It is said, “Saint Lucia, the bright sun”, and today on the feast of St. Lucia, after the long autumn rains, all of Croatia had dawned sunny. The children especially could hardly wait to see what Saint Lucia left under their pillows, at the foot of their beds, or in their hanging stockings. Today, Saint Lucia leaves gifts such as candies and chocolates, but there is always a fruit such as an orange or apple. Along with the feast of St. Lucia there are many different folk customs and various devotions. While in the older days in Dalmatia children were happy about St. Lucia and small gifts, in other Croatian regions that day was not very pleasant for children. Adults would drape sheets, cut out and illuminate pumpkins and scare children at night, but would always leave a humble gift.
In Croatia all work associated with needles is avoided on St. Lucia, because it is believed that the moths could damage the work or that this would “sew” the eyes. According to folk tales people were not allowed to bake bread, only thin and flat bread made from corn flour. Although the traditions of celebrating the day of St. Lucia are different, on this feast all of Croatia sows wheat, which is a symbol of life, and harvest, and its vegetation calls upon fertility, prosperity and abundance in the upcoming year.
The tradition is to sow Christmas wheat in a plate or another suitable dish. Grown wheat is binded by Croatian tricolor (Croatian flag colors) and a candle is put in the centre as a symbol of Christmas light. Wheat is an un excluded detail in the middle of festively set table during holiday times.
Saint Lucia is the patron of the blind and visually impaired and is now a saint to whom sick people in thousands of churches pray to. People who have lost the gift of sight, or have never had it cannot see the blue sea, the sunset or the smile of the child but they will feel it with their heart and touch it with their soul. Lets close our eyes for a moment and try to see things in the right light.
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