Lucia in the past, present and future – a tradition in constant change

Writer: Helena Bergström

Every year on 13 December, Sweden is filled with candlelight, white robes and familiar melodies. For many, Lucia is associated with childhood memories, school performances and early mornings in front of the television. But how old is this tradition really – and how much has it changed? And above all... what will Lucia celebrations look like in the future?

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Traditions – and how they change

We humans like to think that ”this is how it has always been, and this is how it will always be,” but that is rarely the case. Quite the contrary, one might say. Change is the only constant. But in the midst of this eternal forward movement, we are quite good at holding on to our traditions in some form... and that's fine!

Lucia in the past – myths, darkness and light

Long before Lucia processions and saffron-scented buns, Lucia was a night to be feared. In rural Sweden, Lucia night marked the longest night of the year – a time when supernatural beings were said to be on the move.

It was not until the 19th century that the Lucia celebrations we recognise today began to take shape – initially among upper-class families, where a woman or girl would dress in white and wear a crown of candles. Skansen eventually helped to carry on the tradition and make it known to the general public.

Lucia now – a changing tradition

Today, Lucia is both a tradition and a reflection of our times. The celebration has moved from churches to schools, television sofas and social media. Some phenomena that were considered completely normal a few decades ago – such as choosing Lucia through beauty contests in daily newspapers – feel quite foreign today. Battery-powered lights, instead of candles, may also be considered a somewhat later invention. Change does not have to be a bad thing, but can be necessary for a tradition to be kept alive in a new context.

One thing that shows how important the Lucia celebrations are to us is the heated debates that arise every year at the beginning of December. Can boys be Lucia? Are gingerbread men allowed in the Lucia procession? Should parents be invited to the preschool's Lucia celebrations, or not?

There are many issues on which opinions may differ, but most people seem to agree that we want to preserve tradition in one way or another. It's simply nice to have candles, community and a break from the winter darkness. And who doesn't love saffron and lussekatter?

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Lucia in the future – what happens next?

What will Lucia look like in 20, 50 or 100 years? Perhaps the holiday will be celebrated more locally and personally, where anyone who wants to can wear a crown – regardless of gender or age? Perhaps Lucia will become less of a performance and more of a symbol: of thoughtfulness, tranquillity and light in a dark or troubled time?

It is difficult to know how the future will unfold, but traditions that survive are often those that are allowed to change. Lucia is a celebration that has been in constant flux ever since the first myths about the long, dark Lucia night. Because the tradition is so beloved, because the debates are so heated every year, and because the celebration is constantly adapting to new circumstances, we feel confident that the tradition will live on.

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Lucia has always reflected her time, and as long as we long for light in the darkness, the celebration will likely remain, in some form.

What does Lucia mean to you?

How do you celebrate Saint Lucia's Day? What does the holiday mean to you? How do you think Saint Lucia's Day will evolve in the future?

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