Santa Lucia

"Santa Lucia" is a Neapolitan song written in honor of Saint Lucy, the patron saint of Syracuse, light, eyesight, and probably at least a half a dozen more nouns. The song was made famous from recordings by Enrico Caruso and Elvis.  Her feast day is on December 13th and tradition dictates that any community who honors this saint, must sing the Neapolitan folk song bearing her name. Strictly speaking, "Santa Lucia" is not a Christmas carol, nor does the feast of Saint Lucy have anything to do with Christmas other than its proximity to December 25th.  But since the feast of Saint Lucy occurs during Advent, it has become in certain cultures an integral part of the Christmas season.

The feast of Saint Lucy is a big deal in Sicily and a few communities of mainland Italy.  Interestingly, it is a very big deal in Scandanavian countries too.  Up north, where the nights are extra-long in mid-December, the promise of light is especially prized and if paying homage to Saint Lucy holds the promise of more light, so be it.

In Scandanavian countries, there is a tradition where the eldest daughter of the house dresses like Saint Lucy.  The costume calls for a white dress and a wreath on their heads with four lit candles. They'll bake special "S" shaped buns that derive a distinctive flavor and aroma from saffron.  When the buns are ready, they carry a tray full to the sleeping family.  They wake the family with the famous song, and temper what I must imagine is nothing shy of contempt with hot coffee and oven fresh buns.  The arrival of the buns, the song, and the young lady of the house dressed as Saint Lucy signals the slow return of longer days after the winter's solstice (the solstice was celebrated on December 13 before the adoption of the Gregorian calendar; this gives you an idea of just how old Saint Lucy celebrations are).

The reason why I know this, is that several years ago my mother thought this would be a fun thing to do with our daughter.  My mom found a lovely white dress, fashioned a wreath out of plastic holly and small battery operated candles, found a good recipe for Saint Lucy buns from an American Girl book, baked the buns with her granddaughter and forced our daughter to wake us up at 5am to the tune of "Santa Lucia."  As annoying as that was, it was also precious.  We have great photos too.  Our daughter no longer fits in the dress or wreath, and no one wants to wake up at 5am, but she still tries to make Saint Lucy buns every year.

So in and of itself, "Santa Lucia" is not one of my favorite Christmas Carols, but it has become an integral part of our Christmas season.

"Santa Lucia" is an old Neapolitan folk song with no known author, but it was "transcribed" by Teodoro Cottraou in 1849, and his name often appears on publications.


Here is a clip of a lovely ensemble of young ladies in the traditional costume of the holiday singing Santa Lucia:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk0FyZqNp5Q

The following sources were referenced when writing  this post:

http:www.yourguidetoitaly.com/santa-lucia-celebration-in-italy.html?platform=hootsuite

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Lucia

and my Mother


Here are the lyrics:

Neapolitan lyrics

Comme se frícceca
la luna chiena!
lo mare ride,
ll'aria è serena...
È pronta e lesta
la varca mia...
Santa Lucia,
Santa Lucia!

Stu viento frisco
fa risciatare:
chi vo' spassarse
jenno pe' mmare?
Vuje che facite
'mmiezo a la via?
Santa Lucia,
Santa Lucia!

La tènna è posta
pe' fa' 'na cena;
e quanno stace
la panza chiena
non c'è la mínema
melanconia.
Santa Lucia,
Santa Lucia!

Italian

English

Sul mare luccica l’astro d’argento. Placida è l’onda, prospero è il vento. Sul mare luccica l’astro d’argento. Placida è l’onda, prospero è il vento. Venite all’agile barchetta mia, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Venite all’agile barchetta mia, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Con questo zeffiro, così soave, Oh, com’è bello star sulla nave! Con questo zeffiro, così soave, Oh, com’è bello star sulla nave! Su passegieri, venite via! Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Su passegieri, venite via! Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! In fra le tende, bandir la cena In una sera così serena, In fra le tende, bandir la cena In una sera così serena, Chi non dimanda, chi non desia. Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Chi non dimanda, chi non desia. Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Mare sì placida, vento sì caro, Scordar fa i triboli al marinaro, Mare sì placida, vento sì caro, Scordar fa i triboli al marinaro, E va gridando con allegria, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! E va gridando con allegria, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! O dolce Napoli, o suol beato, Ove sorridere volle il creato, O dolce Napoli, o suol beato, Ove sorridere volle il creato, Tu sei l'impero dell’armonia, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Tu sei l'impero dell’armonia, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Or che tardate? Bella è la sera. Spira un’auretta fresca e leggiera. Or che tardate? Bella è la sera. Spira un’auretta fresca e leggiera. Venite all’agile barchetta mia, Santa Lucia! Santa —Lucia! Venite all’agile barchetta mia, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!

On the sea glitters the silver star Gentle the waves, favorable the winds. On the sea glitters the silver star Gentle the waves, favorable the winds. Come into my nimble little boat, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! Come into my nimble little boat, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! With this breeze, so gentle, Oh, how beautiful to be on the ship! With this breeze, so gentle, Oh, how beautiful to be on the ship! Come aboard passengers, come on! Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! Come aboard passengers, come on! Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! Inside the tents, putting aside supper On such a quiet evening, Inside the tents, putting aside supper On such a quiet evening, Who wouldn't demand, who wouldn't desire? Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! Who wouldn't demand, who wouldn't desire? Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! Sea so calm, the wind so dear, Forget what makes trouble for the sailor, Sea so calm, the wind so dear, Forget what makes trouble for the sailor, And go shout with merriment, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! And go shout with merriment, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! O sweet Naples, O blessed soil, Where to smile desired its creation, O sweet Naples, upon blessed soil, Where to smile desired its creation, You are the kingdom of harmony, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! You are the kingdom of harmony, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! Now to linger? The evening is beautiful. A little breeze blows fresh and light. Now to linger? The evening is beautiful. A little breeze blows fresh and light. Come into my nimble little boat, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! Come into my nimble little boat, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!

lyrics from:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Lucia



c. Martin Blanco December 2015