Candles on her head…What?!

In Scandinavia, December 13 means only one thing – the annual Sankta Lucia celebration.

You may have seen the iconic Scandinavian Luciatåg lead by the year’s elected Lucia wearing a crown of candles on her head. You may have watched the Lucia pageant and sung along with the classic Lucia songs. What you may not know is that Saint Lucia’s day has a dark history.

Saint Lucia’s day was historically observed on the shortest day of the year. Why the shortest (and darkest) day of the year, you ask?

Well, Lucia, the patron saint of the blind is named after the Latin word for light. That sounds nice so far. But why is Lucia often portrayed in medieval art without eyes? We’ll spare you the gory details. Suffice it to say, as the legend goes Lucia chose to give up her eyes rather than her principles.

Leave it to the Scandinavians to turn a dark and morose historical account into a symbol of hope, unity, and rebirth. It really is all about perspective. Happy holidays and glad jul!