Saint Lucia's Day

Saint Lucia’s Day is a church feast which is observed 13th of December. St. Lucia’s day is celebrated most commonly in Italy and in Scandinavia but they do not do the same things when they celebrate Saint Lucia’s Day. In 

Saint Lucia comes as a young woman. She’s wearing lights in her hair and comes with sweets. Sometimes, a procession is headed by one girl who comes wearing a crown of candles or lights, while other girls and boys in the procession only hold one candle each. In Sweden the girl who is the head of the procession is called Lucia. The other girls, only holding one candle, are called terns, tärnor in swedish. Sometimes there are boys in the procession too and they are called star boys, stjärngossar in swedish. 

Today most cities in Sweden appoint a Lucia every year. Schools select a Lucia and her maids among the students and a national Lucia is selected on national television from regional winners. The regional Lucias wilbl visit shopping malls, old people's homes and churches, singing and handing out gingersnap cookies. (pepparkakor)