St Lucy’s day in St Lucy’s day in SwedenSweden

Who was Saint Lucy?Who was Saint Lucy?

Saint Lucy, or Santa Lucia was a Saint Lucy, or Santa Lucia was a young girl who lived in about 300 CE. young girl who lived in about 300 CE.

She was killed by Roman soldiers about fifteen hundred years ago for refusing to give up her religion.

She brought food in a time of famine, She brought food in a time of famine, hundreds of years ago.hundreds of years ago.

Now she is associated with both light Now she is associated with both light in the darkness and sightin the darkness and sight

St Lucy photoSt Lucy photo

This day is celebrated in This day is celebrated in SwedenSweden

...but also in other countries, such as ...but also in other countries, such as Italy and France.Italy and France.

It’s celebrated on the shortest and It’s celebrated on the shortest and darkest day of the year (December darkest day of the year (December 1313thth))

In many villages in Sweden, Norway, In many villages in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Denmark, the Finland, Iceland and Denmark, the Festival of Santa Lucia is a national Festival of Santa Lucia is a national holiday. holiday.

What do they do to What do they do to celebrate?celebrate?

AT HOME...AT HOME... The oldest girl in the family dresses up The oldest girl in the family dresses up

in white robes tied with a red sash and in white robes tied with a red sash and wears a wreath with candles.wears a wreath with candles.

Sisters wear wreaths and belts of Sisters wear wreaths and belts of tinseltinsel, and brothers may wear hats , and brothers may wear hats with stars on them.with stars on them.

They bring coffee and buns to the They bring coffee and buns to the familyfamily

OUTSIDE…OUTSIDE… There are processions in Sweden.There are processions in Sweden. The girls and boys bring cakes and coffee

to homes, hospitals, factories, and offices. They sing songs in choirs.They sing songs in choirs. Because Saint Lucia was an Italian, her Because Saint Lucia was an Italian, her

day is also celebrated in Italy. There day is also celebrated in Italy. There people honor her day with bonfires and people honor her day with bonfires and paradesparades

Some photographsSome photographs