Celebrate La Festa di Santa Lucia (Saint Lucy) in New York City

# Celebrate La Festa di Santa Lucia or Saint Lucy in New York City

#### Featuring Guest Chef Giuseppe Sciurca from Sicily

## Register at Eventbrite

When: Sunday, December 11, 2022 at 2PM until 5PM
What: Feast of traditional Sicilian food, short folk music concert, and presentation about Santa Lucia
Where: Pasta Eater at 9 E 17th Street, New York, NY 10003
Price: $100/person, includes full Sicilian feast menu, wine, entertainment, raffle ticket, tax, and gratuity

Reservations will not be taken through MeetUp.com. Official reservations must be made through Eventbrite. Link below.

## Register at Eventbrite

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## MENU

**Antipasti**
Panelle e crocché (Chickpea fritters and potato croquettes)
Arancine alle Carne (Rice balls with ragu)
Arancine ai Spinaci (Rice balls with spinach)

**Primo (Choice of…)**
Risotto ai funghi (Mushroom Risotto)
Risotto di Zucca (Pumpkin Risotto)
**Insalada Mista** (Mixed Salad)

**Secondo (Choice of…)**

• Gateau di patate, ragù di carne con piselli e melanzana fritta (Savory potato torte with meat, peas, and eggplant)
• Gateau di patate, ragù di Beyond Meat con piselli e melanzana fritta (Savory potato torte with Beyond* meat (*vegetarian), peas, and eggplant)

**Dolce**
Cuccia con Ricotta
(Sweet farro with ricotta, orange zest, and candied fruit)

**Beverages**
A selection of red and white wines are included.

## Register Now!

## THE PROGRAM

Along with the full menu above, the afternoon will include a short concert of Sicilian folk songs and folk music inspired by Sicily.
Allison Scola of Experience Sicily will lead a presentation about the history and cult of Santa Lucia.

Your reservation cost also includes entrance into a raffle for artisanal products from Sicily and gift cards from Experience Sicily boutique tours & creative travel planning. We’ll pass out raffle entry tickets during the afternoon so you can enter.

## ABOUT THE FEAST OF SANTA LUCIA

In the days leading up to the Feast of Santa Lucia, December 13, many Sicilians refrain from eating pasta and only eat un-ground wheat grain, or “farro,” that is prepared as a dish called cuccìa. Devotees observe this ritual to remember the severe famine that struck Siracusa and Palermo in 1646.

During that time of Spanish domination, the faithful prayed to their patron saint, Lucia, seeking relief. Finally in May during a mass, a squawking quail flew into the duomo in Ortigia (NB, the name “Ortigia” comes from the Ancient Greek word “ortyx,” which means quail.). At the same moment, a messenger entered the church announcing that ships had arrived carrying wheat grain. All hailed it a miracle, attributing the relief to Santa Lucia having answered their prayers.

Now, annually for her feast day in December devotees process her precious silver statue through the streets and only eat cuccìa and arancine as homage to the patron saint of eyes, sight, light, and wheat.
Join us at Pasta Eater for this special event!