What is the name of the wreath material used for the Lucia crown?

The wreath material used for a Lucia crown is traditionally lingonberry leaves or branches.

In Swedish Lucia processions, the crowned Lucia wears a white gown, a red sash and a green wreath fitted with candles. Lingonberry is well suited to the crown because its evergreen leaves remain green during Scandinavia’s dark winter, giving the headpiece a fresh, living appearance.

The crown’s symbolism is as important as its construction. Saint Lucy’s name comes from the Latin lux, meaning “light,” and the candles represent light carried into the winter darkness. The wreath also echoes the saint’s traditional candle-lit crown in Christian legend, although the Scandinavian procession developed into its modern form much later.

A common mix-up is to identify holly, mistletoe or laurel as the standard material. Those plants are associated with other seasonal customs, but lingonberry greenery is the characteristic choice in descriptions of the Swedish Lucia crown. In practical modern versions, artificial greenery may replace fresh branches, while the familiar form remains the same.