St. Lucia Day
- an important holiday with many traditions and delicious cuisine
The 13th of December marks the longest night of darkness of the year because of the winter solstice in Sweden. More importantly, this day is also known as the feast day of celebrating St. Lucia. St. Lucia was an Italian saint. She originates from Sicily, but the Swedes adopted her to represent and be a symbol of light during the darkest day of the year. They also changed her name to Lussibruden. During her day in name, everyone in Sweden celebrates. In the morning, a girl who was chosen by the school or town, dresses up and plays the role of St. Lucia for the day. Traditionally the youngest girl in each house is chosen to be Lussibruden. Boys can also be chosen but instead of them being called Lussibruden, they are called Star Boys. Lussibruden has a task of waking up the rest of her family by singing the Santa Lucia song and bringing them cups of coffee and sweet, saffron-flavored buns. In Swedish the buns are called Lussekatter, or in translation, “Swedish cats”. Saffron is an orange-yellow ingresient add for flavor. It is also used as food coloring and a dye from the stigmas (part of the pistil), of a dried up Crocus flower. These buns are shaped like cats. The raisins are the eyes. Traditionally, they are eaten with coffee or also with called glögg, a Swedish drink. It is made with warm, or mulled wine, along with the traditional cardamom seeds and ginger. Another interesting thing about St. Lucia day is that ginger snaps are also eaten throughout the whole day. St. Lucia is known as Queen of Light. In Latin, Lucia means light. She is pictured wearing a white dress, or gown and has a crown of white candles on top of her head. Because the whole day is filled with darkness, St. Lucia leads and lights the way, followed by children carrying candles and stars. During the procession around town, St. Lucia sings the traditional Santa Lucia song. The history of the tradition of electing a girl to play St. Lucia, and having the enjoyment of leading a procession all began in 1927, when a newspaper in Stockholm printed out the chosen girl to be St. Lucia for the day. The tradition of electing a St. Lucia and having a procession in town spread later on locally. As the night draws in, everyone is cheerful and jolly after celebrating by attending the procession, so there is always a grand feast. This grand feast in remembrance of St. Lucia, officially marking the start of the Christmas season. St. Lucia Day is known as one of the biggest known, and most important celebrations in Sweden.
Glögg
Lussekatter
Lussibruden
Star Boys
