Saint LuciaSaint Lucia

The Legend and TraditionThe Legend and Tradition

St. Lucia was a Roman young woman who became a Christian St. Lucia was a Roman young woman who became a Christian martyr about 300 AD. Lucia gave her dowry to poor Roman martyr about 300 AD. Lucia gave her dowry to poor Roman Christians on her wedding day, was condemned as a traitor, Christians on her wedding day, was condemned as a traitor, and was to be burned at the stake. The flames did not harm and was to be burned at the stake. The flames did not harm her, so her executioners killed her with a sword. her, so her executioners killed her with a sword.

Years later, when Sweden was suffering from famine and Years later, when Sweden was suffering from famine and despair, legend tells how St. Lucia appeared one cold and dark despair, legend tells how St. Lucia appeared one cold and dark winter night and brought food and light to the people of winter night and brought food and light to the people of Sweden. A similar thing happened in Italy. There was a Sweden. A similar thing happened in Italy. There was a famine, and families gathered in a cathedral on her feast day, famine, and families gathered in a cathedral on her feast day, Dec. 13Dec. 13thth, to pray. Legend says two ships showed up with , to pray. Legend says two ships showed up with wheat, Lucia at the helm. She was dressed in white with wheat, Lucia at the helm. She was dressed in white with candles on her head. (St. Lucia is the patron saint for candles on her head. (St. Lucia is the patron saint for fishermen and is said to guide them home during rough seas.)fishermen and is said to guide them home during rough seas.)

SwedenSweden

The Swedish Lucia is celebrated on The Swedish Lucia is celebrated on Dec. 13Dec. 13thth. On this day, the darkness . On this day, the darkness is brightened by Saint Lucia, a is brightened by Saint Lucia, a figure of goodness and light who figure of goodness and light who opens the door to the Christmas opens the door to the Christmas season. This tradition may go back season. This tradition may go back to the early calendar, in which Dec. to the early calendar, in which Dec. 1313thth was the winter solstice. was the winter solstice.

Today, all over Sweden and Swedish Today, all over Sweden and Swedish America, young women in long white America, young women in long white gowns, accompanied by Star boys and gowns, accompanied by Star boys and attendants, appear to herald the attendants, appear to herald the return of light to the earth and the return of light to the earth and the birth of Christ. birth of Christ.

In Scandinavian countries, Lucia is In Scandinavian countries, Lucia is honored by young women (the oldest honored by young women (the oldest girl in a family, a selected girl in girl in a family, a selected girl in schools and cities). The girl walks, schools and cities). The girl walks, with a crown of candles, ahead of a with a crown of candles, ahead of a procession of other women holding a procession of other women holding a candle each. The candles symbolize candle each. The candles symbolize the fire that refused to take her life. the fire that refused to take her life. The women sing a Lucia song while The women sing a Lucia song while entering the room, describing the light entering the room, describing the light with which Lucia overcomes the with which Lucia overcomes the darkness. After finishing this song, the darkness. After finishing this song, the procession usually continues by procession usually continues by singing Christmas carols or more singing Christmas carols or more songs about Lucia.songs about Lucia.

The song (1The song (1stst verse) verse)

Natten går tunga fjät Natten går tunga fjät runt gård och stuva. runt gård och stuva. Kring jord, som sol'n förlät, Kring jord, som sol'n förlät, skuggorna ruva. skuggorna ruva. Då i vårt mörka hus Då i vårt mörka hus stiga med tända ljus stiga med tända ljus Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia. Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia. Då i vårt mörka hus Då i vårt mörka hus stiga med tända ljus stiga med tända ljus Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.

Part of the tradition has the young women Part of the tradition has the young women going from farm to farm (with a crown of going from farm to farm (with a crown of candles and carrying a torch) bringing baked candles and carrying a torch) bringing baked goods and returning home by break of day. goods and returning home by break of day. Every village had its own Lucia. The custom Every village had its own Lucia. The custom is thought to have begun in some of the is thought to have begun in some of the richer farming districts of Sweden and still richer farming districts of Sweden and still persists although the crowns are now electric persists although the crowns are now electric lights.lights.

In the home, the oldest daughter In the home, the oldest daughter brings coffee and St. Lucia buns to brings coffee and St. Lucia buns to her parents, while wearing a her parents, while wearing a candle-wreath and singing a Lucia candle-wreath and singing a Lucia song. Other daughters may help, song. Other daughters may help, dressed in the same kind of white dressed in the same kind of white robe and carrying a candle in one robe and carrying a candle in one hand, but only the oldest daughter hand, but only the oldest daughter wears the candle-wreath.wears the candle-wreath.

