by Kerry Gaffney | Last Updated 4 November 2026
St Lucy’s Feast in Santa Luċija, Gozo: 13 December 2026
St Lucy’s feast in Santa Luċija is the last village feast of Gozo’s year, and the one with the most light. On the eve, girls in white gowns with red sashes carry candles through the square, led by one wearing a crown of lit candles on her head. St Lucy is the patron saint of light, and of the blind and those with eye trouble, and her feast falls on 13 December, close to the shortest day of the year.
As the last feast of the year and held during the hours of darkness, the Santa Luċija festa offers a very different experience to the vibrant summer celebrations.
Feast at a Glance
Festival of Light: Saturday 12 December 2026, from 19:00
Feast day: Sunday 13 December 2026
Location: St Lucy Square, Santa Luċija
Cost: Free
Highlights: Candlelit procession, bonfire, fireworks set to music, procession with the 1920 statue
The Hamlet
Santa Luċija is a small hamlet between Victoria and Kerċem, built around a church that started life as a 16th-century chapel before being rebuilt and enlarged. Its statue of St Lucy was sculpted by Wistin Camilleri in 1920.
Saturday: The Festival of Light
The eve is the night to come. In 2025, the relic was carried into the church at 17:15, followed by Mass at 18:00. At 19:00 the Festival of Light began, with the children’s candlelit procession and a fire lit in the square, and the Tal-Fuklar folk group keeping the evening going. Traditional St Lucy buns are handed out to everyone there. The St Gregory band of Kerċem marched at 20:30, and the night ended with Luci d’Inverno, a fireworks display set to music, at 22:00.
Sunday: The Feast Day
Times below are from 2025; check the programme closer to the date.
- 09:00 Pontifical Mass with the Bishop of Gozo
- 16:30 Second Vespers
- 17:30 Procession with the statue of St Lucy, accompanied by the Leone band of Victoria
The statue goes back into its niche after a thanksgiving Mass on the Tuesday after the feast.
Top Tip: Go on the Saturday. The candlelit procession is short and over quickly, so be in the square by 19:00, and stay for the fireworks at 22:00.
Getting There
Santa Luċija is a short drive from Victoria. Parking in the hamlet is tight on the Saturday night, so it’s worth arriving early. If you’re taking the bus, then the 313 from Victoria drops you right in the square.
However, make sure that the bus is not on a diversion due to the Festa first.
Where to Stay
There are some wonderful options if you want to stay in or close to Santa Luċija . Just moments from the village square is the Santa Luċija Boutique Hotel, offering countryside views in a modern and luxurious setting. A little further out you’ll find the Quaint Signature Hotel San Lawrenz with an onsite spa and wellness centre.
There’s also plenty of traditional farmhouses and villas, if you fancy a self-catering stay. Just explore the map before some options.
Make a Day of It
The Christmas Magic tree, marked out in lights on the hillside at Għar Ilma, is lit from 29 November and is part of the same village’s Christmas. For more on the hamlet, see our Santa Luċija village guide, and for everything else on in December, see our Gozo December events page.