Saints on Saturdays: Lights, Lussekatter and Saint Lucia

This past year I've been blessed to see my daughter develop a devotion to one of my favorite saints, Saint Lucy, whose feast day we celebrate on December 13. Completely independently from anything I've tried to incorporate in her. A long, long time ago, I developed a bond with Scandinavia by participating in Swedish life for a few years, and it has never left me. Lucia Day is one of the most poignant parts of the Scandinavian Advent experience, and I absolutely love to incorporate it into my month-of-december preparatory Christmas events. Any local Swedish group will hold a Lucia event somewhere nearby, but if you choose to simply celebrate at home, dress your oldest daughter in a long white robe with a red rope or ribbon belt, and create a wreath crown for her to wear (these days, you can buy electric ones to take the candles-in-hair fear away :P)


Then have her get up early in the morning, while it is still dark, to carry a tray with goodies (traditionally Saffron St Lucia Bread or Buns and coffee) to her parents, joined by her siblings in similar garb (boys can carry lanterns or stars) as they sing through the halls... belting out the words to the famous songs of Lucia:
Så mörk är natten i midvintertid. Men se, då nalkas Lucia. Hon kommer, den goda, med ljuset hit. Hon kommer med hälsning om julefrid. Hon kommer med ljus i sin krona. I mörka natten i midvintertid vi hälsa dig, väna Lucia. Välkommen, du goda, med ljuset hit. Välkommen med hälsning om julefrid. Välkommen med ljus i din krona.Musik: Carl-Bertil Agnestig Text: Johnny Johansson







or my personal favorite:

LUCY'S CROWN, DIRECTIONS


Dissolve yeast in warm water. Set aside for 5 minutes. Stir saffron into warm milk.


Combine 2 cups flour, saffron milk, sugar, salt, egg, and butter in mixing bowl. Beat until smooth. Stir in citron, almonds and lemon peel. Add enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. Keand on lightly floured surface until smooth — about 10 minutes.


Place in greased bowl, turning to coat top. Cover; let rise in warm place until double — about 1 hour. Punch down dough. Cut off 1/3 of dough for top braid and set aside. Divide remaining dough into thrids and roll each part into 24-inch rope. Braid and shape into circle. Pinch ends together to seal. Place on greased backing sheet.


Divide reserved dough into thirds and roll each until 15 inches long. Braid and shape into circle. Pinch ends together to seal. Place on another greased baking sheet. Cover; let rise in warm place until double — about 45 minutes. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven 25 mintues or until done. Cool on wire rack. When cool, make holes for 6 candles in small braid.


Make icing. Mix in a few more drops of water if too stiff. Make small braid on large braid. Drizzle icing on braid. Decorate with cherries. Insert candles.


Recipe Source: Festive Bread Book, The by Kathy Cutler, Barron's Educational Series, Inc., 1982






The Story of St Lucy is nothing short of amazing. Tradition tells us that Saint Lucy was born of noble, wealthy, Christian parents in Syracuse, Italy. Lucy had few memories of her father, for he died when Lucy was an infant. As a young girl, Lucy took a secret vow to consecrate her virginity to Christ. Thus her mother was quite dismayed when Lucy, as a teen, refused marriage to a young pagan. When Lucy's mother developed a hemorrhage, Lucy persuaded her to visit the tomb of St. Agatha to pray for healing. When her mother was healed, Lucy revealed her vow of virginity and asked permission to bestow her fortune on the poor. Joyful at her cure, Lucy's mother agreed, but Lucy's pagan suitor was incensed. With the persecution of the emperor Diocletian at its height, the jilted young man accused Lucy, before a judge, of being a Christian. When Lucy refused to relinquish her faith, the judge ordered her to a brothel. However, guards who attempted to drag her to the house of sin were unable to budge her. Similarly an attempt to burn Lucy to death failed so she was dispatched by thrusting a sword into her throat. The date of Lucy's martyrdom was December 13, 304. As early as the sixth century, Lucy was honored in Rome as one of the most praiseworthy virgin martyrs, and her name was inserted into the canon of the Mass. Possibly because of her name, which means "light," Lucy was invoked by those who suffered from eye trouble or blindness. Due to this connection, various legends arose. One legend claimed that her eyes were put out by a tyrannical government official or by her jilted boyfriend. Another declared that Lucy tore them out herself to discourage her pagan suitor. In every story, however, the Lord restored her eyes to her, more beautiful than ever.






PRAYER TO SAINT LUCY


Saint Lucy, your beautiful name signifies light. By the light of faith which God bestowed upon you, increase and preserve this light in my soul so that I may avoid evil, be zealous in the performance of good works, and abhor nothing so much as the blindness and the darkness of evil and of sin.

By your intercession with God, obtain for me perfect vision for my bodily eyes and the grace to use them for God's greater honor and glory and the salvation of all men.

Saint Lucy, virgin and martyr, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. Amen.


(source: http://www.penitents.org/lucy.html)






Santa Lucia Song


(Swedish)





Natten går tunga fjät

rund gård och stuva;

kring jord, som sol förlät,

skuggorna ruva.

Då i vårt mörka hus,

stiger med tända ljus,

Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.




Natten går stor och stum

nu hörs dess vingar

i alla tysta rum

sus som av vingar.

Se, på vår tröskel står

vitklädd med ljus i hår

Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.




Mörkret ska flykta snart

ur jordens dalar

så hon ett underbart

ord till oss talar.

Dagen ska åter ny

stiga ur rosig sky

Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.



Santa Lucia Song


(English)





Night walks with a heavy step

Round yard and hearth,

As the sun departs from earth,

Shadows are brooding.

There in our dark house,

Walking with lit candles,

Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!




Night walks grand, yet silent,

Now hear its gentle wings,

In every room so hushed,

Whispering like wings.

Look, at our threshold stands,

White-clad with light in her hair,

Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!




Darkness shall take flight soon,

From earth's valleys.

So she speaks

Wonderful words to us:

A new day will rise again

From the rosy sky…

Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!