There are now also boys in the There are now also boys in the procession, playing different roles procession, playing different roles associated with Christmas. Some may associated with Christmas. Some may be dressed in the same kind of white be dressed in the same kind of white robe, but with a coneshaped hat robe, but with a coneshaped hat decorated with golden stars, called decorated with golden stars, called "stjärngossar" (star boys); some may "stjärngossar" (star boys); some may carry lanterns; and some may be carry lanterns; and some may be dressed up as gingerbread men. They dressed up as gingerbread men. They participate in the singing and also participate in the singing and also have a song or two of their own, have a song or two of their own, usually one telling about St. Stephen, usually one telling about St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, caring for his the first Christian martyr, caring for his five horses.five horses.

A Saint Lucia coffeecake is the traditional A Saint Lucia coffeecake is the traditional

offering on Dec. 13th. The rich dough is offering on Dec. 13th. The rich dough is colored and flavored with saffron. Either a colored and flavored with saffron. Either a large wreath or a plate of individual buns — large wreath or a plate of individual buns — formed in the shapes of wreaths, crowns and formed in the shapes of wreaths, crowns and cats — is used for holiday feasts or given to cats — is used for holiday feasts or given to guests who come to call. guests who come to call.

In Sweden, making Christmas cookies is an art. In Sweden, making Christmas cookies is an art. Variety is important, and a Swedish hostess Variety is important, and a Swedish hostess usually has at least 7 kinds of cookies on usually has at least 7 kinds of cookies on hand. Some might include spritz, hand. Some might include spritz, pepparkarkor (ginger cookies), Swedish pepparkarkor (ginger cookies), Swedish almond cookies, sugar cookies, and cookie almond cookies, sugar cookies, and cookie rings. rings.

Pepparkakor: The Wish Cookie an Pepparkakor: The Wish Cookie an Old Swedish CustomOld Swedish Custom

Place a Swedish Pepparkakor in the palm Place a Swedish Pepparkakor in the palm of your hand. Then, make a wish. Using of your hand. Then, make a wish. Using the index finger of your free hand, tap the index finger of your free hand, tap the cookie in the middle. Swedish the cookie in the middle. Swedish tradition states that if the Pepparkakor tradition states that if the Pepparkakor breaks into three pieces, your wish will breaks into three pieces, your wish will come true. If the Pepparkakor does not come true. If the Pepparkakor does not break into three pieces, youbreak into three pieces, you’’ll just have ll just have to savor the cookie in smaller portions. to savor the cookie in smaller portions.

St. Lucia is mostly celebrated in St. Lucia is mostly celebrated in Scandinavia and Southern Europe. Scandinavia and Southern Europe. Some areas that celebrate include Some areas that celebrate include Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Italy, Bosnia, Iceland, and Croatia. Italy, Bosnia, Iceland, and Croatia.

DenmarkDenmark

In Denmark, the Day of Lucia (In Denmark, the Day of Lucia (’’’’LuciadagLuciadag’’’’) ) was first celebrated on December 13, was first celebrated on December 13, 1944. The tradition was directly 1944. The tradition was directly imported from Sweden by Franz Wend, imported from Sweden by Franz Wend, secretary of Föreningen Norden, as an secretary of Föreningen Norden, as an attempt "to bring light in a time of attempt "to bring light in a time of darkness.darkness.”” Implicitly it was meant as a Implicitly it was meant as a passive protest against German passive protest against German occupation during the Second World occupation during the Second World War but it has been a tradition ever War but it has been a tradition ever since.since.

The night before, candles are lit The night before, candles are lit and all electrical lights are turned and all electrical lights are turned off and on the Sunday closest to off and on the Sunday closest to December 13, Danes traditionally December 13, Danes traditionally attend church.attend church.

ItalyItaly

St. Lucy is popular among children in St. Lucy is popular among children in some regions of North-Eastern Italy, some regions of North-Eastern Italy, where the Saint brings gifts to good where the Saint brings gifts to good children and coal to bad ones. Children children and coal to bad ones. Children are asked to leave some food for Lucia are asked to leave some food for Lucia and for the donkey that helps her carry and for the donkey that helps her carry gifts (flour, sugar, or salt) and they gifts (flour, sugar, or salt) and they must not see Santa Lucia delivering must not see Santa Lucia delivering gifts; otherwise, she will throw ashes in gifts; otherwise, she will throw ashes in their eyes, blinding them.their eyes, blinding them.

In Sicily, a bonfire commemorates In Sicily, a bonfire commemorates Lucia and residents abstain from Lucia and residents abstain from eating bread and pasta. eating bread and pasta.

Regardless of where it is Regardless of where it is celebrated, there is a deep celebrated, there is a deep connection to the past, and hope connection to the past, and hope for the future.for the future.