Step into a Swedish Lucia tradition at Skansen

Skansen is the world’s oldest open-air museum and a global model for preserving cultural heritage. Since 1891, it has presented Swedish traditions in authentic settings, making it the ideal location to experience one of the country’s most cherished winter rituals. 

Lucia in Seglora Church

Traditional Lucia concerts are held inside Seglora Church, a wooden church originally built in the 1720s. This year’s performances feature choirs from Stockholms Musikgymnasium, Stockholm University and En Kör. 

Performance times 
Saturday 13 December: 11.00, 12.00, 13.30, 14.30, 15.30 
Outdoor concert: 16.00 on the courtyard of Skogaholm Manor 
Sunday 14 December: 11.00, 13.00, 14.30 

1920s-style Lucia in the Temperence hall

In the Temperence hall, children from the Spektrum Choir will perform – an intimate experience echoing early 20th-century customs.  

Performance times 
13 and 14 December: 11.30, 13.30, 15.00 

All concerts are included in Skansen’s general admission ticket or annual pass. Seating is limited and admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. 

About the Lucia Tradition – Facts and Insights 

• Skansen hosted its first Lucia procession in 1893 and has played a central role in maintaining and sharing the tradition ever since. 

• The Lucia tradition blends Christian heritage with older Nordic folk customs. 

• Saint Lucia is believed to have lived on Sicily in the late 3rd century and to have been martyred on 13 December. In Sweden, the date was her feast day until the 16th-century Reformation. 

• In Sweden’s pre-industrial agrarian society, Lucia marked the end of the autumn work season and was a festive day. In some regions, people would traditionally eat 3, 7 or even 11 breakfasts. 

• According to the Julian calendar, 13 December was the longest night of the year and thought to be haunted by dark forces. 

• The white-clad figure of Lucia first appeared in the Swedish aristocracy in the 1760s and gradually became widespread. 

• In 1927, a Lucia competition organised by the newspaper Stockholms Dagblad helped establish the celebration as a nationwide tradition in Sweden.

• Today, Lucia remains a beloved part of Swedish cultural life – a celebration of light, community and continuity.