Want to immerse yourself in a beautiful Nordic tradition? Below, you’ll find where you can witness and celebrate Saint Lucia’s Day in Finland.
Cover photo: Jussi Hellsten © My Helsinki
Celebrated on December 13th, Saint Lucia’s Day (Lucian päivä) honors Saint Lucia, a martyr who symbolizes light during the darkest time of the year. This tradition, originating from Sweden, is particularly cherished among Finland’s Swedish-speaking communities, but it’s become familiar to many Finns through the annual crowning of Finland’s Lucia and the festive processions that follow.
Photo: Jussi Hellsten © My Helsinki
Every year, candidates for Finland’s Lucia are nominated in September. The chosen Lucia, typically a Swedish-speaking woman with a good singing voice, is crowned in a ceremony held at Helsinki Cathedral on December 13th. After the crowning, Lucia, dressed in a white gown and wearing a crown of candles, leads a procession through Senate Square and the streets of Helsinki, bringing warmth and joy to the community.
Photo: Jussi Hellsten © My Helsinki
According to ancient saint legends, Lucia was a beautiful girl from the city of Syracuse in Sicily. Born into a noble family, she was martyred during the Christian persecutions in 310 AD. Refusing an arranged marriage because of her dedication to Christ, she gave away her dowry to the poor, angering her betrothed. In retaliation, he reported her to Roman authorities.
Lucia was sentenced to forced labor in a brothel, but legend says she became miraculously immovable, with even a thousand men unable to move her. Eventually, her throat was slit, yet she continued to speak of God’s love. When soldiers gouged out her eyes, new ones grew in their place, making her the patron saint of the blind and those with eye diseases.
Her feast day, celebrated on December 13th, marks a festival of light in the darkest time of the year. The tradition, which took root in Sweden in the 1700s, spread to Finland’s Swedish-speaking communities in the 1940s. Each year, Finland’s Lucia is chosen to bring light and joy to hospitals, nursing homes, and schools, symbolizing hope and light during the darkest season. The name Lucia itself comes from the Latin word lux, meaning “light.”
📍Helsinki: Witness the grand crowning of Finland’s Lucia at Helsinki Cathedral and enjoy the festive parade through the city center.
When: 13.12.2024, 17:00–18:00
📍Turku: Join the atmospheric Lucia service at Turku Cathedral at 17:30, and later see Lucia and her attendants spreading joy at Hansatori at 19:00.
When: 13.12.2024, 17:30 and 19:00
