Are you excited? (I am.)
All over Sweden the holiday season officially begins with Sankta Lucia or Saint Lucia’s Day on December 13th. Just how Lucia became an honored saint in Sweden is a mystery, for she was born in Italy in the third century (ya take your saints where you can get them I suppose). St. Lucia died as a virgin and martyr with the former being a somewhat odd recommendation as we will see, below.
Because she died at the turning point of the year, when the nights begin to get shorter and the day’s light lasts longer and longer, she became a symbol the sun. The Sun, as you may or may not know, is slightly scarce during the winter in Sweden. Lucia imagined as a shining figure crowned by a radiant halo.
Before dawn – i.e. 10:00 AM – on Saint Lucia’s Day Swedish mothers all over the world awaken their children. Together they will prepare “bread for hunger and candles to light the darkness” which are part of the Lucia Day ceremony.
First come the Lucia Day costumes. The oldest daughter, dressed in a long robe of white, tied with a crimson sash, represents the saint. On her head she wears a metal crown, the base of which is covered with green leaves of lingonberry, the mountain cranberry. Sometimes tiny leaved ilex, or some other evergreen leaf is used. Five, seven, or even nine white candles are set into Lucias’ crown.
The grown up members of the family, father, aunts, uncles, grand parents, are supposed to sleep through all the excitement of these preparations. They must sleep so soundly that the smell of coffee and the fragrance of warm Lucia buns and ginger cookies does not waken them.
When all is ready, the procession forms. Lucia takes up her tray, and walking carefully and slowly, leads the troop to father’s door. Softly the mother – or Eldest Woman or whomever wins the cat fight – sounds the pitch and the children begin the traditional song.
Santa Lucia, thy light is glowing
Through darkest winter night, comfort bestowing.
Dreams float on dreams tonight,
Comes then the morning light,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.
Attention is now turned to the decorations which every Swedish home must have. Here are the small “Julbockar”, the Yule goats (goats are a symbol of Thor), and the little “Julgrisar”, the Yule pigs (pigs are a symbols of Vanir: Freyr & Freyja), to hang (we used to hang horses for Odin but that gets a bit messy in the standard home, condo, or apartment/flat) on the tree (the World Tree Yggrasill). These traditional animals are cleverly made of tied, twisted, bent, and braided straw. Straw symbolizes grain (No Kidding, right?), therefore food and prosperity (and in keeping with the um “nature” of the Vanir much whoopie-whoopie but that comes after the kiddies are back in bed).
You cannot find out any more information about St. Lucia’s Day by going here
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I find this a deeply moving rememberance of my childhood as Ms. ATinNM is a descendent of refugees from from the ‘Great White North’ a.k.a ‘O, Canada, eh?’ and knows naught of it. When asked if she would be interested in getting up before dawn, making coffee, donning a white dress, and wearing a crown with burning candles she merely looked over her glasses at me and went back to her crossword puzzle.
sigh