13 December
Lucy, Martyr at Syracuse, 304
The early Roman lists of martyrs commemorate Lucy, virgin and martyr,
on 13 December, and her name, appears in the Roman Liturgy as an
example of those who have gone before us, in whose company we join in
giving thanks and praise to God. Aside from this, little is known of
her, except that she lived in Syracuse in Sicily, and probably died
around 304. Her name, which means "light," probably accounts for the
story that her eyes were put out and her eyesight miraculously
restored, and may be connected with the fact that her feast occurs
near the time when (in the Northern Hemisphere) the nights are
longest. In Sweden and elsewhere, the day is observed by having one of
the daughters of the house dress in a white robe with a crown of
lighted candles and go singing from room to room (presumably followed
by an adult with a fire extinguisher) early in the morning when it is
still dark to awaken the other family members and to offer them St
Lucy's Cakes and hot coffee.
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December