December 13 is celebrated in Sweden in honor of the life of a saint, Lucia, who was known for her kindness and love.
HOW DO SWEDISH PEOPLE CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY?
On December 13th, one of the shortest days of winter, girls in Sweden dress up as Santa Lucia wearing a white dress and a crown of candles . Boys carry a candle and wear a kind of white pyjama. They wear hats that are pointy with golden stars on them.They sing for ppl.
There are also special foods for Lucia's Day like Lussekatter and spicy gingerbread biscuits. In big cities in Sweden there are beauty contests where some women dress up as Santa Lucia and the judges and the people vote for the Santa Lucia of the year. In schools people sing Santa Lucia's song.
WHO WAS SAINT LUCIA?
Saint Lucia was a saint because of her kindness and her love. She was an Italian Christian who lived in Sicily in the 4th century. The way she became a saint was that a man who loved her and Lucia didn't like him, Lucia's mother asked her to marry the man, but she refused, so the man heard about this and he said he would burn her. But Lucia prayed to God to have the power to survive the fire. Because of her kindness to others her wish was granted. The man tried to burn her but she had the power to withstand fire. The thing the man loved most about Saint Lucia was her eyes. Then she gave him her eyes but a miracle happened she grew back her eyes but this time they were even more beautifal then ever. The man asked for those eyes but she refused to give them so the man wanted to kill her and he killed her with a knife into her heart.
This is happy Lucia card to you: http://www.millan.net/funp/cards/lucia.html