Santa Lucia: A Celebration of Light for the Darkest Days

An invitation to embrace winter's chill and darkness with small rituals, soft light, and simple beauty

Welcome to the porch, dear reader.

I am just so honored to have you here - thank you! Come sit with me for a bit. Let’s get cozy.

Glad Lucia!

~ pronounced “glahd loo-SEE-ah”, meaning Happy Lucia ~

Every year when December settles in and the mornings arrive darker and slower, I find myself looking forward to the tender glow of Santa Lucia.

In Sweden, this moment near the winter solstice has always held a kind of quiet magic - an illumination against the deepest dark.

I share this not only because it is part of my Swedish heritage, but because it carries a kind of universal comfort. Santa Lucia is a reminder - especially in this deep stretch of winter - that small rituals matter. Light matters. Slowness matters. And that these simple gestures can belong to anyone, anywhere.

Santa Lucia celebration concert. Image from visitsweden.com

I have memories of a couple of processions that my little brother and I participated in when we were very young in Sweden. I seem to remember that he was not happy with the hat he was supposed to wear - but maybe that’s not accurate! I wish I knew where that photo is.

But I do have this one of my Mother which I believe was taken in Kristinehamn, Sweden.

My Mama is the youngest and littlest one here with some of her siblings. They are singing the Santa Lucia song. It’s hard to see but the girls have their hair crowns on and her brother has his special hat on. ~1943

Even now, so many years later, these images bring me comfort.

What Santa Lucia Means to Me

Santa Lucia - Sankta Lucia in Swedish - is celebrated every year on the 13th of December, which of course, is tomorrow. While it has long been woven into Sweden’s cultural rhythm, at its heart it is simply a celebration of light in the darkest moment of winter.

It is a holiday of softness and hope, not fanfare. A reminder that even in the heaviest dark, a glimmer of warmth can carry us forward.

For me, Lucia has always been less about historical ritual and more about feeling - the candle light and the hauntingly beautiful music.

It is one of the simplest yet most beautiful seasonal rituals I know.

Santa Lucia & the Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice, which falls this year on Sunday December 21st, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

In Sweden, so close to the Arctic Circle, the Solstice is deeply felt. The darkness settles early, lingers late, and shapes the daily experience of winter.

In the old Julian calendar, the Solstice was believed to fall on December 13th, which is how Santa Lucia came to be celebrated on that date.

Over centuries, the Christian feast day of Saint Lucy intertwined with much older pagan traditions.

While Santa Lucia carries echoes of its Christian origins, the modern celebration in Sweden is not religious in spirit. It’s a cultural moment - an honoring of light in deep winter, a pause for beauty, song, and stillness.

I cherish that symbolism and the seasonal celebration of hope.

The Procession

When I think of Lucia, I think of song.

As a child, for me, the celebration always held a certain mystery. The white gowns, the red sash, the candles glowing in young hands - it felt reverent, almost otherworldly. The procession was peaceful and slow, and I can still recall how the room changed when the singing began.

Santa Lucia by Elsa Beskow.

The Lucia song remains one of the most hauntingly beautiful melodies I know. Here is a translation in English:

Night walks with a heavy step
Round yard and hearth,
As the sun departs from earth,
Shadows are brooding.

There in our dark house,
Walking with lit candles,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!

Night walks grand, yet silent,
Now hear its gentle wings,
In every room so hushed,
Whispering like wings.

Look, at our threshold stands,
White-clad with light in her hair,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!

Darkness shall take flight soon,
From earth’s valleys.
So she speaks
Wonderful words to us:

A new day will rise again
From the rosy sky…
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia

If you’d like to hear and see the procession, I found this video which is lovely, although a bit long. But if you watch the first 2-3 minutes you’ll get the feeling.

Treats & Traditions

No Lucia celebration is complete without a few classic Swedish treats, each one tied to memory and ritual.

Santa Lucia treats. Image from visitsweden.com

I’ll be adding each of these recipes to The Library soon.

👉🏼And if you’d like them early, just message me - I’m always happy to share them privately.

Lussekatter (Saffron Rolls)

Lussekatter (Lucia cats) are rolls shaped into a curling S, like a small creature of the dark tucked into itself, with two raisin or currant “eyes” watching. The shape comes from old folklore about warding off the winter’s shadows, and the vivid saffron color was believed to bring luck and light.

Today, these golden rolls have become a warm, glowing symbol of Santa Lucia itself - something bright to enjoy in the darkest days of winter. Lightly sweet and deeply fragrant.

Recipe: Lussekatter (Saffron Rolls)

Pepparkakor (Gingerbread Cookies)

Rolled as thin as possible - always plain, never iced - crisp, spicy, and perfect with coffee (or glögg). These are cut into simple shapes and typically rather small since they are very pungent and spicy.

Glögg (Mulled Hot Spiced Wine)

A warm, aromatic drink that fills the whole home with cloves, cinnamon, and tradition.

I make mine from scratch, letting the sugar caramelize fully when it’s flamed on the stove - something store-bought glögg never manages. Plus, those are just too sweet. (Hint - never buy those - they aren’t the same!)

When I post the recipe I’ll be sure to include a video of the making of it which is almost as much fun as the sipping.

How I Celebrate Today

While I’m no longer in Sweden, Lucia remains one of my favorite ways to mark the stillness of winter. It feels grounding - simple yet meaningful, a pause in the rush of the season.

While I’m not an early bird, up at dawn typically, I do often enjoy lighting candles in winter on the dining table where I enjoy my hot tea every morning. Tomorrow I will make a batch of Lussekatter to enjoy as a mid-morning snack. And, of course, we will listen to that song which is so magical.

On Christmas Eve, we will make the glögg, and sip it with the pepparkakor before we have a wonderful feast for the holiday.

These small gestures bring the holiday to life in a sweet and simple way.

An Invitation for You

Whether you celebrate on the 13th, on the Solstice, or simply when the moment feels right, Santa Lucia offers a reminder worth savoring:

That even in our darkest days,
the light will return.
And beauty lives in the simplest, quietest rituals.

Perhaps this week you’ll light a candle before sunrise. Or savor a warm drink. Or simply sit for a moment in the quiet to notice winter turning.

Whatever you choose, may it bring you a breath of calm and a touch of light.

Thank you for joining my here today xox.

With contentment & possibility,

P.S. These letters feel most alive when they turn into conversations. If you have a winter tradition - or a tiny ritual - that you enjoy on this time of year, I’d love to hear about it. Let’s share a little light together. Just click the 💬 comment icon below.