.
And as the night begins to fade I'll greet December sun
And knock on all the neighbors' doors and sing to everyone
And offer all the friends I greet a golden saffron bun.
Lucia maidens will come too, with silver in their hair
And star boys with their studded wands and pointed caps to wear,
And elfin boys will follow us as we walk everywhere.
And I will stay awake throughout the longest winter night
And dress up in my silken sash, my crown, my robe of white
And I will be, for one brief day, Lucia of the Light.

by Myra Cohn Livingston

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