Saint Lucia 17th Century painting of a 3rd Century Sicilian saint, This is St. Lucia, who according to story was martyred in Sicily in the Fourth Century for refusing marriage to a wealthy man. Instead she gave all of her belonging to charity. She was blinded and tortured, but her eyesight was miraculously restored, and from then on glowing light has been the symbol of her devotion to charity.

St. Lucia: The History Sweden was converted from its Nordic pagan religion to Catholicism in the Middle Ages Sweden was converted to Lutheranism after the Reformation St. Lucia was a Catholic saint, adopted by the Lutheran faith, and now celebrated as a symbol of return and renewal at Winter Solstice in both religious and secular celebrations Sweden was slow to replace worship of pagen gods with Christianity. Celebration of pagen festivals, such as the winter and summer solstice, were consolidated first with Catholic and then Lutheran religious holidays. Santa Lucia, who brings light and food to the cold and hungry, became associated with the longest day of the old calendar, December 13 and the Chrisitan Christmas season.

St. Lucia: The Legend On the darkest night of of winter, near the Winter Solstice, a young girl was seen in a boat off the coast of Sweden, carrying fire in a lamp and bread to save the starving, freezing Swedes. She was surrounded by light. According to legend, in the coldest, hungriest part of the Swedish winter, a ship was seen off the western shores. A young girl stood at the bow in a white robe, surrounded by light, carrying a lighted lamp. The ship was full of food for the starving, freezing Swedes.

The legend grew. Traditionally, the eldest daughter woke up early on December 13 and, dressed in a white dress and red ribbon with candles in a crown, she delivered warm Lucia breads, ginger cookies, and coffee to the beds of her parents. This marked the first day of the long Christmas season. Traditionally, the eldest daughter brought coffee and Lucia bread to parents in bed early on Dec. 13, to celebrate the return of the light and the beginning of the holiday season.

Today, in Sweden, and around the world where Santa Lucia is celebrated, young women wearing white dresses, red sashes, and candles in a crown deliver bread to hospitals, schools, and churches on Dec. 13. Today in Sweden and where Santa Lucia is celebrated around the world, girls dress up in costume and deliver breads and cookies at schools and hosptials.

Swedish Smorgasbord Holiday feasts begin on Santa Lucia. Dozens of traditional dishes are served, including lutefisk, meatballs, herring, and salmon. Once the Christmas holidays have begun, friends and family gather for traditional feasts called smogasbords (groaning boards). Ham, lutefisk, meatballs, herring and potatoes are the standard fare, along with flatbread, cheeses, and dozens of cookies and cakes. These feasts are weeks in the making.

Late 20th Century Swedish American Celebrates Santa Lucia Day, Moscow, Idaho My Swedish American family started celebrating Santa Lucia with family and friends when our daughter Katrina was born. At first we visited only a few households, bringing them coffee and Lucia bread, made into special shapes.

Soon, more children and their families wanted to take part, and the celebration grew. In addition to the Santa Lucia girls delivering the traditional bread to guests, who now numbered about 60, we celebrated with a full Swedish smogasbord. Each year we watched our children grow,welcomed back the sun, and celebrated family, friends, and community. Santa Lucia has become a time to be glad and to dedicate ourselves to the service of others. Dozens of friends and family come to our house for a Swedish feast and to see the Lucia girls. We celebrate hope and renewal, and the beginning of the holiday season.

Lucia Girls celebrate Santa Lucia Day, 2004 Although my daughter and her childhood friends are grown, they return whenever they can, to celebrate Santa Lucia together and with their hometown Moscow community. Lucia Girls celebrate Santa Lucia Day, 2004

Sources Lilly Lorenzen, Off Swedish Ways (New York: Harper & Row, 1964), 197-224. Florence Ekstrand, Lucia: Child of Light (Seattle: Welcome Press, 1989), 1-40. Sven H. Rossel and Bo Elbrond-Bek, eds., David W. Colbert, trans., Christmas in Scandinavia (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1996). Interviews: Ivar Nelson, Moscow, Idaho, Nov., 15, 2005. Lynn Baird, Moscow, Idaho, Nov. 15, 2005. By telephone, Katrina Nelson, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 13, 2005. Email correspondence, Julia Baird, Moscow, Idaho, Nov. 12-13, 2005.