Lucia in Sweden: dates 2026–2027, traditions and words
| Day | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Luciadagen | Sunday, 13 December 2026 | Monday, 13 December 2027 |
- The date
- Always 13 December.
- Day off?
- Not a public holiday. Lucia processions are held before or during the working and school day.
In the dark early morning of 13 December, processions (luciatåg) walk slowly into schools, preschools, offices, churches and care homes, singing. At the front walks Lucia in a long white gown with a red sash and a crown of candles. Behind her come maids (tärnor) holding candles, star boys (stjärngossar) in tall pointed hats, and often small Santas and gingerbread figures.
The day takes its name from Saint Lucia of Syracuse, but the Swedish celebration mixes that with an old belief that the night before was the longest and most dangerous of the year. The white-clad Lucia bringing light became popular across Sweden in the 1900s.
What Swedes do
- Luciatåg at preschools and schools, where children take part and parents watch, often very early.
- Lucia concerts in churches, and the national broadcast on Swedish TV.
- Many towns choose their own Lucia, who visits hospitals and care homes.
- Saffron buns, ginger biscuits and coffee or hot chocolate after the procession.
Food and drink
| Swedish | English | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| lussekatter | saffron buns | S-shaped, yellow from saffron, with a raisin in each curl. |
| pepparkakor | ginger biscuits | Thin and spiced. |
| varm choklad | hot chocolate | For the children, with coffee for the adults. |
Words for Lucia
Nouns are given with en or ett where you would use them that way. Words in our dictionary are linked, with their forms and pronunciation.
| Swedish | English |
|---|---|
| lucia | St Lucy's Day; the girl who plays Lucia |
| ett luciatåg | a Lucia procession |
| en tärna | a maid in the procession |
| en stjärngosse | a star boy |
| en tomtenisse | a little Santa (child in costume) |
| en pepparkaksgubbe | a gingerbread man |
| en luciakrona | a Lucia crown of candles |
| ett linne | a white gown (in this sense) |
| ett band | a sash, ribbon |
| ett ljus | a candle; light |
| saffran | saffron |
| en lussekatt | a saffron bun |
| ett russin | a raisin |
| sjunga | to sing |
| en kör | a choir |
| tidigt på morgonen | early in the morning |
| mörkret | the darkness |
Phrases you will hear
- Ska du gå i luciatåget?Are you walking in the Lucia procession?
- Luciatåget börjar klockan sju.The procession starts at seven.
- Vill du ha en lussekatt?Would you like a saffron bun?
- Vem är lucia i år?Who is Lucia this year?
Songs
These are the songs you are likely to hear. We list them by title only; any Swedish songbook (sångbok) has the words.
- Sankta Lucia: The Neapolitan song Santa Lucia (1800s) with Swedish words; several Swedish versions exist.
- Staffan var en stalledräng: Traditional, sung by the star boys.
Learn more Swedish
See every holiday and the full list of red days in the Swedish holiday calendar, and pick up one new word a day with the Swedish word of the day. Dates and weekdays are easier with our guide to days and months in Swedish and the Swedish numbers tool.
Sources
- Lag (1989:253) om allmänna helgdagar, Riksdagen: which days are public holidays.
Dates are calculated from the rules above and were checked against the law and published calendars. Last checked 7 October 2026. Customs vary between regions and families; this page describes the common ones.