The story of Lucia: (in short)
There was a girl namned Lucia. She was a christian who lived on Syracusa. A soldier namned Venantius asked Lucias father if he could marry her, but Lucia refused. After her mother got very ill and died and her father was to do the same, her father said: Marry Venantius, he loves you. Lucia said: NO, he only loves me for my beautiful eyes.
When her father died, she pulled out her own eyes :!: and gave them to Venantius on a plate. She said: You fell in love with my eyes, so here they are...
Venantius says: I'm sorry, You are more than just beautiful, you are all I need!
But somehow God gives her two new eyes...and they get married. Lucia had quite a lot of money that her father had saved.
During this time, alla christians on Syracusa is chased away. The hide in the mountains and some under the city in the "tunnels" (?).
Lucia took alla the money she had and bought food and other things to the christians. First she carried a tray with bread in one hand and then a candle inthe other. Then she made a crown of candles instead and put it around her head so she had both hands free to carry more bread. (Therefor we do that to, when we celebrate Lucia
)
When she got back, Venantius had discovered that she had taken all the money and he was angry. He said that she was a witch and should be burned. Just as the flames touch her body, a rain falls down and put the fire out. Venantius is so angry that he takes his sword and drives it through her! So she starts to bleed... ( That's why the Lucia has a red stripe around her waist, the blood comes pouring out.... )
Anyway, thats the story of Lucia....