The procession is followed along its enti- re route by an eighteenth century carriage, complete with costumed characters. “Lucia of Sweden” is a guest in conjunction with the celebrations from December 15th to 21st, along with a Swedish delegation. In fact, there are also numerous initiatives related to Saint Lucia and Lucia of Sweden in the Scandinavian country, which represent the return of light in Scandinavia. Thanks to this twinning between Syracuse and Sweden, in the name of Saint Lucia, the event called “Swedish Week” has taken place every year since 1970 during which debates, exhibitions and round tables on the theme of the event are organized, and each year focuses on a different aspect of Swedish culture, ranging from cinema to theatre, from fiction to poetry, literature and urban planning.

It is both a religious and cultural festival, capable of forging a strong bond between the far north and the far south of a Europe which is full of surprises.