Cuccìa
Boiled wheatberries sweetened and eaten for Saint Lucy’s Day in Sicily
Cuccìa is a Sicilian dish of boiled wheatberries mixed with sugar, often enriched with butter, chocolate, or milk. Traditionally eaten on December 13, Saint Lucy’s Day, it marks the end of a famine in Sicily. Families prepare it in different ways, from soup to pudding, and it is the main food for the day.
- Eaten only on Saint Lucy’s Day, December 13
- Made with boiled wheatberries and sugar
- Marks the end of a famine in Sicily in 1646
- Custom forbids bread on this day; cuccìa is the main food
- Has both soup and pudding versions
What is Cuccìa?
Cuccìa is a dish from Sicily made by boiling whole wheatberries until tender, then sweetening them with sugar. Many families enrich it with butter, chocolate, or milk, and sometimes add chickpeas, broad beans, almonds, or ricotta. The texture can range from soupy to pudding-like, depending on the recipe. It is most often served as a sweet dish, and its appearance is that of glossy, plump wheat grains in a creamy or syrupy base.
Where does Cuccìa come from?
Cuccìa is tied to a story from 1646, when a famine in Sicily ended with the arrival of a wheat shipment at Palermo’s port on Saint Lucy’s Day. Since then, Sicilians have eaten cuccìa on December 13 to remember this relief. The dish’s name and method are unique to Sicily, though similar foods exist elsewhere, such as kutia in Eastern Europe and koliva in the Balkans, suggesting ancient or foreign roots possibly dating back to the Byzantine era.
How is Cuccìa made?
To make cuccìa, wheatberries are soaked and boiled until soft. Once drained, they are mixed with sugar for sweetness. Many families add butter, chocolate, or milk for richness. Some versions include chickpeas, broad beans, almonds, or ricotta, though these are less common. The final dish can be served as a thick pudding or a thinner soup, depending on tradition.
How and when is Cuccìa eaten?
Cuccìa is eaten on December 13, the feast of Saint Lucy, especially in Sicily and among Sicilian communities abroad. On this day, it is customary to avoid bread, making cuccìa the main source of nourishment. It is often shared among family members and sometimes served hot as a cereal or cold as a dessert, depending on local custom.
Kinds of Cuccìa
Cuccìa recipes vary widely. Some families make it as a soup, others as a dense pudding. In Kansas City, Sicilian Americans prepare it as a hot cereal. While the classic version uses sugar, butter, chocolate, and milk, some add chickpeas, broad beans, almonds, or ricotta. The dish’s flexibility reflects both family tradition and regional taste.
What Cuccìa means
Cuccìa is closely linked to Saint Lucy’s Day and holds deep meaning for Sicilian Catholics. Eating it marks the end of a historical famine and honors the saint. The custom of avoiding bread and making cuccìa the day’s main food is still observed by many. Its preparation and sharing reinforce family and community ties, especially among the Sicilian diaspora.
When Cuccìa is on the table
Questions people ask about Cuccìa
What is cuccìa made of?
Cuccìa is made from boiled wheatberries, sweetened with sugar, and often enriched with butter, chocolate, or milk. Some versions may also include chickpeas, broad beans, almonds, or ricotta.
Where does cuccìa come from?
Cuccìa comes from Sicily, Italy. It is especially associated with the cities of Palermo and Syracuse and is also found in Sicilian communities abroad.
When is cuccìa eaten?
Cuccìa is traditionally eaten on December 13, Saint Lucy’s Day, as part of a religious and cultural observance in Sicily and among Sicilian Catholics.
How is cuccìa served?
Cuccìa can be served as a soup, a pudding, or a hot cereal, depending on family tradition. It is usually sweet and may be served warm or cold.
Why do people eat cuccìa instead of bread on Saint Lucy’s Day?
The custom recalls a famine in Sicily that ended with the arrival of a wheat shipment on Saint Lucy’s Day in 1646. To commemorate this, bread is avoided and cuccìa is the main food for the day.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Cuccìa", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
More from Italy
All the food of Italy
Ice cream
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreA frozen dessert made from sweetened, flavoured milk or cream
Sweet or dessert, Snacks
TiramisuVegetariantiramisù
🇮🇹 ItalyCoffee-soaked ladyfingers layered with mascarpone cream and cocoa powder
Sweet or dessert
Hot chocolate
🇲🇽 Mexico and 5 moreA warm drink made from chocolate or cocoa, milk or water, and sugar
Drink, Breakfast, Snacks
CroissantVegetarian
🇫🇷 France and 5 moreA crescent-shaped, flaky pastry made from layered yeast dough and butter
Pie or savoury pastry, Breakfast, Tea time
Its cousins elsewhere
All sweets and desserts
Chocolate brownieVegetarianBrownie
🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreDense chocolate squares baked as a bar, often served warm or with toppings
Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time
FudgeVegetarian
🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreSoft, creamy confection made from sugar, butter and milk
Sweet or dessert, Snacks