A Santa Lucia playlist and recipes for Utahns who love the dark

Details: The feast of St. Lucy honors Lucia of Syracuse, a martyr during the Roman persecution of Christians in the 300s C.E.

• Legend has it that Lucia brought supplies to fugitive believers hiding in the catacombs — and she wore candles on her head to free up her hands to carry more food.
• Between the candles, the timing of her feast near the winter solstice, and the meaning of Lucia — "light" — the holiday is especially popular in Sweden and Norway, where daylight is scant to nonexistent this time of year.

Zoom in: Erin, here! I'm a few generations removed from my Scandinavian heritage — but if there's a holiday that involves music, baked goods and fire, I'm all in!

• Salt Lake's Swedish Heritage Society had its event a couple of Saturdays ago.

How it works: If you don't have a traditional white gown or crown of candles, you can plop a battery-operated candle Advent wreath on your head. I've found candle wreaths at Christian bookstores.

The food: Lucia's food-delivery job is still part of the celebration.

• Ginger snaps (pepparkakor) and saffron buns (Lussekatter) are served with coffee.
• You can buy thin pepparkakor at the grocery store.

The music: This is the best part. If you don't have time to learn the Lucia song, enjoy this gorgeous Scandinavian choral playlist of Lucia, Advent and Christmas music.

• The vocal style is distinctive: minimal vibrato, like a boys' choir but less flute-sounding.

Worth your time: The BYU Scandinavian Choir's Christmas concert is at 7pm Saturday in Provo.

The bottom line: At least light a candle, listen to the ethereal voices and savor the lingering cobalt-blue skies this morning or this evening.

• The darkness will start to lift in a couple of weeks.