Who Was St. Lucy?

Santa Lucia's Day originated in Scandinavian countries. Legend has it that St. Lucy would secretly bring food to persecuted Christians in Rome hiding in the catacombs, wearing candles on her head to keep her hands free and illuminate the way. In fact, the name Lucia comes from the Latin word "lux," meaning "light."

Today, there are St. Lucy dolls (remember the iconic Kirsten American Girl Doll?), figurines, and ornaments. Like many winter traditions, Santa Lucia's Day festivals are now held worldwide, promoting a culture of giving and a sense of community.

How Have Traditions Changed Over the Years?

The holiday has evolved from its roots in other traditions. In Norway on the night of December 13, a female demon was thought to wander the night to make sure proper preparations for Christmas had taken place—or else.1

Centuries ago, ancient Scandinavians marked the darkness of the winter solstice with bonfires to scare off evil spirits. Around the year 1000, the St. Lucia legend become part of the celebration.2 

These days, St. Lucia's Day kicks off the holidays and can include Christmas traditions. Some celebrate with a St. Lucia Day julbord, a smorgasbord typically celebrated on Christmas Eve, The feast can feature new Nordic cuisine, with a focus on seasonal, local produce, as well as traditional dishes, such as Jansson’s temptation, a creamy casserole with potatoes, onions, and brined anchovies.3

When Is Santa Lucia's Day?

St. Lucia's Day is celebrated primarily in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and some Swedish-speaking areas of Finland on December 13 every year.

How My Family Celebrates Santa Lucia's Day

Here are a few of the meaningful ways my family observes Santa Lucia's Day at home.

The Procession

As a child, dressed in white nightgowns, cinched at the waist by a red ribbon, plus battery-operated crowns of greenery on our heads (modernizing the real candles used in the past), my sister and I simulated our own ceremony that morning. We headed to our parents' bedroom bearing a simple folk-art tray draped in my Swedish grandmother's hand-stitched linens, offering breakfast sweet rolls, ginger cookies, and coffee.

While tradition has the eldest daughter wearing the crown, my sister and I served as co-presenters. Often other daughters, or "handmaidens," hold a candle, while sons, the "star boys," carry stars on sticks and have tall paper cones on their heads. The littlest are the Christmas "elves" who bring up the rear, carrying small lanterns.

Traditional Rolls

After the morning procession, lussekatter rolls (yeast buns flavored with saffron, cinnamon, and raisins), coffee, and pepparkakor cookies (an essential ginger Christmas cookie made with spices and molasses) are served. In Sweden, the saffron buns are curved into s-shapes, with two raisins for eyes, to mimic curled-up cats. While no one is sure about the cat connection, some believe the name Lucia was associated with Lucifer (Satan), and in medieval Europe, cats were believed to represent the devil. Additionally, saffron may have been chosen due to its pricey stature with the Swedish upper class.

Lussekatt is so closely linked to St. Lucia that some Swedes won’t eat it at another time other than the weeks before Christmas.4 The Swedish government’s official tourism arm, Visit Sweden, provides a recipe for the traditional treat.5

Drinks and Other Treats

Also, a traditional St. Lucia sweet bread, flavored with orange zest and garnished with an orange juice glaze, is often served. It is braided to resemble the crown of greenery and decorated with red ribbons and candles to serve as a centerpiece for the table.

Swedish glogg is also served on Santa Lucia's Day. Scandinavians adore this rich and zesty mulled sweet wine drink and entertain with it throughout the season. You can make your own by blending red wine, whiskey, and rum with various spices.

For a fuller breakfast, I have made thin Swedish pancakes using a special plett pan. I slather the finished pancakes in traditional lingonberries and dust them with powdered sugar.

If you are not interested in cooking from scratch, IKEA often carries most of these delicacies, along with Swedish meatballs and jarred fish for a more savory fare. I've found that store-bought Anna's Ginger Thin Swedish Cookies are a tasty and convenient substitute for pepparkakor, too!

Spirit of Giving

While my own family festival always ended with the morning feast, Swedish households often extend the celebration later that day. Sharing random acts of thoughtfulness, children in the community don the same white robes and head wreaths to parade around town, often visiting nursing homes, hospitals, and social service centers. They sing festive songs and share treats, bringing comfort and joy in the midst of the darkness.

One easy way to honor this sentiment without a lot of fanfare is to plan a simple, local family outing that afternoon to pass out small gifts to those often who could use a little extra cheer: bus drivers, co-workers, police officers, nurses, public works staff members, and others. Having your children select the recipients helps them appreciate the true spirit of the season, just like St. Lucy, hundreds of years past.