Why Sweden honors St. Lucy, a beloved Italian saint

Children participate in the annual St. Lucy’s Day celebration in Sweden. / Credit: Claudia Gründer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons CNA Staff, Dec 13, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA). St. Lucy’s Day, also known as Lucia Day, is a traditional Swedish celebration filled with children in costumes, elaborate processions, and Swedish treats — all honoring the beloved saint.St. Lucy, whose feast day is celebrated by the Catholic Church on Dec. 13, was a virgin and martyr from Syracuse, Sicily,…