Question 1

True or false: St. Lucia's Day is also observed in parts of Italy, Croatia, and Norway, not just Scandinavia.

Accepted Answer

True. St. Lucia is celebrated across Europe. In Italy she brings gifts to children, in Croatia it's a folk weather predictor, and Norway has its own processions.

Question 2

True or false: St. Lucia was a Roman woman who was martyred by having her eyes gouged out before being burned at the stake.

Accepted Answer

False. Legend says she had her eyes removed, but many versions claim she did it herself to reject a suitor. She was killed by a sword, not burned—though fire didn't harm her in the story.

Question 3

True or false: In Sweden, the eldest daughter traditionally wears a crown of lingonberry branches, not candles.

Accepted Answer

False. The crown is made of candles (now often battery-lit) and sometimes lingonberry or cranberry twigs, but the iconic feature is the glowing candles, not the berries alone.

Question 4

True or false: St. Lucia's Day is celebrated on December 13, which was the shortest day of the year under the old Julian calendar.

Accepted Answer

True. Before the Gregorian calendar reform, December 13 coincided with the winter solstice. That's why St. Lucia's Day is linked to light and the return of longer days.

Question 5

True or false: St. Lucia is the patron saint of the blind and those with eye diseases because of her name meaning 'light.'

Accepted Answer

False. Her name does mean 'light,' but she's patron of the blind mainly due to the legend of her eyes being removed. The meaning reinforced the association, but it's not the origin.

Question 6

True or false: Eating lussekatter (saffron buns) on St. Lucia's Day is a tradition that dates back to Viking times.

Accepted Answer

False. Saffron buns became popular in Sweden in the late 19th century, thanks to cheaper saffron imports. Vikings didn't have them—the tradition is modern.

Question 7

True or false: Boys in St. Lucia processions often dress as 'star boys' in white robes and cone-shaped hats covered with stars.

Accepted Answer

True. These 'stjärngossar' (star boys) join the Lucia procession, carrying star-topped wands and wearing pointed hats. It's a lesser-known but common part of the celebration.

Question 8

True or false: The traditional St. Lucia Day song in Sweden is actually an Italian melody from Naples.

Accepted Answer

True. The Neapolitan song "Santa Lucia" was adapted into Swedish. The melody is Italian, not Scandinavian, which surprises many who assume it's Nordic folk music.

St. Lucia's Day Trivia Questions