On December 13th, all over Sweden, the day of St.Lucia is celebrated. There are costumes, candles, lights, buns, drinks, and singing 🙂
So who is St.Lucia?
Along with the celebration of midsummer, the celebration of St.Lucia is a very popular cultural tradition here in Sweden. The idea behind this mythical character is that she has the role of bearing light in the long, cold, dark, winters. St Lucia was originally a young Christian lady betrothed to a pagan gentleman. She cut off their engagement, and he was not too happy, so he made the Roman authorities aware she was a Christian. Consequently she was sentenced to death and became a martyr, and the saint of light.
How to celebrate St.Lucia:
- Dress up: The children are dressed in white gowns, with red sashes, and a wreath of candles is placed upon their heads. There is often great competition for the role of St.Lucia, and whilst a lot of costumes will now involve electric candles, the main St.Lucia of the celebration is still known to have real candles on her head in most places. She is accompanied by her handmaidens (tärnor) who wear white gowns and have tinsel in their hair. She is also accompanied by star boys (stjärngossar), who wear white robes, cone shaped hats, and carry golden stars on sticks. The processions now often include tomtar (santa like elves) and gingerbread people. My double trouble are going to be tomtar this year.
- Food: No celebration would be truly Swedish without having a special bun or cake made for the occassion! On this day you eat lussekatter. They are made with saffron, so have a peculiar flavour to them, but are very tasty. Also on offer are the pepparkakor (small thin ginger biscuits), all swallowed down with yet more glögg! Or if you are a child, the incredibly sweet drink of Julmust, or maybe just a coffee if you are driving.
- Sing Songs: Most of these songs have a similar theme about the dark and about candles, but singing is a big part of the celebration.
We will be enjoying a little St.Lucia celebration in my twins’ class one evening around this time as they sing us some songs. They are going to be a couple of tomtar 🙂 Comment and let me know your thoughts on this Swedish tradition and if you’ve enjoyed reading about it below. Don’t forget to share the post to let others know!
I have had a similar article published by the Newbieguide.se and it can be found by clicking on the following link http://www.thenewbieguide.se/st-lucia-discover-swedish-winter-tradition/
Comments 46
Not heard of this St Lucia tradition but thanks for educating me and your boys look lovely. I would love to see it in person one day
Anosa recently posted…48-HRS in Rome: 5 Must Visit places!
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It is massive over here and you can’t escape it happening, especially if you have children!
I heard a little more about it from a friend again and she totally agrees how massive it is.
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Yes it is huge here, but then we need all these celebrations to brighten the dark!
That’s really interesting I had never heard of St Lucia!
Mrs Mary Ann Abbott recently posted…Snow, you are a jerk
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It is huge over here!
I love the Swedish way of doing things and so always love to see anything about a Swedish Christmas – this post really captures the essence of it all!
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Ah thankyou…we can’t wait to eat our buns tomorrow!!
This sounds like a lovely tradition. I actually bought some pepparkakor and glogg from Ikea. Now I know what it’s for!
Justine Robson recently posted…Diary of a One year Old pt.2
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Ooooo every day in December is the day for glögg and peppakakor!! You’ll have to see my post on 15 things I’ve learnt living here to see what I’m talking about 😉 Enjoy them!
This is so lovely. I really do love reading and learning about different saint days and what traditions come with them. I’d never heard of St. Lucia before so thanks for enlightening me – no pun intended! 🙂
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Your welcome!! It brightens our dark days
I haven’t heard of this tradition either but how lovely! I wish we did that!
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It is a lovely thing to do just when the darkness starts to really get to you!
What a lovely tradition, I love their outfits!
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Thankyou 🙂 They love them too so soft and cosy. Wewill be eating our saffron lussekatter today 🙂
Happy ST LUCIA DAY! I love the Christmas onesies too, do they come in an adult size too?
Ana De- Jesus recently posted…Stand Up For Animals With International Animal Rights Day
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Ah thankyou!! They are sooooo cosy and ever so soft, and like all the best mini sized things, nope they don’t come in grown up sizes 🙁
I love the sound of the lussekatter with saffron and a coffee! Yum!
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They are delicious x
Oh wow what a lovely tradition . I never heard of St Lucia before 🙂
Kira recently posted…Betty Box Review
This is a lovely celebration to take party in, I love how Sweden always celebrates with food too!!
Stephanie recently posted…Kids Christmas Gifts Under £20
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Couldn’t be without a bun!!
Me neither. I haven’t heard of it. But it seems a little exciting knowing that it’s like a prelude to Christmas with all the traditional wear, pastries and wine.
Lauretta At Home and Horizon recently posted…January Snapped Up Linky: Shopping hauls & product reviews!
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Yes it does really get you into the festive mood
Wow, I’d not heard of St. Lucia before – but what a sad, horrible story! Poor woman. I hope she approves of all the festivities in her honour though – although, not sure I’d want to put real candles anywhere near my hair, just in case!
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I know, poor thing. The candles are in a lot of children’s hair here all over Sweden on this day, although I think a lot are swapped now for the battery operated ones, but it is still normal to have the candles (my daughter’s school has one girl with candles)
Sounds like a lovely tradition. I am kicking myself for not picking up one of those cute Santa’s figures
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I totally get why…I am very addicted to the tomte (more about them on the blog next week!!)
I love your twins in their Santa Elves outfits. I did not know the story of St. Lucia before so thanks for sharing.
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Ah thankyou 🙂
Aww what a beautiful tradition and not one I had heard of before. I love it when traditions are passed down through generations 🙂
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It is very lovely
What a lovely tradition this is! Swedish cakes are so good and I am loving the sound of Glogg! Yummy!
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Yes the glogg is one of my favourite things too!
This tradition sounds like so much fun and so sweet. And the cakes and biscuits sound so yummy.
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They are sooooo delicious 🙂
I never heard of this before so its so nice to hear about different traditions , for instance today in Poland we are celebrating St Nicholas day , and kids waking up with little gift under their pillows
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Oh I love that tradition. That sounds lovely
I love your family festive celebrations. Not heard of these St Lucia traditions before, i’l have to give them a whirl xx
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It’s something quite lovely, and usual accompanied by some sort of bun!
Oh how lovely and what a fab tradition! Their little outfits are amazing!
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Thankyou
I have never heard of this as I don’t really know much about Sweden but this sounds like an amazing day! I love the sound of all the food, drink and dancing..I want to celebrate St Lucia day!xx
I’ve not heard of this celebration before. It looks like it’s one that the kids all love – dressing up is always a winner
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Yes and there is a few options!