The celebration of St. Lucia Day is rooted in Christian and pagan traditions. Its pagan part stems from an old legend about a dangerous Lussy who roamed across Norway with trolls. Not to come across the evil creatures, people stayed at home during the night on the 13th of December. Today, the feast is more about light than darkness. Norwegian children organize school processions. Dressed in white clothes, they carry candles, and sing a song to Saint Lucia, as well as hand out festive treats, called lussekatt buns.
The parades are led by a fair-haired girl with candles in her wreath who represents Saint Lucia. A candle is fastened to her head to free her hands while she visits hospitals and senior homes to give out lussekatt buns.
While St.Lucia processions and parades are held in the mornings, churches and universities across Norway offer St.Lucia concerts in the evening. Visitors can attend the Lucia concert in the University of Oslo or head to a small town for a more authentic celebration. The town of Drobak near Oslo has really atmospheric annual St.Lucia parades.
Even though today Christian tradition prevails, many people still regard the night between 12th and 13th of December as an ominous one and do not let their children out.
