- St. Lucia was a third century martyr from Syracuse, Sicily, of which she was made the patron saint of after her death. After her mother was miraculously cured from an illness, St. Lucia decided to maintain her virginity and commit herself to God. Tradition has it that she took food to Christians hiding from persecution in underground tunnels, wearing candles on a wreath around her head to light the way. Her actions were reported and St. Lucia was put to death by the sword by Roman authorities after she survived an attempt to burn her to death.
- Today St. Lucia day is celebrated in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Italy, Bosnia, Iceland and Croatia. While it is somewhat apparent why St. Lucia day is celebrated in Italy and southern Europe closer to her birthplace, there is some question as to why St. Lucia day has come to hold so much significance in the Scandinavian countries. It is believed that the festivities behind St. Lucia day came to these countries around 1000 AD with missionaries who told stories of the saint's brave actions.
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St. Lucia day takes place on December 13, her saint's day in the calendar of the Catholic Church. On the night before St. Lucia day, children in Scandinavia often leave shoes out for St. Lucia to leave presents in. Traditionally, on St. Lucia day the oldest daughter in each family dresses in white and wears a wreath with 7 candles on her head as she serves coffee and St. Lucia buns to everyone in her family.
In modern times, large St. Lucia day processions take place in cities and schools. Elected "Lucias" lead these processions of girls with wreaths of candles on their heads or in their hands as they give treats to shoppers, church-goers, and nursing home residents.
On St. Lucia day in Sicily and parts of Italy, children leave out food for St. Lucia and she brings gifts to good children, but no one is supposed to see her or she will throw ashes in their eyes. Cuccia, a traditional dish made from wheat berries, is eaten in Italy on St. Lucia day to honor St. Lucia's efforts to bring food to the starving Christians. - The religious significance behind St. Lucia day intertwines the importance of her saint's day with the season of Advent. Advent is the time of waiting before Christ's birth in the Catholic Church, and St. Lucia as a bringer of light symbolizes the coming of hope and light in the darkness of winter. She is portrayed with a wreath of candles or a lamp to represent a virgin waiting her true Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.
- It is interesting that in Sweden and Denmark and the other Scandinavian countries that St. Lucia day is such an important holiday, considering that these countries are now overwhelmingly Protestant and have been for hundreds of years. Despite the fact that St Lucia is a Catholic saint, these countries have embraced her message of light and hope and allowed her significance and importance as an aide to those in need---a light in darkness---to survive.
