Advent

 

We lit the fourth candle today.  The world here is cold and white, but darkness comes at 3 in the afternoon.  All of that will change in a few days, as we pass the darkest day of the year, and turn towards summer.  In the meantime, we light candles, tons of candles, I’m surprised there aren’t more fires, but us Swedes are apparently careful and safe (go figure, Volvo and what was Saab).

All over Sweden today, in just about every home, church and business, people are lighting the fourth candle on their Advent candle holders.  The first one is lit four Sundays before Christmas, and one is lit each Sunday following until the fourth and final one burns the Sunday preceding Christmas.  This creates a slanted row of burning candles, by the final Sunday.

For a very non-religious and secular country (although officially Lutheran), the Swedes have more religious holidays than I can count, and take advantage of them, socialism has it’s perks.  In addition to all their “red” days,  they are required by law to have a minimum of 5 paid weeks of vacation a year (these can often be stretched out to several months).  And Sweden more or less is closed for business the month of July, really (unheard of in America).  Christmas is also another opportunity for lots of time off.  Most people take 2-4 weeks off around this holiday.   Companies such as Volvo run on minimum staff.    And many businesses just close until next year.  Believe it or not, the world doesn’t end if businesses close for the holidays.  Love it….

(OK, on a side note, I’m not doing so great on the “not eating  of the cookies” I bake , I am thinking this is a hobby I am probably going to have to give up, if I plan on fitting through any doors next year…..I’m either an excellent “konditor” (which I’d like to think), or have no self-control when it comes to Christmas cookies (which is probably more likely)…..ahhh…well there’s always New Year’s resolutions…..I think I’ll have another cookie…)

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Growing up in the Northwest United States  in a Scandinavian community, Lucia was always a big deal. My parents owned a Scandinavian gift shop in the town of Edmonds and it was my sisters’ and my duty/honor to "lusa" every 13th of December, we would usually recruit neighborhood  and church  kids, to join the "Lucia" train. As the older sister, I got to wear the (electric) candles on my head, as well as carry a live candle, to light the way down the dark halls of Old Milltown (an old mill turned shopping mall, where my parents originally started their shop). My mother would have baked "lussekatter" ( a sweet roll shaped like an S with raisins and saffron).

The first year, my parents had to convince the management of Old Milltown to turn down the lights, and we made our debut singing the Santa Lucia song, me with a crown of lights on my head, and all of us in white floor length gowns, carrying live candles, (symbolizing bringing light into a dark world).  After we sang we would serve our “lussekatter” to our captive audience who were stuck in a dark mall.  We apparently were such a hit, the first year, that we were asked to continue the tradition until my parents sold their shop.

In addition to our little local Lucia train, there were always a couple of Lucia "fests" throughout the Seattle area. The Swedish community, was not as big as the Norwegian community in Seattle, however, had very strong Christmas traditions, and Lucia was one of the most popular.

The celebrating of the Santa Lucia started around 700 or 800 AD.  , here in Sweden.  Although there are several versions of the Santa Lucia story, the following is the most popular:

(from http://www.graphicgarden.com/files17/eng/sweden/lucia1e.php)

Lucia was a Christian girl living in Syracuse, Italy, during the emperor Diocletian' hunt of Christians in the beginning of the 3rd century AD. The legend says she was a beautiful woman from a wealthy family.

Her mother got very sick, and Lucia prayed for her. When the mother miraculously recovered, Lucia decided to live as a virgin and to give away all her belongings, including her future dowry. Her fiancé got very angry, brought her to court and accused her of being a Christian.

Lucia was heartbroken and with a needle she tried to blind herself. But a miracle happened and she could see, even though her eyes were destroyed. That is why she often is portrayed holding two eyes on a tray.

The judge sentenced her to leave the city, but she refused. Even though a 1000 men, oxen and trolls tried to drag her out, they couldn't move her. When that didn't work, they covered her in tar and set fire to her. The flames twisted and turned in agony, but Lucia was not harmed - not even her red dress. Finally her former fiancé stuck a sword in her neck which ended her life on December 13th, A.D.304. “

Later she was declared a saint by the church and given the name of Saint Lucia. She is still honored in Sicily, where she was born. Christians there gather to celebrate her day with bonfires and torchlight parades... Her remains are now located in a church in Venice, Italy. She is wearing a red dress which is said to be the very same dress she wore the day she died...

HOW DID LUCIA COME TO SWEDEN?

Why and how this tradition came to Sweden no one know for sure, but this is how it is said to have happened...
Lucia means 'light'. Until around year 1700, the night between the 12:th and the 13:th was considered the longest of the year in Sweden. At this time, Sweden was a Catholic country and because Lucia died on the 13:th, she became a symbol of light to the sun starved people of the North. They imagined Lucia as a shining figure crowned by a radiant halo, or even with wings, like an angel.
This long night was thought to be very dangerous. People believed that all kinds of ghosts and spirits came to life, and even that the animals talked to each other in their stables. In some areas, people didn't even dare to go outside at all.
Since they got up early and the night was long, they liked to eat a lot. Some even ate three breakfasts... The breakfast usually consisted of coffee, 'lussekatter' Around the year 750 these customs spread from the farmers in Västergötland (a province in the south part of Sweden) to the universities in the cities. The students dressed up in night-gowns and went to their teacher's houses bringing coffee and 'lussekatter' and sang for them.

The first December snow fell yesterday, and for awhile the dark North was a little lighter, as the girls in white dresses lit up homes, churches and malls with their burning candles and song.

Happy Lucia, and may the light of Lucia and Christmas fill your hearts!

 

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