Celebrating St Lucia’s Patron Saint on National Day
by Karen Rollins Dec 5, 2022
St Lucia honours the feast day of its patron saint St Lucy of Syracuse annually on 13 December.
St Lucy was martyred in 304 AD at the age of 21. From an early age she dedicated her life to Christianity and her journey to sainthood began when she turned down a marriage proposal from a wealthy pagan suitor. He took revenge by reporting Lucy to the governor of Syracuse, Paschasius.
Paschasius told Lucy to renounce her Christian faith and burn a sacrifice to the emperor’s image. She refused and was sentenced to be defiled in a brothel.
Guards came to take her away, but it’s reported that Lucy could not be removed, even when a team of oxen were hitched to her waist. Firewood was then placed around her feet but none of the attempts to light the flames worked.
Lucy was finally killed when a guard’s sword pierced her neck.
St Lucy’s amazing story spread throughout the Empire. She was venerated by the Roman Catholic Church and given a designated feast day on 13 December.
National Day in St Lucia is a public holiday, and citizens are encouraged to wear madras or dress in the colours of the flag.
In previous years, some planned events have included the ‘Festival of Lights and Renewal’ in Castries, car racing in Vieux Fort, lantern-making competitions and firework displays.
The eve of National Day is also widely seen on the island as the official start of the Christmas season.
St Lucy is also celebrated in Sweden, Norway, and Swedish-speaking parts of Finland on 13 December. In these Scandinavian countries the annual Sankta Lucia festival includes the selection of a girl to represent the saint, she walks at the head of a procession through the town, while singing traditional songs.
The holiday is also celebrated in parts of Italy where St Lucy is the patron saint of Syracuse in Sicily.
