Many people know "Santa Lucia" as an Italian song, but unless you are Scandinavian you might not know that "Lucia Day" is celebrated every December 13 there, especially in Sweden.
The story of Lucia (whose name means "light") is a sad but ultimately triumphant one. Lucia was a martyr in the fourth century who was killed for helping Christians. Her saint's day falls on what was, on the old Julian calendar, the shortest day of the year, and the day on which light begins to reappear. It is said Lucia wore a crown of candles on her head in her efforts to bring food to hidden Christians, so to leave her hands free to carry more food. Now on December 13, it is a tradition for the eldest daughter in a household to don candles—today battery-powered crowns do the job more safely!—on her head to bring coffee and sweet rolls called "Lucia buns" or "Lucy cats" (some are made with raisin eyes) to the rest of the household. The familiar song "Santa Lucia" is sung, but with different lyrics.
Northern Italians and Sicilians also celebrate Lucia Day. Some of the celebrations just involve religious devotions, but sometimes children receive gifts on the feast day.
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