Santa Lucia

[PodunkMommy]

I’m not even sure if this is where this question belongs but it’s about a Saint so it’s spiritual.

Santa Lucia’s day is December 13 as far as I’ve always known. I just read today about some Sicilians celebrated her feast day in Nebraska on June 11th. I found an article talking about the celebration
catholicvoiceomaha.com/main.asp?SectionID=9&SubSectionID=9&ArticleID=16888
but I can’t seem to find any information as to why they chose June 11th.

The article says that these people came from Carlentini, Sicily and that this celebration was formed after their own festival of Santa Lucia which was celebrated every year in honor of Santa Lucia in August. I have never heard of this!

My family is from Sicily and I have always heard Santa Lucia’s day being celebrated on December 13th, even in Syracuse (which is where I believe Carlentini is)

Any ideas?

Blessings.

 

[mommyof4]

I’m a Sicillian from Omaha, and for many years our family participated in the Santa Lucia festival down there. I honestly think that the festival is celebrated in the summer because it’s too darn cold in Nebraska to celebrate it in December. Trust me, you don’t want to be outside too long in December in Nebraska. In the old days (my father’s times), they used to parade the statue of the Saint through the streets of Littly Italy, and many people would come out and venerate the statue. It was quite a site. I may have a picture of some of my family members doing this if I can find it. I’ll upload it if I can. Many fun times at the celebration, though!

 

[puzzleannie]

any possibility there might be a local church dedicated to Santa Lucia and it was done on that date?
or possibly immigrants with a devotion to her came to that place on that date?

DH’s family belong to a St. Patrick parish in Indiana that has a festival in the summer (might be the weather, too) but that is when the church was dedicated by the bishop.