St. Lucia Day is a family Advent tradition in Scandinavia and Italy. These crowns are worn by girls as part of their celebration of St. Lucy.

• 1.

  In Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Italy, Santa Lucia Day is part of the Advent season. On Santa Lucia (St. Lucy’s) Day, December 13, the eldest girl in the family wears a candle-lit crown, a white robe, and a red sash. She represents a medieval saint, Lucia, who carried food and drink to the hungry in Italy. Often families sing "Santa Lucia" and eat holiday treats.

• 2.

  Find Europe and the countries that celebrate Santa Lucia’s kind deeds on a world map. Research more about the foods and activities during this joyous holiday tradition in Advent. Prepare a sparkling picture of Santa Lucia to show what you learned. Here’s one way to create Lucia wearing a crown.

• 3.

  Use Crayola Gel Markers to draw a female face on black construction paper. On top of her head draw several white candles.

• 4.

  With Crayola Color Explosion™ paper and a color-reveal marker, draw and color leaves to form Lucia’s crown and imitation candle flames. Cut out the leaves and flames with Crayola Scissors. Glue them on the picture with Crayola School Glue.

• 5.

  Decorate the crown with Crayola Glitter Glue. Add sparkle to the top of your candles to make them look as if they were lit. Let the festivities begin!

Standards

• LA: Read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, at the high end of the grade level text complexity band independently and proficiently.
• LA: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
• LA: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
• LA: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade level topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.
• SS: Describe ways in which language, stories, folktales, music, and artistic creations serve as expressions of culture and influence behavior of people living in a particular culture.
• SS: Use appropriate resources, data sources, and geographic tools to generate, manipulate, and interpret information.
• SS: Give examples and describe the importance of cultural unity and diversity within and across groups.
• VA: Use different media, techniques, and processes to communicate ideas, experiences, and stories.
• VA: Use visual structures of art to communicate ideas.
• VA: Select and use subject matter, symbols, and ideas to communicate meaning.
• VA: Identify specific works of art as belonging to particular cultures, times, and places.

Adaptations

• Possible classroom resources include: Lucia, Saint of Light by Katherine Bolger Hyde; Lucia Morning in Sweden by Ewa Rydaker
• Invite a community member who celebrates Santa Lucia Day to visit with the class. Prior to the meeting, students compose questions for the meeting. After the visit, students post learning to a class blog.
• Invite a community member that celebrates the holiday to speak with the class about the traditions practiced. Prior to the meeting, students write questions for the guest. After the visit, students post learning to a class blog.
• Students identify Each European country, its capital, language spoken by the majority of the people, etc. on a self-made map of the continent.
• Students interview family members about Christmas celebrations. Compare and contrast these celebrations with Santa Lucia Day.