St Lucia Celebrations, Sweden
Posted by Jackie Hewett on Fri 10th October 2008 at 02:50 PM, Filed in Europe, December
December 13th sees much of Scandinavia, but especially Sweden, celebrate the Christian saints day celebration of Saint Lucy (or St Lucia’s Day). The date also marks the winter solstice (shortest day / longest night of the year) in the old ‘Julian’ Calendar which use to be marked by a Swedish festival of lights. The two festivals have now merged into one in Sweden.
Historically, St Lucia was a young girl who was killed for her faith in 304AD, and so martyred. It is said that the reason for her death is that she regularly, secretly brought food to persecuted Christians in Rome who were hiding in catacombs under the city. To free her hands for carrying food and light her way she wore candles on her head. Monks who brought the Christian faith to Sweden retold her story.
St Lucia’s Day has been widely celebrated in Sweden since the late 1700’s and since 1927, publicly so when a Stockholm newspaper elected an official Lucia for Stockholm. Today most cities in Sweden appoint a Lucia as do schools, and a national Lucia is elected on national TV. In Stockholm a large parade takes place and around the country regional Lucia’s usually wear a crown of lights to visit shopping malls, old people’s homes and churches singing and handing out ginger snaps (called ‘Pepparkakor’). Nowadays boys too take part in the processions dressed up and representing different roles such as Santa’s helpers, ‘star boys’ and gingerbread men.
Traditionally in homes the eldest daughter takes the role of St Lucy and takes the lead with her siblings serving coffee and pastries such as saffron buns to older family members. Although St Lucia’s day isn’t an official holiday it is a popular national occasion. Noisy festivities often go on well into the evening in most towns and cities.
This entry has been viewed 112 times.
READER COMMENTS:
No comments yet.
