December 13: Luca Day – Superstitions, Customs, and Mysticism

Saint Lucy’s Day, known as Luca napja in Hungarian, is celebrated on December 13th. This day is associated with several customs and traditions that have been passed down through generations. The origins of these traditions can be traced back to a time when this day marked the shortest day of the year, before the introduction of the Gregorian calendar.

The Origin of Saint Lucy’s Day

This day is dedicated to the memory of Saint Lucy, who was raised in a noble Sicilian family. She converted to Christianity and took a vow of chastity to dedicate her life to Christ. She later died a martyr’s death for her faith. Her name became associated with the word “lux” which means light in Latin, due to her exemplary purity and humble life.

Luca Calendar

The Luca calendar is part of the old Hungarian tradition surrounding Luca napja. According to this tradition, the weather on January 1st of the following year will be similar to that on Luca napja (December 13th). Similarly, the weather in February will be like that on Luca másnapja (December 14th), and so on until Christmas, providing an indication of the weather for the upcoming December.

Weather Prediction with Onions

Another method of weather prediction is through the use of onions. Twelve slices are cut from an onion and salt is sprinkled on each slice. The belief is that if a particular slice becomes moist, it indicates that the corresponding month will have more precipitation in the coming year. The Székely people used layers of onion for divination. They peeled off 12 layers from a red onion, each representing a month of the year. A pinch of salt was added to each layer, and if the salt dissolved, it indicated a rainy month, while the others were predicted to be dry.

The Tradition of Luca Széke

The most well-known tradition associated with Luca’s Day is the making of the Saint Lucy’s chair. Carving this chair began on this day and only one operation was allowed each day until it had to be completed by Christmas Eve. It was then taken to the midnight mass, and if someone sat on it, they would see witches.

Luca-búza (Luca Wheat)

The harvest for the following year was predicted through the germination of Luca-búza or Luca wheat. On Luca napja, wheat grains were started to sprout near the oven, and by Christmas they would turn green. The sprouted wheat was later used to decorate the Advent altar.

Lucázás or Kotyolás (Singing Tradition)

Lucázás, also known as kotyolás, is a tradition in Western and Southern Transdanubia where young boys go from house to house performing fertility rituals. They would usually go in small groups early in the morning and ask for permission before sitting on a log or straw and starting their song.

Luca-tök (Saint Lucy’s Pumpkin)

In Hungary, especially in Transdanubia, it was customary to make illuminated Saint Lucy’s pumpkins. It was also traditional to play pranks on Luca napja. On this day, eyes, noses, and smiling mouths were carved into hollowed-out pumpkins which were then placed in front of houses to scare each other. To enhance the spooky effect, candles were lit inside the pumpkin after dark.

The Prohibition on Work

On Luca napja, it was traditionally forbidden to engage in certain activities such as weaving, baking, and washing. It was also not advisable to lend or borrow items, as they were believed to fall into the hands of witches.

Other Customs

In Swedish folklore, there are two versions of Saint Lucy: one benevolent and one associated with witches. December 13th, Luca napja, is a day rich in traditions, beliefs, divination, prohibitions, and predictions. It was seen as a day for fertility rituals, as well as predictions related to marriage, death, weather, and the prohibition of certain women’s work. The first visitor to the house would predict the future fertility of the family’s livestock. If a man entered the house on Luca reggel (Saint Lucy’s morning), it was believed that a bull would be born; if a woman visited, it would be a heifer.

Luca napja was considered an ominous day throughout the Hungarian-speaking territories, and precautions were taken against witches everywhere. Animals’ heads were rubbed with garlic, crosses were drawn on the doors of barns, ashes were scattered in front of gates, garlic bread was eaten before bed to ward off evil spirits, and brooms were locked away to prevent witches from riding them.

On this day, girls would cook 12 dumplings hiding a man’s name in each. The dumpling that surfaced first in boiling water was believed to reveal the identity of their future husband. Luca búza was also sown on this day. Wheat grains germinate quickly and if they turn green by Christmas, it is believed that a good harvest can be expected. There were also certain pranks that were not particularly pleasant. In some regions, young men would unhinge garden gates to annoy the owners or dismantle carts much to the annoyance of the farmers.

Saint Lucy’s Day Traditions Around the World

It is interesting to note that the tradition of carving pumpkins with mouth, nose, and eye openings is also known in English-speaking regions. In Hungary, this tradition was practiced on Luca napja in Transdanubia. The carved pumpkin would have a candle placed inside and then be placed in windows to scare households. In Scandinavian countries where people long for light due to the long dark winters, Saint Lucy’s Day holds much greater significance than in Hungary.