Residents of London have been treated to a curious and beautiful sight this December: processions of women and girls in long white gowns, their hair adorned with wreaths of glowing candles. This striking spectacle, often spotted around the Swedish Church and other venues, is not a scene from a fantasy film but a living piece of Scandinavian heritage.
The Ancient Legend of Saint Lucia
The tradition honours Saint Lucy (Santa Lucia), a Christian martyr from Syracuse in Sicily who died for her faith in 304 CE. The core of the legend tells how Lucia would carry food and supplies to Christians hiding in the dark, underground Roman catacombs. To light her way while keeping her hands free, she famously wore a wreath of candles on her head.
Her life was tragically cut short by the Romans, but the story of her courage and light persisted. Over 1,721 years later, her memory is kept alive in a unique annual festival.
A Festival of Light in the Darkest Month
This celebration, known as Saint Lucy's Day or the Feast of Saint Lucy, is observed primarily in Sweden, Norway, and Swedish-speaking parts of Finland every December 13th. It marks one of the major cultural events in the Scandinavian calendar, symbolising the bringing of light and hope during the long, dark Nordic winter.
Today, the central figure of the celebration is a chosen 'Lucia', who leads a procession dressed in a white gown with a red sash. She wears a crown of evergreen lingonberry branches with real (or now often electric) candles. The candles themselves carry a dual meaning: they represent the light Lucia brought into the darkness, but also symbolise the fire that, according to lore, refused to burn her when she was sentenced to death.
She is followed by her handmaidens ('tärnor'), star boys ('stjärngossar'), gingerbread men ('pepparkaksgubbar'), and Christmas elves ('tomtenissar'), all singing traditional songs.
From Scandinavia to the Streets of London
The tradition has crossed borders and seas, with vibrant celebrations now held globally, including across the United Kingdom. In London, one of the most prominent events is hosted by The Swedish Church in London, which features a magical candlelit procession with children in white robes.
The sight can be so unusual to the uninitiated that it sometimes sparks humorous confusion. One woman recently took to TikTok to share footage of the procession, jokingly asking her fellow Swedes how to explain that it's "a Yule tradition and not a cult." Her video, showing Lucia and her followers entering the church singing, prompted a flood of comments from Scandinavians sharing their experiences and explaining the tradition's deep roots.
One commenter beautifully summarised, "Lucia is about celebrating how the divine feminine brings a light in the darkest of times." Another pointed out the tradition's wider reach, noting, "This isn't only a Swedish thing. I live in northern Germany and we have Santa Lucia as well."
So, if you see a procession of candle-crowned figures in white this December in London, you'll now know you're witnessing a centuries-old tribute to light, resilience, and a saint whose story continues to illuminate the dark winter.
