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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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