Hi,
Lucia is originally a Sicilian Saint, St Lucia,and we in Sweden celebrate her on Dec 13th.
It is a sort of party of light ;-) - she brings us light though it is very dark outside
and reminds us that this will turn.
Lucia is celebrated on many different levels - first there is the original one. A local
newspaper organises a "Lucia competition". That is, the readers select one of a
number of girls from photographs. The chosen will then become the star of the Lucia
procession which moves along many a High Street. She also puts in appearances at
pensioners' homes and hospitals for example. Her attendants are the other competitors, and
together they sing the traditional Lucia song while processing with their hands devoutedly
pressed together in front of them. Lucia wears a white, full-length chemise, with a red
ribbon round her waist and a wreath of lingonberry sprigs on her head. The wreath has
holders for real candles or - a safer option - battery-powered ones, to give the effect of
a halo.
Often her retinue also includes "star boys", who really belong to quite a
different yule-tide context. Together they form a choir with a reportaire of Christmas
songs and carols.
We also have a nation wide Lucia and her "performance" is broadcasted throughout
the TV.
The second kind of Lucia celebration does not differ outwardly from the first but takes
place in more private surroundings - in a school, on a club premises or parish hall, in
which case Lucia coffee is server, togethe with saffronbuns (lussekatt in swe).
The third way of celebrating Lucia is in the family. Mothers or older brothers and sisters
get up early and make up a tray of "Lucia cats" (lusse-KATT = cat) whereupon the
youngest female member of the family takes the part of Lucia and a general rule, the only
person still asleep - the father - is woken by the strains of the Lucia song.
Hugs,
Hanna, Sweden