Lucia, Heilige#

Lucia, Saint, Virgin from Syracuse, feast day December 13; died as a martyr around 303. Her feast day is one of the "Lostage" (critical days on which the weather is considered crucial in determining the weather of the coming season). Lostage (e.g. Luciaweizen" ("Lucia wheat"): it is believed that if wheat planted on Dec. 13 in a dish of soil begins to sprout by Christmas Eve, the next year's harvest will be good). The date also has traditional importance as a deadline in legal disputes. In Burgenland and in Styria, Lucia appears as a mummed figure (related to the Perchten tradition), Perchten either alone ("Lutzelfrau", "Budelfrau", "Budelmutter") or in groups ("Lutzerln"). She is either known as a dark figure of terror or a benevolent spirit who brings presents for children, similar to the role of the "Nikolo" or the "Christkindlfrau" in Eastern Austria.

Literature#