In ancient Greece, an annual seaside festival (the Poseidea) was celebrated annually on this date to honour the sea-god Poseidon, consort of the Mother Goddess.
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In Italy, the First Feast of Saint Lucia is held on this date each year. Before being Christianised into a Saint, she was originally worshipped as Lucina, a Pagan goddess of light who also presided over childbirth.
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