Santa Lucia
Country of Origin: Sweden

hristmas in Sweden begins on December 13th, the feast day of Santa Lucia, bringer of light and patron saint of vision. Born in 283 in Syracuse Sicily, Lucia was known to bring food and supplies to persecuted Christians hiding underground, wearing a wreath of candles upon her head to light the way.

She was betrothed to a pagan, Paschiasius, but vowed to remain unmarried, wanting to dedicate her life to helping others. Refusing to be married and named a Christian, she was tortured by having her eyes removed and finally martyred. Before the Gregorian calendar reform, Santa Lucia’s feast day fell on the winter solstice, the shortest and darkest day of the year in Sweden, a country she is rumored to have visited in her short life. Today, Swedes continues to honor her as the virtuous bride, bringing joyful light to their dark winter days.

On the morning of her feast day, a daughter in each family dresses in a white robe and delivers sweet rolls (called lussekatt) and coffee to her parents by candlelight.

Sources for Santa Lucia:

http://www.umkc.edu/imc/stlucia.htm
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintl01.htm