Scandinvians celebrate this feast even though Lucy (a young Sicilian girl who was martyred by the Roman Emperor Diocletian in the early fourth century) never lived outside Italy.
How did she become so popular outside her native country? Some folks credit Christian missionaries who brough the story of her strong faith and martyrdom to the people of Northern Europe.
Because today is condiered the longest night of the year in Sweden, and because St. Lucy is said to have died on December 13, she became a symbol of light for Scandinavian people.
The first Lucia proecssion took place in 1927, and was the idea of the local Swedish newspaper. The celebration soon spread to other parts of the world with large Swedish populations.
- Little Blue Book, Dioces of Saginaw