Santa Lucia is a traditional Neapolitan song. It was
transcribed by Teodoro Cottrau (1827--1879) and published by the Cottrau firm,
as a "barcarolla", at Naples in 1849. Cottrau translated it from
Napuletano into Italian during the first stage of the Risorgimento.
Watch this video with nice melody and great pictures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m6gki4qwPA
There are many
saints remembered in December (other than Saint Nicholas, of course). Whether by the accident of
tradition, or by design, some of them have been awarded with a connection to
the Christmastide celebration.
Saint Lucy (283–304) received the crown of martyrdom during the Diocletian persecution. She is one of seven women aside from the Virgin Mary who appears in the Roman Canon. Her name is from the Latin word for "light," and she is remembered on the 13th day of December, the night before which was the longest of the year in the unreformed Julian calendar. As a result, various Germanic pagan feasts associated with the passing of darkness into light were appropriated by Christendom, and sanctified by this commemoration.
Saint Lucy (283–304) received the crown of martyrdom during the Diocletian persecution. She is one of seven women aside from the Virgin Mary who appears in the Roman Canon. Her name is from the Latin word for "light," and she is remembered on the 13th day of December, the night before which was the longest of the year in the unreformed Julian calendar. As a result, various Germanic pagan feasts associated with the passing of darkness into light were appropriated by Christendom, and sanctified by this commemoration.
Saint Lucy is
one of the few saints honored in the Lutheran tradition, and the eve of her
feast is celebrated throughout Scandanavia, with a
procession of young maids bearing candles, led by a chosen one with a lighted
wreath on her head (as shown in the first video, a celebration in
Mora, Sweden, in 2007). The carol Santa Lucia, sung by the
girls in procession, was an old Neapolitan melody of the same name. The lyrics
in Italian are the song of the boatmen of the waterfront district in Naples.
The various Nordic languages (Swedish is featured here) sing of the light that
overcomes the darkness.
Dec 13 is Saint Lucia day in Sweden, where each town's voted
"Sankta Lucia" wears a crown of candles and, escorted by girls in
white with a red sash and "star boys" brings light and song (and
saffron buns!) to homes and workplaces.
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