Lucia

On the 13th of December every year we celebrate Lucia in Sweden (and all of the Scandinavian countries plus Sicily where she was born). We do this to commemorate Saint Lucia, one of the few saints to stick around and be well known even though we are Lutheran Christians.

The name Lucia comes from the Latin word Lux meaning 'light'. She was born on Sicily around A.D. 283. As a child or a young woman she prayed alongside her mother to the Saint Agatha to cure her mother's dysentery. In a dream the Saint came to her and told her she would herself become a Saint one day.


When it was time for her to marry her mother found her a pagan bridegroom. Lucia refused the marriage though, to save her virginity and herself for God. Her bridegroom was offended at this and denounced her as a Christian to a magistrate. As punishment she was ordered to burn a sacrifice to the emperor's image. As she refused to burn a sacrifice and offered only herself and she was sentenced to be defiled in a brothel. She said that anything they would do to her against her will would not defile her soul, it would make her chastity the greater.

As the guards came to take her away she was filled by the Holy Spirit and they could not move her. Even after they poured boiling oil over her and stuck a dagger thrugh her throat she still lived and prophesied against her persecutors. Not until she was given the last anointment did she die.

In the middle ages a legend spread that they also gouged out her eyes and she is often depicted with her eyes on a plate or in a cup. She was believed to be the protector of sight, likely due to her name. In the legend God restored her eyes to her.

She is supposedly a beacon of light on what was previously thought to be the shortest day of the year (and therefore the darkest). In Swedish folkelore this night was especially dangerous as demons and evil beings were about, and Lucia helped lighting up the darkness This is why, when we celebrate, she bears a crown of candles on her head. I have heard somewhere that the red band around her waist is symbolic for the blood she shed for her Christian faith, but I can not say for certain.

During the celebrations we usually serve saffron bread called "Lussekatter" (I guess it could sort of be interpreted as Lucia's cats...), drink mulled wine and sing traditional songs. This is done pretty much everywhere. In schools, at Universities, choires visit homes for the elderly.. You name it.

Here's a Youtube video from the big Lucia Christmas concert at Globen in Stockholm:

The ones in the pointy hats are not KKK, they are what we call "star boys" and to be honest I have no idea what they symbolise. They carry stars on rods, so I am guessing they represent the wise men and shepheards at the birth of Jesus... So they're more of a Christmas thing than Lucia but are usually thrown in there anyway!

Now I'm off to the market to pick up some gifts! Enjoy and Happy Lucia <3
Huggles!
Saga xx