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