Santa Lucia Day

I forgot it’s Santa Lucia Day today and I was surprised when I saw my boss and my other colleagues wearing a silver glitter on the head this morning. The desks were rearranged like we were having a dinner party. Coffee was served after a brief meeting. We were supposed to have the special bread prepared for this day but the baker failed to deliver it on time.

Santa Lucia Day is a very significant event here, celebrated on the 13th of December. The schools choose their Lucia and a short program is arranged in the morning where everybody gathered to witness Lucia and her angels walk the aisle. The angels are holding candles to light the path for Lucia, who would be recognized by a wreath of light on her head. This is how I observed they celebrate Santa Lucia Day. It’s a tradition that I would say, very Catholic, though this country’s major religion is Protestant (Lutheran). There are many stories and myths told about Lucia but all of these described the name Lucia as “light”. And the song that’s made for the celebration speaks of her life in a dark. I like the song in both Swedish and Italian, it gives me goose-bumps when I sing it myself.