nine | a wreath of light

Legend: St. Lucia Day

Today is St. Lucia Day, a celebration of a young Christian martyr known for bringing food to Christians in hiding in Roman Catacombs before she was killed for her faith. To light her way in the dark catacombs (and still keep her hands full of tasty food to share), St. Lucia wore a wreath of candles on her head. 

In Scandinavia, St. Lucia Day is a significant celebration. It is held on the darkest day of the year (the winter solstice according to the calendar when the date originated) and is considered a festival of light and hope. 

The day began in Norse culture as a way to use light to scare off evil spirits that might linger in the dark, dangerous, long winter nights. While the tradition started with large bonfires, today towns that celebrate St Lucia day are illuminated with house fires, candlelight, and twinkling lights. As the name Lucia means light, the legend of St. Lucia inspired the light-centric holiday. Candles reflect the light that Lucia once brought into the darkness.

To honor St. Lucia, and celebrate the coming of Christmas, Scandinavian families elect their oldest daughter to dress up like St. Lucia and wake up her family when it is still dark out to serve coffee and sweet treats. One traditional treat is a Lussekatt (or Swedish sweet traditional saffron buns). In towns, St. Lucia parades bring warmth and the glow of candles to snow-filled streets. It’s a beautiful, harmonious, holiday.

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I first read about St. Lucia day when reading the American Girl books growing up. In Kirsten’s Surprise, Kirsten and her family find themselves missing their home in Sweden after immigrating to Minnesota in the United States. Kirsten worries that Christmas in America will not be the same as it was back home. Kirsten’s mother tells her they do not have money for Christmas treats as they once did and will have to make due with what they do have to survive the winter.

Kirsten, heavy with homesickness, convinces her father to go fetch their trunks which are in town. The truck’s contain beloved belongings such as Kirsten’s doll, the family’s Christmas candles, and the white dress and red sash used for St. Lucia Day. When Kirsten and her family journey into town, however, they are met with a blizzard.

After the storm finally passes, Kirsten and her father arrive back home. Equipped with the dress and sash, Kirsten surprises her family by maintaining the tradition and waking them with a wreath around her head and treats in hand. Her entire family is surprised, unaware of the moment she had snuck the dress out, and extremely happy by the tribute reminding them out of home.

 "Saint Lucia invites you to breakfast!" Kirsten happily announces before handing out sweets.

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This story was one of my favorites growing up. I adored the idea of the St. Lucia tradition and dreamed of wearing a white dress and red sash before waking my family with sweet cinnamon treats and warm coffee.

Through reflecting and reading more about St. Lucia, I’ve decided this mid-Advent celebration is a lovely one. This time of year often feels like the darkest day of the year. Even in the midst of the holidays, days can feel forever long and weary.

But we must let the light in. 

The traditional song, Sankta Lucia, is a beautiful melody in Swedish. Translated in English, the lyrics read:

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!

Whatever darkness you feel today, “a new day will rise again.” The image of St. Lucia bringing treats into the cold catacombs or the image of Kirsten putting together a surprise as a reminder of the home she misses dearly remind me of words Dumbledore once said: “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

There is always light if we are brave enough to see it.

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Read: Kirsten’s Surprise, An American Girl Story, by Janet Shaw

Watch: Light in the darkness | Swedish Lucia Tradition
Listen: Sankta Lucia (Traditional)