Two lit candles with holly leaves

About this drawing

Holly berry candles shining in the dark of winter lead us to Sweden, where candlelight is the heart of one of December's loveliest traditions: Saint Lucia Day, celebrated every December 13.

In northern Europe, December days are short and dark, with the sun setting by mid-afternoon in many places. Under the old calendar, December 13 was thought to be the longest night of the year. Lucia's name is linked to the Latin word for light, so her feast became a celebration of light in the middle of the darkness.

That morning, in schools, churches and homes, a girl dressed in a white gown with a red sash leads a procession. She wears a crown of greenery topped with candles, which today are often battery-powered for safety. Behind her walk other children in white, singing traditional songs.

The day comes with coffee, gingersnaps and buns, and it is also celebrated in Norway, Finland and Denmark, as well as by Scandinavian communities in the United States. Lucia herself was a young Christian from Syracuse in Sicily, so Italians honor her too, especially with special foods on her feast day.

• candles
• holly
• saint lucia
• christmas