Fordcj@muohio.edu
St Lucia's Day: The Festival of Beautiful Light
Figure 1: Map of Sweden compiled from <http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/country/sweden.html> courtesy of "The World Flag Database" at <http://www.flags.net>.
Abstract
This webpage was created to give the reader an overview of the popularly celebrated Swedish Christian holiday of St. Lucia 's Day. The history, location, and geography of Sweden are all influential in the understanding on the origins of the St. Lucia 's Day celebration. I will describe the most important observable elements of this celebration, as well as the cultural significance of St. Lucia 's Day. Also, be sure to view my detailed interpretation of this highly celebrated Swedish holiday.
Figure
2: Sweden's National Flag compiled from <http://www.flags.net/SWDN.htm>.
Figure
3: Image of young Swedish girl on St. Lucia's Day compiled from <http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/history/sw_holidays.html>.
Introduction
Early in the morning on December 13th, the celebration of St. Lucia 's Day begins in Sweden. Although the holiday has only been celebrated on a national scale since the 1920s, Santa Lucia has quickly become a Swedish icon of winter. One of the most important aspects of the holiday is its focus on children. Children creep into their parents' room to serve breakfast as they are adorned in flowing white gowns with red sashes while carrying candles and singing Christmas hymns ( Rosenberg 1997). The gleaming lights commence this highly celebrated Christian Swedish holiday: “The Festival of Lights.” With the involvement of the family unit, the worshiping of a saint, and the spiritual elements, St. Lucia 's Day is a family and community social holiday as well as religious celebration.
Context of Sweden
Sweden occupies the eastern region of the Scandinavian Peninsula. It is the fourth-largest country in Europe (about the size to the state of California ). Sweden is bordered by Norway on the north and west, and Finland to the east (refer to “Figure 1,” above). The country itself slants eastward to southward, and is a moderately longer country (Crown 2003). Sweden is known for the beautiful array of land features. Just along the Norwegian border lies the Kjólen Mountains, where Sweden reaches its peak elevation of 6,965 feet, or 2,123 meters (InfoPlease 2000-2004) at the famous Mount Kebnekaise. This northern part of Sweden is known for its mountains, dense forests, and many lakes. Throughout Sweden, there are nearly 100,000 lakes that dot the countryside; the largest are Vanern (3471 sq. miles) and Vattern (1188 sq. miles). Sweden is also known for the thousands of rocky islands that make up the jagged coast of Sweden, but the largest and most influential islands are Gotland and Öland. Only about 10 percent of Sweden is suitable for farmland, which is concentrated more heavily in the south, principally in the province of Skane. Sweden's principle cities are Stockholm (capital), Gothenburg, and Malmö (Crown 2003).
Because Sweden extends in great length, the climate varies considerably in the north and south. The northern seventh of the country lies inside the Artic Circle in the region referred to as the "Land of the Midnight Sun,” which entitles extremely long and cold winters, with bright summers of moderate temperatures. In June and July there can be sunlight for 24 hours at a time while in the winter months there are periods of darkness that last for 24 hours straight. Sweden has a milder climate in the south with an average temperature of 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18C) in July. In the winter, Sweden typically averages temperatures just below freezing and snowfall in fairly moderate (Crown 2003).
Dating back to the 6 th century, Sweden was primarily known for its small, broken-up kingdoms produced by the Viking raids that took place for hundreds of years. The Vikings became prevalent through sea trade in the Baltic Sea area. The term “Viking” can be translated into “the men of bays.” Vikings traveled on large, fast ships through Russian, Norwegian, and Danish sea ports, and are known by their aggressive behaviors for control of the bays. The most established tribe was the Svear, which dominated from the 9 th century up until the 12 th century (Dahl 2004). Also in the 9 th century, Christianity came to Sweden, but it took a full three hundred years to fully establish itself. Sweden was involved in many various European conflicts throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, and it wasn't until 1905 that Sweden 's borders were completely established. A year later, in 1906, Sweden 's national flag was adopted, but its design of the golden-yellow Scandinavian cross on the blue background (refer to “Figure 2,” above) dates from 1521. Today, the Swedish government is operating under a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. Full executive authority is vested within the cabinet which consists of a prime minister and nineteen department ministers. Sweden's present Social Democratic government is led by Prime Minister Goran Persson. Also a large part of Sweden's government is the unicameral Parliament, the Riksdag, which operates through 349 members (Nation by Nation).
Origins of St. Lucia's Day
St. Lucia 's Day is celebrated in Sweden for the worshiping of the Italian saint, St. Lucy. According to the Julian calendar (also known as the “Old Style” calendar) St. Lucy blinded herself on the Winter Solace; the shortest and darkest day of the year. With the Viking raids occurring in Sweden and throughout its surrounding countries from the 6th century all the way to the 12th century, there was consequently a great spread of ideas (Dahl 2004). During the 9th century, one of the strongest movements was Christianity. This in turn religiously converted many of the Vikings. They adopted the Italian Saint, Saint Lucy, as the day's patroness because her name, Lucia, meant “light.” It was believed that Saint Lucy's power could break the darkness of the winter days (Thompson 1998) since Sweden experiences a dramatic winter solstice due to its geographic positioning near the Artic Circle.
