The CFP Holy Angels Gift Shop offers a wheat planting kit
to prepare for Christmas by celebrating the Feast of Saint Lucy in a
special way. The kit contains wheat berries, a peat pellet, a St. Lucy
Prayer Card, and Instructions and Background of this tradition. Maybe
you would like to begin this tradition with your family.
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| Wheat planted on St. Lucy's Feast will be several inches high by Christmas. |
The
tradition of planting wheat on Saint Lucy's Day (December 13) comes
from Hungary, Croatia, and other European nations. Plant wheat grains in
a round dish or plate of soil, then water the seeds. Place the
container in a warm spot. If the planting medium is kept moist (not
sopping wet), the seeds will germinate and the shoots will be several
inches high by Christmas. Then the new green shoots, reminding us of the
new life born in Bethlehem, may be tied with a ribbon, if desired, and a
candle may be placed near them as a symbol of the Light of Christ.
Place the plate of
sprouted wheat near the Nativity set where it will remind all that
Christ, the Bread of Life, was born in Bethlehem, whose name means
"House of Bread." The wheat recalls the Eucharist which is made from
wheat. It also brings to mind Christ's parables about wheat:
THE GRAIN OF WHEAT MUST
DIE: Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains
but a single grain, but, if it dies, it brings forth much fruit. (John
12:24) "Lord, may we die to self so that we will live for You. May we
rejoice that those who, faithful to You, have left this world in death
are alive with You forever. May we praise You for having died for us and
bringing forth our faith as Your fruits."
SEED SOWN ON GOOD
GROUND: The farmer went out to sow, and seed fell into various places,
some springing up and then withering or being choked out and other seed
falling on good ground and yielding a great harvest. (Mark 4:1-20,
Matthew 13: 4-23) "Lord, may we be good ground to receive the seed of
Your word, and may we put that word into practice."
WEEDS AMONG THE WHEAT: A
farmer sows good wheat in his field but, when it sprouts, weeds are
among it. He advises his workers to allow both to grow until the harvest
when the wheat will be gathered into barns and the weeds burnt.
(Matthew 13: 24-30) "Lord, help us to understand that evil and trial
will be present in the world until your Second Coming. Keep us from
being discouraged. Grant us the faith to know that You are in control
and will gather those who remain faithful to You into Your eternal
dwellings."
THE RISING FLOUR: The
reign of God is like yeast which, when kneaded into flour, makes the
whole batch rise. (Matthew 13:33). "Lord, my soul is the flour into
which I invite You to knead Your grace. As I feel punched and beaten and
slapped around by life, let me realize that You are but kneading me
into someone new and good."
SEED GROWS UNAWARE: The
seed that is sowed in the field grows of itself without the sower being
aware of it. (Mark 4:26-29). "Lord, help me to realize that the seeds of
faith that I am sowing in others, by my actions, words, and prayers,
may be sprouting and growing even though I do not know it. Grant me sure
hope that those for whom I pray will be saved from eternal death."
SABBATH WAS MADE FOR
MAN: Christ's disciples were plucking wheat and eating it on the
Sabbath. When the Pharisees complained that the disciples were working
on a day on which no work was to be done, Jesus reminded them how David
and his starving men had eaten food which was in the temple. "The
Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath," Jesus declared.
(Mark 2:23-28) "Lord, help me to understand that charity toward others
is the highest law and that keeping all Your laws to perfection avails
nothing if I do not keep them with love."
SAINT LUCY (SANTA LUCIA)
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| Saint Lucy |
Tradition tells us that
Saint Lucy was born of noble, wealthy, Christian parents in Syracuse,
Italy. Lucy had few memories of her father, for he died when Lucy was an
infant. As a young girl, Lucy took a secret vow to consecrate her
virginity to Christ. Thus her mother was quite dismayed when Lucy, as a
teen, refused marriage to a young pagan. When Lucy's mother developed a
hemorrhage, Lucy persuaded her to visit the tomb of St. Agatha to pray
for healing. When her mother was healed, Lucy revealed her vow of
virginity and asked permission to bestow her fortune on the poor. Joyful
at her cure, Lucy's mother agreed, but Lucy's pagan suitor was
incensed. With the persecution of the emperor Diocletian at its height,
the jilted young man accused Lucy, before a judge, of being a Christian.
