The origin of the Lucia rite stems from several eras, places and religions.
The festive lucia train with a white lucia and subsequent bridesmaids, star boys and sometimes elves became common in the 1950s.
But the whole lucia tradition originates from medieval carnival-like traditions in western Sweden, where boys dressed up as girls and vice versa.
That's what the Lucia expert and ethnologist Lena Kättström Höök, who wrote the book "Lucia in new light", tells us.
Christmas evokes emotions
- I would say that Christmas arouses emotions in general.
Many adults want it just like when they were children themselves.
Does tradition run the risk of being watered down when you get to do a little as you like?
- No, I don't think so, because it's impossible to say exactly how Lucia should be.
Over the centuries, lucia has changed its identity and been remade according to our needs.
Suddenly new elements appear while others fall away, says Kättström Höök.