Santa Lucia Biscuits

Santa Lucia, next December 13th, is one of the most traditional and popular day for those, like us, was born and live in Verona and the Santa Lucia cookies cannot miss!

A bit of History

According to popular tradition of Verona, around the thirteenth century, in the city, especially among children, broke out a terrible and incurable epidemic of “evil eye.” The population then decided to ask for the grace to St. Lucia, with a pilgrimage barefoot and without casing, to the church of St. Agnes, also dedicated to the martyr of Syracuse, located where today the city hall of Verona: Palazzo Barbieri. The cold frightened children who had no intention of taking part in the pilgrimage. Then the parents promised them that if they obeyed, the holy would find upon their return many gifts. Children accepted and began the pilgrimage; shortly after the epidemic finished. Since then remain the tradition of bringing children into the church, for the blessing of the eyes, on December 13 and still, the night of 12 December, the children are waiting for the arrival of St. Lucia who brings their gifts riding a donkey accompanied by Castaldo, her assistant. It is left on the table a plate of food to restore both she and the donkey before to go to sleep. In that night the kids go to bed early and close their eyes, lest the holy, finding them still awake, blinding them with ash. The following morning, Lucia do find their plate full of sweets, including the inevitable “pastefrolle of Santa Lucia”, of various shapes (star, pony, heart …), as well as the equally inevitable “gravel’s Adige” and the “sweet charcoal” for the “naughty” kids . The molds of pastafrolle chase away evil and are auspicious. The last century has developed, for the occasion, the traditional big fair, which still is held for three days before December 13, in a piazza Bra ‘filled by the food and sweets and toys stands of Santa Lucia.

The Recipe

Here is my recipe to prepare dry but delicate biscuits (and avoiding to use too much butter): biscottislucia_2014_en