When Lucy refused to relinquish her faith, the judge ordered her to a
brothel. However, guards who attempted to drag her to the house of sin
were unable to budge her. Similarly an attempt to burn Lucy to death
failed so she was dispatched by thrusting a sword into her throat. The
date of Lucy's martyrdom was December 13, 304.
SAINT LUCY ASSOCIATED WITH LIGHT
According to the Julian
calendar, December 13th was the shortest day of the year. The change to
the Gregorian calendar altered the date to December 21st, but did not
change Lucy's feast day celebration, and she is forever associated with
lengthening days and more sunlight.
As early as the sixth
century, Lucy was honored in Rome as one of the most praiseworthy virgin
martyrs, and her name was inserted into the canon of the Mass. Possibly
because of her name, which means "light," Lucy was invoked by those who
suffered from eye trouble or blindness. Due to this connection, various
legends arose. One legend claimed that her eyes were put out by a
tyrannical government official or by her jilted boyfriend. Another
declared that Lucy tore them out herself to discourage her pagan suitor.
In every story, however, the Lord restored her eyes to her, more
beautiful than ever.
CELEBRATIONS OF SAINT LUCY'S DAY
Saint Lucy's Day, December 13, is celebrated by several European nations.
In Sweden, the oldest
(or youngest) daughter in each household traditionally carries a tray of
coffee and traditional pastries called lussekatter (Lucy cats) to her
parents before they arise in the morning. She wears a white gown,
scarlet sash, and a crown of greens and four, seven, or nine lighted
candles . Her brothers, wearing white shirts and tall, cone-shaped hats
decorated with stars, and her sisters, all in white and carrying lighted
candles, follow her. In many towns, a Saint Lucy is chosen to carry
coffee and buns to each house. She and her followers, each bearing a
lighted candle, sing carols as they traverse the dark streets while St.
Steven, represented by a man on horseback, leads the way. The procession
is done in memory of Saint Lucy's traversing darkened woods to bring
bread and other food to the poor.
In Switzerland, St Lucy
strolls around the village with Father Christmas, giving gifts to the
girls while he gives gifts to the boys.
In Venice, folks celebrate the Feast of St. Lucy by enjoying fried cheese.
Italians eat small cakes
or biscotti shaped like eyes, light huge bonfires, and conduct evening
candlelight processions, all in honor of Saint Lucy.
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| Cuccia |
Sicilians pay tribute to
a miracle performed by St Lucy during a famine in 1582. At that time,
she brought a flotilla of grain-bearing ships to starving Sicily, whose
citizens cooked and ate the wheat without taking time to grind it into
flour. Thus, on St. Lucy's Day, Sicilians don't eat anything made with
wheat flour. Instead they eat cooked wheat called cuccia.
TO MAKE CUCCIA:
Soak one pound of winter
wheat (available at health food stores) for two days, changing the
water daily. On the third day, change the water and cover the wheat with
fresh water to four inches above the grains. Boil and then turn the
heat down to medium, stirring often with a wooden spoon. Keep a teapot
of boiling water handy to pour into the wheat should water be needed to
keep the wheat from scorching. Cook until the wheat pops open and the
innards are soft, resembling gruel. Drain off any excess water. This is
cuccia.
CUCCIA PORRIDGE FOR BREAKFAST
Serve cuccia cold or warm, with milk or cream, sugar or other sweetener, and cinnamon if desired.
CUCCIA SOUP FOR LUNCH
Mix cooked cuccia in
amount desired with one can undrained fava or red beans and 1 can
undrained chick peas. Add 1 small clove minced garlic, dash of red
pepper, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and one cup water. Cook until heated
through and salt to taste.
CUCCIA STIR FRY FOR DINNER
Saute onion in olive oil
until tender, add the a can of drained chick peas (ceci, garbanzo
beans) and some cuccia as well as salt, pepper and minced garlic or
garlic powder to taste. Stir until warmed through. Eat as is or serve
over steamed rice.
CUCCIA DESSERT
Mix cuccia with citron or other candied fruit and/or sweetened chocolate chips.
