Saint Lucia's Day at the Hakarinne school

Each year on December 13 Saint Lucia is celebrated at the Hakarinne
school with candlelight and traditional candlelit processions of girls wearing white robes and singing a Lucia song while entering the room, to the melody of the traditional Neapolitan song Santa Lucia. Lucia herself was Christian and died for her faith. St. Lucia is the patron saint of the city of Syracuse (Sicily) where she was born.

This custom came to Finland from Sweden and it is still a very Swedish affair. Lucia is traditionally almost always blonde and she is singing in swedish.

During a dark winter in Scandinavia, the idea of light overcoming darkness, and the promise of returning sunlight has been welcomed. It is one of the few saint days observed
in Scandinavia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Lucy



Virpi for the Finnish team