Festival of Santa Lucia

From 13/12/2008 to 20/12/2008 

Event Syracuse: Festival of Santa Lucia - Nozio

http://www.festivalsantalucia.org.mx/programacion/

"桑塔露琪亞"  這個名字有一段傳說，桑塔露琪亞是一位那不勒斯出生的女教徒，後去西西里島傳教，遭到迫害，殉教身亡。為了紀念桑塔露琪亞，就把那不勒斯郊區的一個小港口，命名為桑塔露琪亞。《桑塔露琪亞》是雖是一首意大利歌曲，在北歐的瑞典每年12月13日卻有個“桑塔露琪亞節”，在這一天，人們高舉蠟燭，齊唱《桑塔露琪亞》，走街串巷，互相問候，平靜地度過一天。為什麼意大利的歌曲會成為北歐瑞典節日的主旋律呢？原來，桑塔露琪亞中的“露琪亞”原文意為“光明”，後被引申到天主教里，指驅走黑暗，帶來光明的聖女（也就是光明女神）。北歐由于緯度高，長年處于黑夜長，白天短的環境，人們對光明的渴望非常強烈。12月13日是桑塔露琪亞的殉難日，又恰逢冬至，于是瑞典人為了紀念聖女也為了迎接光明，把這一天定為“桑塔露琪亞節”，就這樣意大利的歌曲就成了北歐瑞典節日的主旋律。所以“桑塔露琪亞”這幾個字，可以是一首歌，可以是一個地名，也可以是一位姑娘，同時還意味著光明。

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3qsng_santa-lucia-suedvoix_music

Vocal: Tamara Sinyavskaya (Voice of Russia)

The Festival of Santa Lucia is a Scandinavian winter tradition that honors Saint Lucy. Santa Lucia is actually a saint of Sicilian origin. It is believed by many that the Santa Lucia Festival, celebrated on the 13th of December, is relatable to early Viking celebrations of the Winter Solstice. Since Santa Lucia is associated with light, and with spiritual sight, the Festival brings light into the darkness of the winter months.

Saint Lucy, or Santa Lucia was a young girl who lived in about 300 CE. At a young age, her Christianity made her the target of anti-Christian sentiment. She was blinded and executed. Lucy is now associated with both light in the darkness and sight. The festival of Santa Lucia celebrates the light brought to one of the darkest days of the year, just as Lucy’s faith shown in a dark period for early Christians.

In many villages in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Denmark, the Festival of Santa Lucia is a national holiday. The festival begins early in the morning for some families, with the oldest daughter, called the Lucia bride, bringing coffee and buns to the family. She is garbed in white to represent purity. Sisters wear wreaths and belts of tinsel, and brothers may wear hats with stars on them.

Most towns have a festival and parade on Santa Lucia. Each town picks a representative Lucia bride, and all march carrying candles. It is also a tradition to give gifts or to make donations to charity on Santa Lucia, especially charities that help the blind. This is connected to Santa Lucia and her mother distributing all their wealth after Lucia’s mother was cured of an illness by the sepulcher of Saint Agatha.

The parade often includes many carols to Santa Lucia and to Christ. In fact, in Scandinavian countries, many consider the Festival of Santa Lucia to be the beginning of Christmas. This differs from observance in Christmas in other countries, where Christmas begins on Christmas and ends on Epiphany, which is the sixth of January.

When the parade is over, many continue the celebration of Santa Lucia with traditional foods. Ginger cookies and saffron buns are popular. As well, apple cider, or wine with spices helps to take off the chill. Many have full meals. In Sweden, a smorgasbord of familiar Swedish foods may be served.

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