The Stephanie Report Dec 2017 | Seite 4

St Lucia Day in Scandinavia

There is a Christmas tradition that is celebrated on December 13 in Norway, Finland, and Sweden, it is known as Saint Lucia Day. This day commemorates the life of St. Lucia who was martyred by the Romans in 304 A.D. She is believed to have been one of the first Christian martyrs in history.

Young women take part in a candlelight procession and are dressed in a long white robe and wear a candle of crown. It is believed that Lucia wore candle in hair to all light the way as she carried food to persecuted Christians living in the catacombs. In church, women sing the Saint Lucia song that tells how she overcome darkness and found light. After the candlelight procession, the eldest daughter serves her parents Lucia buns.