Performance
The most observable and highly symbolic element of Sweden 's St. Lucia 's Day is the usage of lights. As the children prepare themselves to wake their parents up early in the morning on December 13th, they light candles all throughout the house. The candles will stay lit for the remainder of the day. The children are elegantly dressed in white flowing robes with red sashes. Girls are given greater attention during this holiday since its major focus is worshiping the beautiful saint, Saint Lucy. In most cases, the eldest daughter, but sometimes the most beautiful, will escort the other siblings into their parents' room while leading the religious holiday songs and holding the breakfast tray that carries coffee and buns. This eldest or most beautiful daughter is also wearing a wreath crown of whortleberry (or sometimes called “lingonberry”) that is encircled by nine lighted candles (refer to “Figure 3,” above). Again, the importance of light is intensified. The other girls in the family wear halos of glistening tinsel, while the boys, referred to as “Starngossar's” (“Star Boys”) will wear tall cone shaped hats made with silver paper and carry a wand (scepter) with a star at the end (Thompson 1998). The buns that are carried on the breakfast tray also have a very observable distinction. From a specific Swedish recipe, the buns, known as Lucia Cats, are curled at each end and have raisins placed on one curl for eyes (refer to “Figure 4,” below).
Artifact
Figure 4: Traditional St. Lucia Day Buns--Saffron Buns compiled from <http://www.recipezaar.com/getarecipe.zsp?id=43784>.
Interpretation
Prognosis for St. Lucia's Day
Although no one knows exactly why Saint Lucia of Sicily became so important and influential in Sweden, today, this Christian holiday is the most popularly celebrated winter event throughout Scandinavia (Van Straalen 12/13). In hopes for bringing light out of the darkest time of the year, schools, offices, and communities come together for the holiday season; therefore, the festivities do not occur strictly within the family household. There are many Lucia processions and caroling leading up to December the thirteenth (Van Straalen 12/13). All throughout the world, and even in the United States, many Swedish ancestors celebrate St. Lucia 's Day. In addition, there are many churches and youth organizations that sponsor St. Lucia traditions today (Whitington 1999). This celebration is likely to continue and spread throughout the world for many generations to come.
Conclusion
It is apparent that the St. Lucia 's Day celebration in Sweden has influenced many Christian families. The day is filled with costuming, eating, caroling, and the gathering of families within and without of the household. This social and religious holiday symbolizes welcoming the return of the sun through the continual lighting of candles throughout December thirteenth. In addition, this holiday is important in understanding the syncretism between Christian and pagan beliefs.
Internet References Cited
- Dahl,
Johnny
2004 Original People, The Vikings: Scandinavia 's Warriors. Electronic document, <http://www.en.original-people.eu.org/vikings2.shtml>.
This site provides background information on the Vikings that were once very active and influential in Sweden.
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History Channel
2004 (1996) Exhibits: World Traditions. Electronic document, <http://www.historychannel.com./exhibits/holidays/christmas/world.html>.
Excellent source in providing background information on Sweden's St. Lucia's Day Holiday. It also includes information regarding the symbolic elements of "light" within the celebration.
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InfoPlease
2000-2004 Sweden. Electronic document,
<http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108008.html>.This site gives a brief overview on the geography and history of Sweden.
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M. Hos-McGrane
1999 History of Luciadagen. Electronic document,
<http://www.internet-at-work.com/hos_Mcgrane/holidays/nora.html>.This site gives background information on the history of Saint Lucia herself. Also, there are many useful links for more history on the celebration in general.
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Nation by Nation
Sweden. Electronic document,
<http://www.nationbynation.com/Sweden/Gov.html>.This site offers a brief guide to the Swedish government, as well as providing information on the current heads of office in Sweden.
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Rosenburg, Judith Pierce
1997 Swedish Kitchen, Holiday: Lucia Day, December 13. Electronic document,
<http://www.swedishkitchen.com/lucia.html>.If you want to know many of the basic elements that relates to the performance of the St. Lucia 's Day celebration this is the site to visit.
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UK Trace and Investment
2003 Crown Copywrite, Sweden. Electronic document,
<htttp://www/uktradeinvest.gov.uk/sweden/profile/04_geography/area.shtml>.
If you are looking for a standard profile on Sweden make sure to visit this site.
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Whitington, Mitchel
1999 St. Lucia. Electronic document, <http://www.whitington.com/write/alucia.htm>.This site is a very helpful resource for defined historical information regarding Saint Lucia, as well as how the holiday is currently celebrated today.
Peer-Reviewed References Cited
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Pike, Royston
1993 Round The Year With The World's Religions, pp. 196. Detroit: Omnigraphics, Inc.
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Smithsonian Institution, Office of Folklife Programs
1982 Celebration: A World of Art and Ritual, pp. 108, 156. Washington , D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
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Spicer, Dorothy Gladys
1937 The Book of Festivals, pp. 312. New York: The Womans Press.
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Thompson, Sue Ellen
1998 Holiday Symbols, pp. 414-416. Detriot: Omnigraphics, Inc.
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Turner, Victor, and Edith Turner
1982 Religious Celebrations. Celebration: Studies in Festivity and Ritual.
Victor Turner, ed, pp. 201-219. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington.
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Van Straalen, Alice
1986 The Book of Holidays Around the World, pp. 12/13. New York: Dutton.