St. Lucia was from Syracuse in Sicily, a virgin betrothed to a certain pagan. Lucia was born of rich and noble parents about the year 283. Her father was of Roman origin, but died when she was five years old,leaving Lucia and her mother without a protective guardian. Her mother's name Eutychia, seems to indicate that she came of Greek stock.

Like many of the early martyrs, Lucy had consecrated her virginity to God, and she hoped to distribute her dowry to the poor. However, Eutychia, not knowing of Lucy’s promise and suffering from a bleeding disorder feared for Lucy’s future. She arranged Lucy’s marriage to a young man of a wealthy pagan family.

Since her mother suffered from an issue of blood, she went with her to the shrine of Saint Agatha at Catania to seek healing. There Saint Agatha appeared to Lucia in a dream, assuring her of her mothers healing, and foretelling Lucia's martyrdom. When her mother had been healed, Lucia gladly distributed her goods to the poor, preparing herself for her coming confession of Christ. Betrayed as a Christian by her betrothed to Paschasius the Governor, she was put in a brothel to be abased, but was preserved in purity by the grace of God. Saint Lucia was beheaded in the year 304, during the reign of Diocletian.

Lucia's Latin name Lucia shares a root (luc-) with the Latin word for light, lux. Saint Lucia is named as the patron saint of the blind and those with eye-trouble. She is also the patroness of Syracuse in Sicily, Italy, and Caribbean island of Saint Lucia (which is one of the Windward Islands in the Lesser Antilles).

Her feast day once coincided with the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year before calendar reforms, so her feast day has become a festival of light!

There are several traditions that are celebrated on St. Lucia's Day!

But first, read this book:

Or this one

Or even this

Scandinavia: A young girl dressed in a white dress and a red sash (as the symbol of martyrdom) carries palms and wears a crown or wreath of candles on her head. In both Norway and Sweden, girls dressed as Lucy carry rolls (Lussekatter) and cookies in procession as songs are sung. It is said that to vividly celebrate St. Lucy's Day will help one live the long winter days with enough light.

Of course, the infamous Lussekatter ("Lucia Cats") must be made on St. Lucia's Feast Day!
The first recorded occurrence of the Lussebruden, or Lucia Bride, bearing a breakfast tray with coffee and lussekatterna while wearing a crown of candles is in Skövde in Västergötland in 1764. Over time, the tradition spread from the higher to the lower social classes. I wasn’t able to find anything definitive as to why the saffron was used other than in Årets Festdagar Nils-Arvid Bringeus suggests it may have begun within the celebrations of the higher classes who could afford such an expensive ingredient. The white-clad Lussebruden may have its original influences from German tradition but it has evolved uniquely in Sweden.

Italy: On 13th of every December it is celebrated with large traditional feasts of home made pasta and various other Italian dishes, with a special dessert of cooked wheat (Cuccia) in hot chocolate milk. The large grains of soft wheat are representative of her eyes and are a treat only to be indulged in once a year.

USA: In Omaha, Nebraska, the Santa Lucia Festival is celebrated each summer. Founded in 1925 by the Italian immigrant Grazia Buonafede Caniglia, it continues to this day. Members of the ethnic Italian community process with a statue of Saint Lucy through the streets of downtown Omaha, carrying also a first-class relic of Saint Lucy.

Hungary: It is custom is to plant wheat seeds in a small pot on Sveta Lucia feastday. By Christmas, green sprouts appear, signs of life coming from death. The wheat is then carried to the manger scene as the symbol of Christ in the Eucharist. A candle is sometimes placed in the middle of the pšenica. The candle may symbolize Christ, the Light of the world.