Santa Lucia is celebrated all over Sweden
and Norway on December 13th. It is customly celebrated with a girl (mainly
eldest daughter in a family) dressed in a white gown with a red sash, wearing
an evergreen wreath with candles on her head.
She is followed by a number of girl attendants,
also dressed in white with one candle in hand.
There are also boys, "star-boys", participating
in the ceremony. They too are dressed in white gowns and they wear
pointed caps.
The Lucia wakes up her family by bringing
a tray of coffee
and buns (called "lussekatter"- translates
to Lucia Cats ).
Hotels often honor their guests with early
Lucia breakfast this day.
Schools, offices and communities sponsor
candlelight parades in the evening, in which carols are sung and everyone
thanks the Queen Of Light (Lucia) for bringing
hope during the darkest time of the year.
A thousand years ago in Sweden, King Canute
(Knut) declared that Christmas would last a month,
from December 13 (Santa Lucia Day)
until January 13 ( St. Canute's Day).
No one is quite sure why a 4th century
Italian (Sicily) Saint was chosen to be honoured this day. Some say she
once visited the country, others believe missionaries brought stories about
her life which entranced the Swedish people.
Lucia (d.304, Syracuse,Sicily) was a virgin and
martyr, who devoted her life to God instead of marrying. When she refused
the proposal of a nobleman she was killed, and subsequently she became
a martyr. She is also the patron saint of the blind.
Text to the Swedish "Lucia
Song"
(
sing-a-long with the background music )
Natten går
tunga fjät, Runt gård och stuga. Kring jord som sol'n förlät, Skuggorna ruva. Då i vårt mörka hus, stiger med tända ljus, Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.
Hark! through
the darksome night Sounds come a winging: Lo! 'tis the Queen of Light Joyfully singing. Clad in her garment white, Wearing her crown of light, Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.
The Feast of St. Lucy: Luciadagen
And I will stay awake throughout the longest
winter night
And dress up in a red silk sash and flowing
gown of white
And serve my parents with warm sweets and
sing for their delight.
And I will wear upon my head a crown of fragrant
green
Ablaze with tall white candles, with golden
candle-gleam,
And I will be a Lussibrud as in some wondrous
dream.
And as the night begins to fade I'll greet
December sun
And knock on all the neighbors' doors and
sing to everyone
And offer all the friends I greet a golden
saffron bun.
Lucia maidens will come too, with silver
in their hair
And star boys with their studded wands and
pointed caps to wear,
And elfin boys will follow us as we walk
everywhere.
And I will stay awake throughout the longest
winter night
And dress up in my silken sash, my crown,
my robe of white
And I will be, for one brief day, Lucia of
the Light.
