A Canadian in Sweden

St. Lucia

Most people have no idea how the Lutheran Swedes came to celebrate the Sicilian Roman Catholic Saint Lucia when even the Sicilians don't pay her much attention. In Swedish homes, hospitals, factories and offices, Lucia comes to spread light in the deep winter darkness, usually long before dawn (which right now is just before it gets dark again). Little blonde girls, teenage blonde girls, and not-so-young-any-more Maj-Britt who works in the chromatography lab, dress up in a full length white gowns with a red ribbon around their waist and become St. Lucia. Lucia wears a wreath of lingonberry sprigs on her head and in the wreath are several lit candles (I am not making any of this up). Because only one can be Lucia, all the other less fortunate dark haired girls have to walk behind her, kind of like Lucia bridesmaids. Since Sweden is extremely egalitarian, boys (or Erik from the purchasing department) are invited to take part in the procession as Lucia's henchmen and bouncers.

This festival is typically and uniquely Swedish and the song (surprisingly and imaginatively entitled "Sankta Lucia) is sung by Lucia and her back-up band of bridesmaids and henchmen. It brings tears to everybody's eyes, as well it should.

St. Lucia where I work. St. Lucia has taken off her crown (it is in front of the singers)

posted by Jeff @ 6:54 AM