Figure 1.--This 1978 photograph shows a St. Lucia pagent in Sweden on December 13. This is the best loved of the Swedish Christmas traditions. I'm not sure if the elves are boys or girls. Click on the image to see the rest of the group. Maurizio |
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A thousand years ago in Sweden, King Canute declared that Christmas would last a
month, from December 13, the feast of St. Lucia until January 13, or Tjugondag
Knut (St. Canute's Day). Some say she once visited the country, and others believe
missionaries brought stories of her life which entranced the Swedish people. Her
story is that in the days of early Christian persecution, Lucia carried food to
Christians hiding in dark underground tunnels. To light the way she wore a wreath
of candles on her head. Eventually Lucia was arrested and martyred. On her feast
day the eldest daughter in each family dresses in a white dress with a red sash, and
wears an evergreen wreath with seven lighted candles on her head. She (very
carefully) carries coffee and buns to each family member in his or her room and the
younger children often wear a conelike hat with a star on top and accompany her.
Many schools, offices, and communities sponsor Lucia processions in which carol
are sung and everyone thanks the Queen of Light for bringing hope during the
darkest time of the year. Before the midday meal on Christmas Eve, the family
gathers in the kitchen for a custom called doppa I grytan, "dipping in the kettle." All
gather round a pot filled drippings of pork, sausage and corned beef and dip dark
bread into it, which they eat when it is completely soaked with the drippings. The
traditional Christmas Eve dinner would start off with a smorgasbord with a sip of
akvavit; then lutfisk, a sun-dried cod served in cream sauce, and ham; finally rice
pudding with an almond in it. After dinner all gather around the Christmas tree to
open the presents. These gifts were brought by the Jultomen, a gnome who lives in
the barn, if there is one. He has to have his portion of rice pudding if he is to behave in the coming year. On Christmas Day there is a service a 5:00 a.m. After that the day is devoted to rest and to religious observance.
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