This article appeared in Return, the online magazine of Orthodox Circle, on Dec. 11, 2009.

In many parts of the world, Advent observances are enlivened by the celebration of St. Lucia on December 13. St. Lucia resembles St. Nicholas not only in having an Advent feastday, but also in that the legends and traditions that have grown up around her since her death are better known than her life itself.

Her Life

Lucia’s life reads similarly to those of many other early virgin martyrs. She was born in Syracuse, Sicily, in 284, the beautiful child of noble parents. Her father died in her infancy, and her mother, Eutychia, raised her as a Christian. However, Eutychia wished her daughter to marry a pagan suitor of her choosing. But Lucia had secretly vowed herself to virginity.

Eutychia became ill with a hemorrhage, and Lucia persuaded her to go to the nearby shrine of St. Agatha for healing. As Lucia prayed at the shrine, St. Agatha appeared to her, granting her prayer and promising that if she would retain her virginity, she would become the patron saint of Syracuse.

After this, Eutychia agreed to break Lucia’s engagement. The two women spent the next three years distributing their possessions among the poor.

Lucia’s former betrothed was unhappy about this, for he had lost not only a beautiful bride but a rich dowry as well. He denounced her as a Christian under the fierce persecutions of Emperor Diocletian.

The governor, Paschasius, had Lucia arrested and brought before him. When she refused either to renounce Christ or to accept her bridegroom, Paschasius ordered her to be taken to a brothel and defiled. But the Holy Spirit rendered her immovable.

He then had her burned, but the fire did not harm her. Finally, a soldier thrust a sword through her throat, but even then she did not perish immediately. Instead, she prophesied the acceptance of Christianity in the Roman Empire. After this, a priest came to give her communion, and then she gave up her spirit. She fell asleep in the year 303 or 304.

Her Legend

Because her name means “light” and because her feastday (under the Julian calendar) falls on the winter solstice, Lucia became associated with light. In the West, she was invoked for the healing of blindness and eye disease, and the legend grew up that during her martyrdom, either her eyes had been put out, or she had torn them out herself and handed them to a suitor who admired them; her eyes then grew back more beautiful than before. In Western art she is often depicted (with eyes intact in her head) carrying her eyes on a tray.

Lucia is also said to have brought food to Christian prisoners in their dungeons, wearing candles on her head to keep her hands free.

St. Lucia became popular throughout central Europe and is often associated with Christmas. For example, in the Tyrol she is thought to be the bearer of gifts for girls, while St. Nicholas takes care of the boys.

Syracuse and southern Sweden share the legend that sometime in the Middle Ages, Lucia rescued them from a famine, coming into harbor in a boat full of wheat. Of course, it is possible that such an event really happened in both places. But many think Viking traders may have brought this legend from Sicily to Sweden.

Her Festival

Whatever its origin, this legend became the genesis of the charming St. Lucia Festival as it is celebrated in Sweden and by people of Scandinavian descent around the world.

St. Lucia’s feast was originally celebrated in the home. The oldest daughter of the family rises early and dresses in a white gown with a red sash, symbolizing Lucia’s purity and her martyrdom. On her head she places a crown of lingonberry leaves in which candles are set, in memory of the candles Lucia wore when she visited the prisoners. She is now the “Lucia bride.”

The girl then prepares coffee, ginger cookies, and Lussekatter, or “cat” buns, which she takes to her parents in bed. (No one seems to know how the cat buns got their name. They are saffron-flavored, yeast-raised sweet buns formed in the shape of an “S” or a cross.)

The other children follow behind the bride in procession, the younger girls dressed in white with red sashes and tinsel wreaths, the boys carrying poles with stars on the top. As they walk, they sing Christmas carols and a special carol to St. Lucia, sung to the traditional Neapolitan tune known as “Santa Lucia.” (St. Lucia is also the patroness of one section of Naples, which is named for her.)

After the family has enjoyed their Lucia treats, they bundle up and go out through the neighborhood, bringing treats and gifts to the poor and shut-ins.

Over the years in Sweden, and in Swedish-American communities, the St. Lucia festival has evolved into a civic event. A Lucia bride will be chosen for each school, business, and town.

Her Place in Orthodox Piety

As a pre-schism Western saint, Lucia provides a bridge between West and East. Western Orthodox can easily enter into her Advent festival and experience the joy of the coming of the True Light, Jesus Christ. The festival naturally lends itself to fellowship with other Christians as well as to service to those less fortunate. And the Lussekatter recipe can easily be adapted to be fast-appropriate!

Traditionally in Sweden, St. Lucia Day was the time by which all the “heavy” chores of Advent, such as cleaning, decorating, and shopping, would be finished, so that the family (and especially the homemaker!) could devote the remaining days of Advent to more spiritual preparation for Nativity. This sounds like an excellent practice for contemporary Orthodox to adopt.

May St. Lucia shine upon us all with the True Light of the coming King!