St. Lucia Day Celebrations in North America
10 Swedish Lucia celebrations across 5 states. Find a St. Lucia Day event near you this December.
What Is the Lucia Celebration?
Every December 13, Swedish communities around the world celebrate Sankta Lucia— the festival of light in the darkest part of winter. The tradition centers on a Lucia procession: a young woman dressed in white, wearing a crown of candles, leads a choir through a darkened room singing the old Neapolitan song "Sankta Lucia" in Swedish. She is followed by handmaidens (tärnor) carrying candles and star boys (stjärngossar) wearing pointed white hats.
The celebration blends two stories. One is Saint Lucy of Syracuse, a fourth-century Sicilian martyr whose name comes from the Latin word for light — the same saint known in English as Santa Lucia and in Swedish as Sankta Lucia. The other is older: in pre-Christian Scandinavia, December 13 fell on the winter solstice in the old Julian calendar, and it was said that on this longest night, animals could speak and supernatural forces were at their strongest. The Lucia tradition brought light and comfort to a night people feared.
Today the celebration is deeply woven into Swedish life. Schools, churches, and workplaces all hold Lucia processions. It is also one of the most widely kept traditions in Swedish-American communities, where churches and cultural clubs have hosted St. Lucia Day celebrations for over a century. The gatherings typically include saffron buns (lussekatter), ginger cookies (pepparkakor), glögg (mulled wine), and Swedish Christmas carols. Some events add a julbord — the traditional Christmas smörgåsbord — or a holiday market where artisans sell handcrafted gifts.
Below you will find Santa Lucia celebrations across North America, organized by state. Each event is verified with current dates and details. Click through for full information including venue, organizer, and ticket details.