The tradition comes from a Sicilian legend, a
girl who wanted to devote her life to God, 
she refused to be married and one who wanted
to marry her killed her and she became a martyr.

The night of Lucia is the years longest night and
an old saying is that it is a magical night when animals can talk. 

Lucia is a festival occurring on December 13, or Lucia Day.
Lucia is a young girl, wearing a white garment and
with a Lucia crown with candles on her head. 
She is followed by a number of girl attendants,
also dressed in white and with candles in their hands. 
There are also boys, 'star-boys', participating in the ceremony. 
They, too, are dressed in white and they wear pointed caps. 
Lucia and her attendants visit places like schools, hospitals, offices and churches 
and sing traditional songs like Sancta Lucia.
They may also bring coffee, gingerbread biscuits 
and 'Lucia cats', a kind of saffron bun.

This is the Lucia song


Sankta Lucia

Natten går tunga fjät runt gård och stuva.

Kring jord som sol förlät, skuggorna ruva.

Då i vårt mörka hus, stiger med tända ljus,

Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.


Natten var stor och stum. Nu hör, det svingar,

i alla tysta rum, sus som av vingar.

Se på vår tröskel står vitkläd, med ljus i hår,

Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.



Mörkret skall flykta snart ur jordens dalar.

Så hon ett underbart ord till oss talar.

Dagen skall åter gry, stiga ur rosig sky,

Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.



In English

Sankta Lucia

Nightly, go heavy hearts

Round farm and steading

On earth, where sun departs,

shadows are spreading.

Then on our darkest night,

Comes with her shining light

Sankta Lucia! Sankta Lucia!

Then on our darkest night,

Comes with her shining light

Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.
*
Night-darkling, huge and still.

Hark, something's stirring!

In all our silent rooms,

Wingbeats are whisp'ring!

Stands on our threshold there,

White clad, lights in her hair,

Sankta Lucia! Sankta Lucia!

Stands on our threshold there,

White clad, lights in her hair,

Sankta Lucia! Sankta Lucia!
*
Darkness shall fly away

Through earthly portals.

She brings such wonderful

words to us mortals!

Daylight, again renewed,

will rise, all rosy-hued!

Sankta Lucia! Sankta Lucia!

Daylight, again renewed,

will rise, all rosy-hued.

Sankta Lucia! Sankta Lucia!