We had a cold morning today, and when I walked across Karlaplan it actually snowed! Yay! We have the Lucia day today. And because it was Lucia, Karlaplan/Karlavägen was beautiful lit by candles all the way!
The Lucia day is my favorite festive day of the year. Named after a Sicilian saint, the Swedish Lucia does not have much in common with her namesake. She is celebrated in a variety of ways but the most common is the Lucia procession consisting of a group of young girls and boys singing traditional Lucia songs.
On her head, the girl playing the part of Lucia wears a wreath of lingonberry sprigs with holders for real candles to give the effect of a halo. She also has a white, full-length chemise with a red ribbon round her waist. Her female attendants are dressed similarly and the "star boys" wear white pointed hats decorated with stars. Lucia processions are held in various places, ranging from kindergartens and schools to Churches and the Swedish Parliament. The picture is showing the Lidingö Chamber Choir's Lucia and two of her "star boys".
When I was in high school we had Lucia wakes during the night to Lucia. There where parties to attend at school or at friends and the night ended with a lucia procession in the homes of popular teachers around 5 - 7 am. And after that it was time go to school and go in school choir lucia procession.
The many Lucia songs all have the same theme:
The night treads heavily
around yards and dwellings
In places unreached by sun,
the shadows brood
Into our dark house she comes,
bearing lighted candles,
Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia.
Most Swedes know the standard Lucia song by heart, and everyone can sing it, in or out of tune. On the morning of Lucia Day, the radio plays some rather more expert renderings, by school choirs or the like.
At work this morning, we all walked across the yard to The Museum of National Antiquities and our annual Lucia celebration. As usual the Lucia came from Lidingö Chamber Choir and it brought me - as usual - goose bumps on my arms and tears in my eyes.
We ended the day with glögg - mulled wine and ginger snaps and sweet, saffronflavoured buns (lussekatter) shaped like curled-up cats and with raisin eyes. And during our small gathering we all got the news of a salary rise. Not bad at all! =)
Happy Lucia!
Recent Comments