Santa Lucia

From Syracuse to Mantua, passing through Parma, Lodi and Bergamo (and Reggio Emilia, Verona, Brescia, Udine, Padova, Vicenza…): it is a long journey to make in a single night, riding a donkey, but once a year it can be done. It is made by Santa Lucia, with her trusty donkey and a cart full of gifts. Young and old await her and they know that her arrival must be very carefully prepared: you must send her a letter in good time containing the gifts you want, and most importantly, set the table with milk and biscuits, mandarin oranges and carrots, because Santa Lucia and her donkey will need a snack. When the time comes, stay quiet in the dark and don't try to peek until the next morning! And if this year you've been given some coal, take it on the chin and be good until 13th December next year. After L'arrivo di Santa Lucia as envisioned by Noemi Vola and Andrea Antinori, this year it is Alice Beniero who tells the magic of the "longest night there is" and introduces us to Santa Lucia wearing a red hat and boots to protect herself from the cold, and a Polaroid to take a souvenir photo along each stage of her journey.