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What Santa Lucia is

Sweden and Norway

• In Sweden, Lucia is one of the most loved dates of Advent. Schools, nurseries, care homes, workplaces and churches hold a procession, usually in the early morning or late afternoon, with the lights turned off.
• Many towns also choose a local Lucia. Lutheran churches hold Lucia concerts, often on or around the 13th, so check the date of the one you want.
• Norway has the same tradition in schools and churches, with saffron buns and pepperkaker (gingerbread).

Finland

• Lucia is marked in Finland too, most strongly among Swedish-speaking Finns, with processions in schools and churches, saffron buns and coffee.
• The national Lucia is crowned at Helsinki Cathedral each year. Check the cathedral or the organiser for how to watch, as arrangements change.

Italy

• Devotion to Santa Lucia is strong in northern regions such as Lombardy and Veneto, and in Sicily, where she is the patron saint of Syracuse.
• In parts of Lombardy and Veneto, including the areas around Bergamo, Brescia and Verona, Santa Lucia brings gifts to children. Families leave out a small treat for her.
• In Sicily, many families eat cuccìa, a dish of boiled wheat berries, and avoid bread and pasta on the day. Some towns hold processions.

What is open on a Sunday

• 13 December is not a public holiday in these four countries, so schools and offices are not closed because of it. In 2026 it falls on a Sunday, so the ordinary Sunday shop rules apply.
• Those rules differ by country and town. Norway is the strictest, with most shops closed on Sundays. Check the opening hours before you go and buy baking supplies on Saturday.

Joining in alone as a newcomer

• Church Lucia concerts are the easiest start. Some are free and some are ticketed. Arrive early for a good seat; many start in the dark and the doors can close.
• School and town processions: ask a neighbour, a colleague or your child's school. Many are open to families and the public, but not all, so ask first.
• Bake lussekatter. Look for a saffron buns recipe, bake them at home and share them with a flatmate or colleague. It is a warm way to start a conversation.
• Christmas markets are open around the weekend in many cities and are an easy place to try pepparkakor and glögg.
• We list no 2026 dates, venues or times. Check your local church, school or town listing, and join a group via Meet & Mint if you would rather not go alone.

Useful phrases

• Glad Lucia!: Happy Lucia! (Swedish)
• Lussekatt (plural lussekatter): saffron bun, Swedish
• Pepparkakor: ginger biscuits, Swedish
• Santa Lucia: Saint Lucy, Italian
• Cuccìa: Sicilian boiled wheat dish for 13 December

Related

• Nikolaus & Krampus (5-6 Dec 2026)
• Your first dark season abroad
• Closed at Christmas and New Year
• December in Italy 2026
• Quiz: December traditions in Europe

Frequently asked questions

• When is Santa Lucia in 2026? Santa Lucia is on 13 December every year. In 2026 that is a Sunday. Concerts and processions may be held that weekend or on other days around it, so check your local listing.
• Is 13 December a public holiday? No. It is not a public holiday in Sweden, Norway, Finland or Italy. In 2026 it falls on a Sunday, so the normal Sunday shop rules apply, and these differ by country.
• Do I need a ticket for a Lucia concert? Some church concerts are free and some are ticketed. Check the church or town listing, and arrive early, because seats at popular concerts fill up.
• Do you list Lucia events for 2026? No. We do not list 2026 dates, venues or times. Check your local church, school or town listing.
• Does Santa Lucia bring presents in Italy? In parts of northern Italy, including Bergamo, Brescia and Verona, Santa Lucia brings gifts to children on the night before 13 December. It is a regional custom, not a national one.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Saint Lucy's Day

Checked 25 October 2026. Customs are general and vary by region and family. We list no 2026 event dates, venues or times; check your local church, school or town listing.