In the early morning of December 13, one of the coldest and darkest days of the month, children bring saffron buns and coffee to their parents who are blissfully sleeping in bed. The children are dressed in white dresses– the boys with tall cone shaped hats and the girls with a wreath of candles on their head. There is a song that goes along with it as well.
The reality is a bit different of course. Most young kids don’t get up and bring treats to their parents at 6 am. In fact, getting them dressed up and baking the saffron buns is something that the mother usually does!
The story of Lucia has a bit of a dark past to it as well, as do many holidays and legends. Again, according to tradition:
St. Lucy consecrated her virginity to God, angering a suitor. She was reported to the Roman authorities and was eventually sentenced to death by fire. Although she miraculously survived the flames without harm, she was then fatally stabbed in the neck.
Nevertheless, despite the persecution, the activities and food associated with Santa Lucia continue to be celebrated as the beginning of the Christmas season in Scandinavia. One of my favorite chefs, Marcus Samuelsson, who is Ethiopian but was adopted by Swedes when he was a young boy, describes the food and celebration of that day when he was growing up in Sweden. The meatballs, herring, gravlax and of course pepparkakor (the gingersnaps) produced smells he still remembers with great fondness. My own family was not a big herring fan, but we did have meatballs, pepparkakor and saffron buns. Our breakfasts tended to be a bit later in the morning and our singing of Santa Lucia had much to be desired musically.
Still, the lights and the community that gathers around this day makes the darkness of winter much more tolerable. Happy Santa Lucia Day! No matter how you celebrate it, be sure and light some candles!
Lots of interesting history (or legend, as you like) about this topic. There are many stories about the activities and martyrdom of St. Lucy., most derived from hagiographies with their inherent limitations. What is certain is that Santa Lucia festivals are regularly held in Italy, Eastern Europe, the Baltic countries, and especially in Nordic regions (including the Sami people), so she seems to really have gotten around. She is the patron saint of Siracusa (Syracuse), in Sicily. The Neapolitan song “Santa Lucia” was written in the 19th century and has been recorded by singers ranging from Caruso to Elvis Presley. Some believe that the date of Dec 13 was thought to be the shortest day in the year before the Gregorian calendar altered the date to Dec 21, but this is controversial. There is general agreement that the date corresponds to old Nordic celebrations regarding the change between daylight and cold, dark nights.
Great info Tom!! Thanks
My dear Scandinavian expats use to have a St Lucia day party every year!!
Brings back so many lovely memories of wonderful people
Also my Polish aunt named her youngest daughter Lucia ♥️♥️♥️♥️
Great story!! These holidays always have a unique and sometimes dark side to them.
Linda – I’m told that one year the Nobel Prize ceremony fell on St. Lucia’s day, and someone suggested that they have the children – in costume with candles – go to the recipients’ hotel rooms early in the morning, as a nice alternative to the telephone wake-up call for a busy day ahead. However one very elderly recipient was not fully awake when he responded to knocks on his door, and when he saw and hear the angels, he concluded that he had died and gone to heaven – and then collapsed. Needless to say the Nobel committee did not continue the practice.
So don’t try this at home – at least on the unprepared!
Bob Melton