Celebrating St. Lucia Day as a Family: A Kid-Friendly Guide to a Beautiful Tradition
Dec 01, 2024
St. Lucia Day, celebrated on December 13, is a charming holiday that originates from Sweden and other Nordic countries. It’s a day in honor of St. Lucia, a young Christian martyr known for bringing light and hope during dark times. Today, St. Lucia Day is celebrated with glowing candles, traditional treats, and family-centered festivities that emphasize light, warmth, and kindness. It is celebrated close to the winter solstice, the day with the least amount of daylight all year.
Although my own family isn't from Sweden or the Nordic countries, we have incorporated this holiday into our own family traditions. It is now one of my children's favorite days in December leading up to Christmas! I learned about this holiday as a child and fell in love with the theme of bringing light into the darkness.
Even if your family isn’t religious, this celebration can be a beautiful way to welcome the holiday season, learn about another culture, and incorporate the theme of light overcoming darkness. Here’s everything you need to know about St. Lucia Day and how to create a meaningful family tradition around it.
What is St. Lucia Day?
St. Lucia Day (or Sankta Lucia) is rooted in both Christian and Scandinavian traditions. It commemorates St. Lucia, who is said to have secretly brought food to persecuted Christians, lighting her way with a crown of candles. In Nordic countries, it also symbolizes light returning during the long, dark winter nights.
The celebration often includes processions led by a girl dressed as St. Lucia, wearing a white robe and a wreath of candles. Families gather to light candles, sing traditional songs, and enjoy special treats like lussekatter, saffron buns shaped like an “S.” Click here for more details.
How to Celebrate St. Lucia Day as a Family
1. Teach Kids About St. Lucia
Start by sharing the story of St. Lucia and her acts of kindness. If your children are younger, consider using a picture book to explain the story in an engaging way.
Recommended Storybooks:
• Lucia Morning in Sweden by Ewa Rydåker
• Kirsten’s Surprise (part of the American Girl series) is a great book and right now American Girl has a special edition holiday Kirsten Doll in her St. Lucia outfit with the accompanying book. Adding this as a holiday gift could be an additionally fun way to celebrate! Here is the link to the Kirsten St. Lucia Doll. 
Pro Tip: Discuss how St. Lucia’s story reflects the values of generosity, courage, and bringing light to others.
2. Incorporate Candlelight
Lighting candles is one of the most iconic parts of St. Lucia Day.
Kid-Friendly Options:
• Use electric candles or light-up halos for younger children.
• Create a centerpiece with LED candles and evergreen branches to symbolize light and life.
Shop Light-Up Halos:Light-Up St. Lucia Halo
3. Dress the Part
Costumes add an extra layer of fun and engagement.
• St. Lucia Outfit: A white robe with a red sash and a candle wreath (or light-up halo).
• Star Boys: Boys can wear white robes and pointed star hats, carrying golden wands. Here's a link to a star boy hat and wand.
• Other Ideas: Children can also dress in cozy winter wear to symbolize warmth and light.
4. Bake Traditional Treats
Food is an essential part of St. Lucia Day! Try making lussekatter (saffron buns) or gingerbread cookies together as a family.
Lussekatter Recipe:
Ingredients:
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp saffron threads
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter (melted)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• Raisins for decoration
Directions:
1. Warm the milk and steep the saffron threads for 10 minutes.
2. Add yeast and sugar; let sit until foamy.
3. Mix flour, salt, melted butter, and egg in a bowl. Gradually add the milk mixture.
4. Knead into a smooth dough and let rise for 1 hour.
5. Shape into “S” shapes, add raisins to the curves, and let rise again for 30 minutes.
6. Bake at 375°F for 10–12 minutes.
Link to additional Recipes:
Gingerbread Cookie Recipe from The Food Network
5. Sing St. Lucia Songs
Music is a big part of the celebration. Teach your kids the classic Swedish St. Lucia song:
“Santa Lucia, thy light is glowing…”
Even if you’re not fluent in Swedish, singing together can be a joyful way to embrace the tradition.
Listen Online: Traditional St. Lucia Song
6. Share the Spirit of Giving
St. Lucia’s story is about kindness, so use this day to give back as a family.
Ideas:
• Donate gently used clothes or toys.
• Make cards for neighbors or local nursing homes.
• Bake extra lussekatter and deliver them to friends.
7. Read by Candlelight
End the evening with a cozy family reading time by candlelight. Choose books that highlight themes of light, generosity, or holiday traditions.
Book Recommendations:
The Mitten by Jan Brett
The Christmas Wish by Lori Evert and Per Breiehagen
Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light (The Coco and Bear Series) by April Stott 
Why Make This a Family Tradition?
St. Lucia Day is more than just a cultural celebration; it’s a chance to connect with your family and focus on themes of kindness, gratitude, and togetherness. Here are a few reasons to embrace this tradition:
• Learning About Other Cultures: Expose kids to global traditions and values.
• Building Anticipation: A mid-December celebration can make the holidays even more magical.
• Creating Memories: Simple rituals like baking and lighting candles are meaningful and easy to repeat year after year.
Final Thoughts
St. Lucia Day is a beautiful opportunity to bring light and joy into your family’s holiday season while learning about another culture. Whether you bake traditional treats, light candles, or simply read a story together, this tradition can be a magical and meaningful way to bond as a family.
What part of St. Lucia Day excites you the most? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below!
Parenting Alongside You!
Dr. Emma at Aparently Parenting
SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE PARENTING RESOURCES
We know you're busy! So, we'll make sure to only send the IMPORTANT PARENTING stuff!!
We hate SPAM. We will never sell your information, for any reason.
