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Friday
Dec142007
St. Lucia morning
^Carl Larsson's Lucia, 1908
Today is St. Lucia Day, a Scandinavian Christmas/winter solsticey celebration of the light returning to Scandinavia (before the switch to the Gregorian calendar, apparently St. Lucia Day fell on Winter Solstice). My mother's family did it, I did it growing up, and now my own family does it every December 13th; I love preserving that chain. Traditionally the oldest daughter in the family (my two daughters take turns and I help them get everything ready) gets up before dawn and prepares breakfast in bed for the family. Wearing a crown of candles, she goes from bed to bed, singing "Santa Lucia" and giving pastries and hot chocolate. It's one of our favorite traditions, pretty much a non-negotiable part of our Christmas season.
We don't have the girls wear the candle crowns anymore; they carry a wreath of candles on a tray. (Although, growing up I would find candle wax in my hair and scalp all day after the candle crown dripped on me on St. Lucia morning.) Now there are new-fangled battery operated St. Lucia crowns. Not as authentic or exciting but a little safer, I suppose.
This year was Maddy's turnA little Carl Larsson-ish herself
One of these years I'll make a white robe with a red sash
for more authenticity and better photos
Friday, December 14, 2007
Reader Comments (6)
Josh's family did this when he was growing up, I belive. I'd like to instutute it in our own family, but we only have one girl who expects US to wait on her hand and foot. Can boys be St. Lucia? I don't think so, but I'm not sure.
Hey Stie, I think there are star boys, which are like the Lucia minion/helpers (wouldn't Hannah like *that*?). Traditions are made to be adapted!
We did do this sometimes to celebrate our Swedish heritage. I have not passed it along...but my good friend here is from Sweden and she taught me how to make the traditional saffron buns. Delish.
I think next year I will do it. Emmie would be the perfect Carl Larsson St. Lucia girl. Thanks for the reminder!
I love this Carl Larsson picture and the tradition. I have a photo of Gab as Lucia one year. We cut a hole in a paper plate and clipped Christmas Tree candles onto it. Then we actually lit the candles for the photo. Very dangerous, but memorable!
My family has a little danish heritage as well but it got lost amongst the swiss and german. I'm going to try and make aebleskivers this Christmas and hopefully make it a new tradition. Anyone have any experience with those?
Hi Emily,
I have a great aebleskiver recipe I got from my friend Jen (hi Jen!)and have shared with several including Stie. I'll email it with you.
Greg uses knitting needles or skewers to turn the skivers halfway through...and the first few are always the "trial batch" so don't be frustrated in the first few don't look like you thought they would :)