Saint Lucy facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Saint Lucy
Saint Lucy, by Niccolò di Segna mid 14th-century Sienese painting, circa 1340. The saint holds the dagger or sword with which she was ultimately executed and the lamp, her attribute.
Virgin and Martyr
Born	c. 283 Syracuse, Roman Empire
Died	304 Syracuse, Western Roman Empire
Venerated in	Catholic Church Orthodox Church Anglican Communion Lutheranism
Canonized	Pre-Congregation
Major shrine	San Geremia, Venice
Feast	13 December 16 September (duplicate feast in pre-1970 General Roman Calendar)
Attributes	Cord; eyes; eyes on a dish; lamp; swords; woman hitched to a yoke of oxen; woman in the company of Saint Agatha, Saint Agnes of Rome, Saint Barbara, Saint Catherine of Alexandria, and Saint Thecla; woman kneeling before the tomb of Saint Agatha
Patronage	The blind; martyrs; Perugia, Italy; Mtarfa, Malta; epidemics; salesmen; Syracuse, Italy; throat infections; writers; Sasmuan, Pampanga Philippines

Saint Lucy (also known as Lucia of Syracuse) was a young Christian woman who lived in Syracuse, Sicily, during the Roman Empire. She was born around 283 AD and died in 304 AD. Lucy is honored as a saint in many Christian churches, including the Catholic Church, Anglican, Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox churches. Her special day, called Saint Lucy's Day, is celebrated on December 13th. She is one of the most famous virgin martyrs, like Agatha of Sicily and Catherine of Alexandria.

Who Was Saint Lucy?
Honoring Saint Lucy
- Feast Day and Traditions
What Saint Lucy Represents
- Patronage and Symbols
Saint Lucy in Literature
- Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy
- John Donne's Poem
Places Named After Saint Lucy
- Churches
- Other Places
Images for kids
See also

Who Was Saint Lucy?

Lucy was born into a rich and noble family in 283 AD. Her father, who was Roman, passed away when she was only five years old. This left Lucy and her mother, Eutychia, without a father figure. Eutychia's name suggests she might have been from a Greek family.

Lucy's Mother and Her Illness

Lucy's mother, Eutychia, suffered from a serious bleeding illness. She worried about Lucy's future and arranged for her to marry a wealthy pagan man.

Eutychia and Lucy at the Tomb of Saint Agatha, by Jacobello del Fiore.

Fifty-two years before Lucy's time, another saint, Agatha of Sicily, had died for her faith. Saint Agatha's shrine in Catania, not far from Syracuse, was a popular place for pilgrims. Many people reported that miracles happened there. Eutychia was convinced to visit Catania, hoping to be cured.

A Dream and a Promise

While in Catania, Lucy had a dream. Saint Agatha appeared to her and told her that because of Lucy's strong faith, her mother would be healed. Saint Agatha also said that Lucy would become famous in Syracuse, just as Agatha was in Catania.

When her mother was cured, Lucy asked her to let her give away a large part of their wealth to the poor. Eutychia thought it would be better to leave the money in her will. But Lucy explained that it's better to give while you are healthy, rather than waiting until you can't take your riches with you.

Lucy's Brave Stand

News that Lucy was giving away her family's money and jewels reached her fiancé. He was very angry and reported her to Paschasius, the Governor of Syracuse. Paschasius ordered Lucy to offer a sacrifice to the emperor's statue. This was a common test for Christians at the time.

Lucy refused to do it. Because of her refusal, Paschasius sentenced her to be harmed.

Lucy Before the Judge, by Lorenzo Lotto, 1523–32.

Christian stories say that when guards tried to take her away, they couldn't move her. Even when they tied her to a team of oxen, she wouldn't budge. Then, they piled wood around her and set it on fire, but the fire wouldn't burn her. Finally, she was killed with a sword.

The Story of Her Eyes

Later stories add more details. Before Lucy died, she supposedly predicted that Paschasius would be punished and that the persecution of Christians would soon end. She also said that the emperors would no longer rule. This made Paschasius so angry that he ordered her eyes to be removed.

Another version of the story says that Lucy took out her own eyes to stop a man who kept bothering her because he admired her beautiful eyes. However, when her body was being prepared for burial, it was discovered that her eyes had been miraculously restored. This is one reason why Saint Lucy is known as the patron saint of people with eye problems.

Honoring Saint Lucy

By the 500s, stories about Saint Lucy were well-known. Her popularity spread to England, where her feast day was celebrated until the Protestant Reformation.

Feast Day and Traditions

Saint Lucy's feast day is on December 13th. This day used to be the shortest day of the year (the Winter Solstice) before calendar changes. Because of this, her feast day became a festival of light, especially in countries with long, dark winters.

Saint Lucia procession in Sweden.

In Scandinavian countries like Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, girls dress up as Lucy. They wear a white dress, a red sash (symbolizing martyrdom), and a crown of candles on their heads. They carry special buns called St. Lucia buns in a procession and sing songs. People believe that celebrating Saint Lucy's Day helps them get through the long, dark winter days with enough light.

Popular devotional image.

In Syracuse, Sicily, Italy, where Lucy was from, a silver statue of Saint Lucy containing some of her relics is paraded through the streets on December 13th. Sicilians remember a story that a famine ended on her feast day when ships full of grain arrived in the harbor. Because of this, it's traditional to eat whole grains instead of bread on December 13th. A popular dish is cuccìa, made of boiled wheat berries, often mixed with ricotta cheese and honey.

In some parts of Northern Italy, Saint Lucy is said to bring gifts to children between December 12th and 13th. Children often leave hay outside for Lucy's donkey and food inside for Lucy herself, to help them after their long night of delivering gifts.

In the Philippines, many villages celebrate Saint Lucy's Day with special prayers and processions. People sing hymns and attend Mass.

What Saint Lucy Represents

Lucy's Latin name, Lucia, comes from the Latin word lux, which means "light." This is why many traditions connect Saint Lucy with bringing light into the darkness of winter.

Patronage and Symbols

Because of the stories about her eyes, Saint Lucy is the patron saint of the blind. She is also the patron saint of writers, salesmen, and people who work with glass. She is asked for help with eye problems and throat infections.

Saint Lucy, by Francesco del Cossa (c. 1430 – c. 1477).

In art, Saint Lucy is often shown holding a dish with two eyes on it. This represents her role as a protector of sight. She also holds a palm branch, which is a symbol of martyrdom and victory. Other symbols include a lamp, a dagger, a sword, or two oxen.

The Caribbean island of Saint Lucia is named after her.

Saint Lucy in Literature

Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy

Saint Lucy appears in Dante Alighieri's famous poem, The Divine Comedy.

In Inferno, she is a messenger sent to Beatrice (another important character) from the Virgin Mary. Lucy tells Beatrice to send the poet Virgil to help Dante. She represents "illuminating grace," guiding Dante out of darkness.
In Purgatorio, Lucy carries a sleeping Dante to the entrance of purgatory. Again, she helps him move from darkness to light, both literally and figuratively.
In Paradiso, Dante places Lucy in a special spot in the "Mystic Rose," showing her importance.

John Donne's Poem

In the Late Middle Ages, Saint Lucy's feast day often fell on the shortest day of the year. The poet John Donne wrote a poem called "A Nocturnal upon St. Lucie's Day, being the shortest day" (1627). The poem begins with the line: "'Tis the year's midnight, and it is the day's."