St. Lucy’s Day – A True Tradition of Swedish-Speaking Finns…

…imported from Sicily. (Title adapted from Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt’s tweet today).

I have and I will post more photos from the parade in my other blog Learning to See in Helsinki.

St. Lucy (Lucianeito) At Senate’s Square…

…going down the stairs of Helsinki cathedral.

Saints are practically non-existent in Lutheran and atheist Finland. And it’s mostly the Swedish-speaking Finns who celebrate this Sicilian virgin who couldn’t be burned.

The only other saint I can think of is Bishop Henry who tried to convert Finns into Christianity. Lalli famously killed him in 1156 on the ice of lake Köyliö. The bishop is generally considered evil and Lalli is a bit of a national hero.

St. Lucy (Lucianeito) 2011 is…

…Nora Peltola.

Lot’s of Swedish was heard today on Senate’s square during St. Lucy’s day parade.

A larger resolution image in my Google+ page.