Santa Lucia's day is December 13, she is a beloved saint celebrated in Sweden, Italy and some parts of Europe. The name Lucia means light. Santa Lucia comes bearing light, nourishment and care in the darkest time of the year.
Waldorf schools have a tradition of celebrating her day in the second grade at Waldorf schools, the year children learn about saints and the good deeds they performed. Santa Lucia appears on that day (she is a second grader) wearing a crown of candles bearing nourishment and light, often pastry or bread. She is accompanied by her star children classmates and singing fills the school.
Santa Lucia is especially honored in Sweden, where candlelit processions and traditional songs blend Christian devotion with local customs. At home, families whose roots include this celebration often continue it, Others have been drawn to its beauty and have adopted it into their seasonal rhythms. Waldorf schools embraced Santa Lucia through the sharing of local traditions that gradually spread and became part of the school's festival life.
Although she is most prominently recognized in the Catholic Church, especially in Italy, Scandinavia and parts of Europe, her feast day is also observed by Lutheran, Anglican and some Eastern Orthodox communities. Her story has a wide, cross-denominational reach, even though her formal canonization belongs to Catholic tradition.
Elsa Beskow is a Swedish author and illustrator of children's books is known for her beautiful illustrations and sweet nature based stories. She lived between February 11, 1874 and June 30, 1953.
