What is St. Lucia ?
It is a traditional celebration in Sweden. Saint Lucia is honoured annually on 13th December (One of the shortest days of winter). The total darkness of the Lucia early morning is broken by the glow of the Lucia figure dressed in a flowing gown of white and afire with a wreath of candles upon her head (Lucia means "light", with the same Latin root, lux,). Sankta Lucia, as she is known in Swedish, is a creature of goodness and light. She is a shining angel illuminating the way to the Christmas season.
Who is St. Lucia ?
Saint Lucia was an Italian christian who lived in Sicily in the 4th century. As final torture, her eyes were gouged out. She was miraculously still able to see without her eyes. To this day we see pictures of St. Lucy holding her eyes on a golden plate. She is the patron saint of blindness.
How Sweden celebrate St. Lucia?
Girls in Sweden dress up as Santa Lucia wearing a white dress and a crown of candles . Boys carry a candle and wear a kind of white pyjama. They wear hats that are pointy with golden stars on them.
There are also special foods for Lucia's Day like Lussekatter and Pepparkakor (spicy gingerbread biscuits).
Lussekatter
Pepparkakor Why Sweden celebrate St. Lucia?
On the 13th of December there was a special day for "Lusse" celebrated since ages. Lusse was the name of the devil and on the longest night of the year - everyone was afraid of him. This day was also the last day before the Christmas fast. People then ate a lot and of course there was a lot of drinking. It was "Lusse-night".
Something new happened in the 1920-ies. A Swedish singer was on a holiday in Neaples. He saw all street- names, restaurants and hotels named after Lucia. He also heard a special fisherman' song and he now, thanks to the song, got an idea to make the Lucia- celebration more respectable. The song got a new text in Swedish- connected to Lucia. In 1928 a newspaper announced a competition "Who will be Santa Lucia of Sweden?" This was the starting point for a new annual celebration.
What are the lyrics of this song?
Natten går tunga fjät,
runt gård och stuga.
Kring jord som sol'n förlät,
skuggorna ruva.
Då i vårt mörka hus,
stiga med tända ljus,
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.
Natten var stor och stum.
Nu hör det svingar,
i alla tysta rum,
sus som av vingar.
Se på vår tröskel står vitkläd,
med ljus i hår,
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.
Mörkret skall flykta snart
ur jordens dalar.
Så hon ett underbart
ord till oss talar.
Dagen skall åter ny,
stiga ur rosig sky,
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.
Download the song from: http://www.mennonitemission.net/Resources/EducationVBS/2005Sweden/audio/lucia.mp3
Further information:
http://www.internet-at-work.com/hos_mcgrane/holidays/nora.html
http://myeurope.eun.org/ww/en/pub/myeurope/home/misc/slucia.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Lucia_Day
http://www.thelocal.se/2668/20061212/
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