What does Saint Lucia traditionally wear on her head?

Saint Lucia traditionally wears a crown of candles on her head. In Scandinavian Saint Lucia processions, the Lucia figure leads a candlelit group while dressed in white and wearing a candle crown or wreath.

The candles connect the celebration with Lucia’s name, derived from the Latin lux, meaning “light,” and with her role as a symbol of light overcoming winter darkness. One legend says she wore candles on her head so both hands could remain free while carrying supplies to Christians hiding in catacombs.

Saint Lucia’s Day is observed on December 13, especially in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and parts of Italy. The headpiece is sometimes described as a wreath rather than a crown, but both terms refer to the same candle-bearing decoration. It is not usually a flower wreath, veil, or ordinary hat.