It is traditional in Sweden to sing a Sankta Lucia song with the same melody as the well-known Italian song; the text, however, is quite different. The Swedish song is about the girl who is wearing the candleson her head. The Italian song (“Sul mare luccica…”) is about the Santa Lucia, on the Bay of Naples a bit out from the city; its chorus “Venite all'agile barchetta mia” is clearly not about Swedish ritual figures.

The night goes with weighty step round yard and hearth round earth, the sun departs leave the woods brooding There in our dark house,  appears with lighted candles Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia.

The night goes great and mute now hear it swings in every silent room murmurs as if from wings. Look at our threshold stands white-clad with lights in her hair Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia.