Discover Santa Lucia in Sicily, one of the island’s biggest December festivals. Learn about the traditions, processions in Syracuse and the unique food customs linked to the saint.

On 13 December, the island of Sicily celebrates Santa Lucia, one of its most beloved saints, with a festival deeply rooted in local traditions. Even for those who are not religious, the Festival of Santa Lucia is a powerful cultural experience.

Nowhere is the celebration more intense than in Syracuse (Siracusa), where Santa Lucia was born and where her presence is still strongly felt today. For visitors traveling through Sicily in winter, Santa Lucia offers a rare chance to witness a living tradition that goes far beyond a single religious ceremony.

Santa Lucia, Saint Lucy in English, was born in Syracuse in the late third century. According to tradition, she was a young Christian woman who refused to renounce her faith and was martyred in 304 AD during the persecutions ordered by Emperor Diocletian.

Over the centuries, Lucia became the patron saint of Syracuse and one of the most important saints in Sicily. She is traditionally associated with light and invoked as the protector of eyesight, due to the Latin etymology of her name: lux, meaning light. For Sicilians, she represents protection, devotion and a deep connection to their city.

The devotion to Santa Lucia is not only linked to religious reasons, but also historical ones. In 1646, during a severe famine, Syracuse was suffering from hunger when a ship carrying grain unexpectedly entered the harbor on 13 December. The event was immediately attributed to the saint’s intervention.

The people saw that ship as Lucia’s answer to the many prayers addressed to her, and because of the severe hunger they did not wait to grind the grain but ate it boiled. This is how cuccìa was born: a traditional dish made with boiled wheat berries, sometimes served sweet with ricotta or chocolate, sometimes savory.

Since then, Santa Lucia has been associated with abundance and gratitude. To commemorate this miraculous event, the statue of Santa Lucia is paraded through the streets of Ortigia, in Syracuse, on the first and second Sundays of May. This celebration should not be confused with the main Santa Lucia feast, which takes place in December.

The heart of the festival unfolds in Syracuse, where celebrations extend from 13 to 20 December. On 13 December, the silver statue of Santa Lucia is carried in a long procession through the historic center. Dressed in green and gold, the saint is accompanied by thousands of people, many walking barefoot as a sign of devotion.

The procession starts from the Cathedral on the island of Ortigia and moves slowly through the streets, accompanied by chants, church bells and a truly emotional atmosphere.

On 20 December, a second procession takes place, bringing the statue back to Ortigia. It is the celebration that marks the culmination of the feast of the Saint of Light.

December in Sicily is a quieter time to visit the island, and Santa Lucia offers a good reason to explore the island outside the high season. Temperatures are mild, cities are less crowded, and events like this reveal a side of Sicily that summer visitors rarely see. It’s a moment when tradition is not staged for visitors but lived naturally by the community. 

If you’re planning a winter trip to Sicily and would like to experience Santa Lucia or other local traditions along the way, you can always contact us at info@citylightstours.com. We’ll be happy to help you shape an itinerary that lets you discover the island at its most authentic.