St Lucy Day is on 13th December and marks the beginning of the Christmas season in many countries especially in Scandinavia (Sweden above all), Italy and Croatia. In Scandinavia the eldest girl of the house dresses in white with a red sash and wears a wreath with candles on her head.
It used to be celebrated at the winter solstice. St Lucy is the patron saint of the blind and eye problems because legend has it that her eyes were put out by the Romans but God restored her sight. She is often depicted with a plate bearing a pair of eyes.
For more see my Squidoo lens on St Lucy here