St. Lucia Day

St. Lucia

~~~

Night goes with silent steps

Round house and cottage.

O'er the earth the sun forgot

Dark shadows linger.

Then in the threshold stands

White-clad, in candlelight,

Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia.

~~~

St. Lucia's Day is a Sweedish tradition and primaily a home festival, celebrated by the rich and poor in every part of the country.

Saint Lucia is always represented by a young girl who wears a white dress and crimson sash and stockings. She has a lingon, or whortleberry leaf crown, into which lighted candles are inserted. She announces Yuletide at dawn by stopping at the bedside of each member of the family witha a tray of coffee and treats, such as saffron buns. This custom goes back to the legend of Saint Lucia, who was condemned to death in 304 during the reign of the Roman Emperor, Diocletian.

Early missionaries carried the Lucia story to Sweeden. There the legend of the young martyr took deep root in popular imagination. Now her day stands for hospitality at home and in the community. She wore white robes and a crown of light, as she glided across the icy lakes and snow-covered hills with food and drink for the parish poor.

This probably accounts for this modern custom:

In the home the oldest daughter enacts the role. (That would be me!!)

She wears a long white dress offering ginger cookies or saffron buns baked in the shape of a letter X. Originally the form probably stood for the Greek letter chi, which looks like an X and begins the name of Christ.

St. Lucia's Day is a happy occasion not only because of the traditional refreshments and fun, but because the day supposedly marks the completion of the busiest holiday chores. Young people have finished their Christmas gifts. The farmer has threshed and put his barns and storerooms to rights. As for the housewife, she not only had made the tallow dips, scoured the copper, and scrubbed the floor, but has also started to prepare the lutfisk, or stockfish. This fish, traditional to the Cristmas Day dinner and the most important item on the menu, requires a full three weeks of soaking, cleaning, and scrubbing before it is ready to cook.

~From 46 Days of Christmas; A Cycle of Old World Songs, Ledgends, and Customs By Dorothy Spicer

This morning I got up at 5:30 to get ready for my rounds as St. Lucia. I brewed the coffee and warmed up the buns, which I had made the night before. I also made some hot cocoa for the rest of us who don't drink coffee.

I did wear a white dress, but I omited the candles and wreath...I didn't think it was too safe. What if my hair caught on fire and how was I going to get that dripping wax out of my hair?

I pinned two ribbon roses in my hair instead.

Everyone enjoyed receiving their treats in bed, there was about just as much anticipation as there is on Christmas morning.