Santa Lucia is a traditional Neapolitan song. It was transcribed by Teodoro Cottrau (1827-1879) and published by the Cottrau firm, as a 'barcarolla'( a folk song sung by Venetian gondoliers), at Naples in 1849. Cottrau translated it from Napuletano into Italian, this is the first Neapolitan song to be given Italian lyrics. In Sweden, Denmark and Norway, 'Santa Lucia' has been given various lyrics to accommodate it to the winter-light festival of Saint Lucy, at the darkest time of the year.