Around Christmas time in Sweden, one of the biggest celebrations is St. Lucia’s Day. Long ago, the night between the 12th and 13th of December was regarded as the longest night of the year, it was the custom in some parts of Sweden to prepare a meal and serve it under candlelight during that long and cold night. Swedes sometimes called it “att lussa”. Lussa referred to light, lux in Latin, luce or lucia in Italian.
Long ago, the night between the 12th and 13th of December was regarded as the longest night of the year, it was the custom in some parts of Sweden to prepare a meal and serve it under candlelight during that long and cold night. Swedes sometimes called it “att lussa”. Lussa referred to light, lux in Latin, luce or lucia in Italian.
On December 13th AD 304, a young girl called Lucia died in Syracuse, Sicily. She had refused to make a sacrifice to the emperor Diocletian and the punishment was death, martyrdom. Legend asserts that Lucia, during her life, was willing to sacrifice even her eyes for her true belief. At the end she said: “I know of no other God than my Creator in Heaven and I am prepared to die for him”.
Lucia is a symbol of light in darkness. Her body rests in the Church of St. Jeremiah in Venice. Her name and her story reached Sweden from Germany and England (where she is known as Lucy).
Now the name “Lucia” has a special place in every Swede’s heart. Lucia is celebrated in practically every home and Church, community and club, school and office. Lucia appears, dressed in a white gown and with a crown of candles – with a group of girls also dressed in white. Sometimes young boys wearing tall paper cones with stars on them accompany her. They all sing the Lucia song and Christmas Carols.
The many legends surrounding Lucia cannot alone explain why, in a Protestant country, the Catholic Saint Lucia has come to mean so much. Santa Lucia is a symbol of blessed light needed by all of us.
This years’ service at Birmingham Cathedral was kindly sponsored by EBS, Sandvik, Handelsbanken and was organised by DWF.
