St Lucia Day explodes into view today, and I am watching the world glow. At dawn, I stood in a candlelit chapel in Stockholm as a young Lucia led a slow line of singers. Hours earlier, lantern makers in Castries, Saint Lucia, put finishing touches on their radiant creations for the island’s Festival of Lights. Two places. Two traditions. One powerful theme. Light, gathered and shared. It feels like the start of something hopeful.
Two Celebrations, One Word: Light
December 13 carries twin meanings. In Scandinavia, Saint Lucy’s Day honors a bearer of light in the depths of winter. In the Caribbean nation of Saint Lucia, National Day crowns a week of lantern building and brilliant night parades. Both lean on craft, music, food, and community. Both turn darkness into a stage.
The effect is striking. Nordic halls glow with soft white gowns, greenery, and battery candles. Castries bursts with color, steelpan, and firework spray. The mood is different, yet the message is the same. Light belongs to everyone.
Morning in the North: Lucia in Scandinavia
Today’s Swedish Lucia services started before sunrise. A girl in white, crowned with a circle of light, walked slowly and sang. Behind her came attendants and star boys in pointed hats. The songs were gentle. The room smelled faintly of saffron and coffee. I watched a tray of warm lussekatter emerge, bright yellow from saffron, dotted with raisins like watchful eyes.
The craft of the morning is humble and rich. Parents iron white gowns. Kids learn harmony lines. Someone remembers the old melodies, and someone keeps time. Candles are often electric now, which makes families feel safer. The spirit has not dimmed. It is intimate, quiet, and deeply social at once.
Open flame is beautiful, yet safety matters. Choose battery candles for wreaths and crowded rooms.
Night in the Tropics: Saint Lucia’s Festival of Lights
As day breaks in the north, Saint Lucia looks back on a night of lanterns. The Festival of Lights and Renewal filled Castries with handmade wonders. I walked the workshops earlier this week and saw bamboo frames bend into stars, fish, and houses. Tissue paper stretched tight like skin. Glue and care locked each lamp to its story.
Last night, those lanterns moved through the streets to Derek Walcott Square. Masqueraders danced. Steelpan and the police band kept the beat. Drummers added a low thunder. Fireworks lifted and burst above the cathedral. It was loud, proud, and bright beyond words.
Try It At Home: Easy Ways To Join In
You can fold both traditions into a single evening at home. Keep it simple. Keep it warm. Invite a few friends. Share light.
- Bake saffron buns or a quick orange bread if saffron is hard to find
- Craft a small lantern from paper or a jar
- Set a candlelit table, use battery tea lights near kids
- Play a mix of choral Lucia songs and Caribbean steelpan, let the room shift from calm to joyful
No saffron on hand. Stir a little turmeric into the dough for color, then add vanilla for aroma. It is not classic, but it looks festive.
If you want a hands-on project, try a tissue paper lantern. It is easier than it looks.
- Make a simple frame from thin bamboo skewers or wire
- Glue tissue paper panels to the frame, one side at a time
- Cut a small door to place a battery tea light inside
- Add string, then carry your light on a short evening walk
Tasting and listening
Pair sweet buns with strong coffee, or a spiced cocoa if you prefer. Start with soft Lucia hymns as you serve. Shift to island rhythms when your lanterns glow. Let the playlist tell the story of light moving from hush to celebration.
Community matters
This holiday shines brightest when shared. Drop off extra buns at a neighbor’s door. Invite kids to show their lanterns on the sidewalk. Sing one song together. The memory will outlast the candle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is St Lucia Day?
A: It is two things on the same date. In Scandinavia, it is Saint Lucy’s Day with candlelit processions. In Saint Lucia, it is National Day with a Festival of Lights.
Q: Do I need real candles for a Lucia wreath?
A: No. Battery candles are widely used now. They are safer and still beautiful.
Q: Can I make a lantern with kids?
A: Yes. Use paper, tape, and a battery tea light. Keep designs simple, like stars and houses.
Q: What food should I serve?
A: Saffron buns are classic. Orange cake, ginger cookies, or coconut bakes also fit the mood.
Q: Is this a religious holiday?
A: It has Christian roots, yet many people join for the culture, music, and sense of community.
The Light We Share
I watched quiet candles meet roaring fireworks today, and both felt right. St Lucia Day invites us to make light with our own hands, then pass it along. Bake, craft, sing, and walk. Start small. Share widely. The night will notice.
