A Christian feast day celebrated
December 13, commemorating Saint
Lucy, a 3rd-century martyr who according to legend brought
"food and aid to Christians hiding in the catacombs" using a
candle-lit wreath to "light her way and leave her hands free to carry as
much food as possible".
Her feast
once coincided with the Winter
Solstice, so her feast day is now a festival of light.
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To celebrate girls will dress as with her wreath of
candles and carry rolls and cookies in procession.
The candles symbolize the fire that refused to take
St. Lucy's life when she was sentenced to be burned.
It is said that to vividly celebrate Saint Lucy's
Day will help one live the long winter days with enough light.
Between Lussi Night and Yule, trolls, evil spirits, and spirits of the dead,
were thought to be active outside.
In
some regions of North-Eastern Italy, Lucy brings gifts to good children and
coal to bad ones the night of December 12.
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