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Swedish Christmas
"Elin couldn't remember when she had not known about Lucia Day. Lucia was the Saint of Light. The coming of Lucia Day meant the ending of the shortest and darkest days of winter and the coming of light.. . ." page 67 Elin's Amerika
December 13 is the first day of the Yuletide season in Sweden. It marks a month long celebration tht ends on Jananuary 13 with St. Knute's Day.
Early in the morning before daylight on December 13, Swedish families are awakened by Lucia, usually portrayed by the oldest daughter. She enters bedrooms singing the ancient Sicilian song, Santa Lucia, and carrying a tray of coffee, saffron buns, and cookies. She is dressed in a long white dress with a crown of candles and greenery on her head. Each member of the family gets breakfast in bed. Younger children in the family participate as followers of Lucia wearing stars on top of long cone shaped hats.
Lucia, sometimes called the "Queen of Light" was born in Sicily. On the eve of her marriage, she gave away all of her possessions to the poor in her village and admitted her conversion ot Christianity. She was accused of witchcraft and martyred on Decembe 13, 304 A.D. Later she became a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. Her connection with Sweden is based in folklore. Legend has it that she brough food to a village in Sweden during the time of a terrible famine. She was dressed in white and had a crown of light encircling her head.
St. Lucia also symbolizes the return of light near the time of the winter solstice. She is the symbol of hope and charity to Swedish people.
In modern times, many communities both in America and in Sweden elect a Lucia and have festivals complete with parades and pageants. The Nobel Prize is given on December 10 each year--close to St. Lucia Day. The symbolic meaning of this date close to St. Lucia's Day is to promite the betterment of mankind.
A Swedish Christmas lasts for a month. Christmas trees are placed near the entrance of a house as a symbol of man's eternal hope for spring after a long cold winter. It also symbolizes immortality. In some areas, real candles are still used on the trees instead of lighted bulbs.
A Swedish Christmas also means SMORGASBORD loaded with lutfisk, ham, buns, cakes, gingersnaps, head cheese, sausage, 12 holed kringles that look like elaborate pretzels, bread, and rice pudding with an almond hiden inside. The person to find the almond is supposed to be the next one married. Coffee, almonds, and candy are also part of Christmas foods. Gifts are distributed by the Jultomten.
Christmas Day is a religious one that begins in the predawn hours. In rural areas, some people traditionally arrive at church in a sleigh. The traditional method of lighting the way is with torches.
St. Stephen's Day is December 26 and commemorates the patron of animals. Stephen was the first missionary to come to sweden around 1050 A.D.
One Twelfth Night, Star Boys carry large transparent paper stars on poles with candles inside and go from house to house singing carols.
The last day of Yule is St. Knute's Day. It commemorates King Canute.
Besides the Christmas tree, green garlands and candles decorate houses. The Yule goat is made of straw and replicates Thor's goat, mixing Norse mythology with Christianity.
