Today is the Feast of Santa Lucia (St. Lucy) venerated in our Scandinavian Lutheran Churches. Lucy refused to marry a pagan and distributed her dowry among the poor. She was ordered to burn incense to the emperor, but refused, and was burned at the stake in 304 A.D.
In Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland, the song “Santa Lucia” became popular to sing at the darkest time of the year. In the 20th century “Santa Lucia” was popularized by Enrico Caruso and Elvis Presley (in the original Italian). Here’s “Santa Lucia” being sung in a Lutheran church in Sweden: http://youtu.be/Mk0FyZqNp5Q
