#luciadagen

[stanford-photography]

Luciadagen Children in Stockholm, getting ready to sing in a Saint Lucy's Day procession. By Jeff Stanford, 2023 Buy prints at: https://jeff-stanford.pixels.com/

[cynosurus]

蓝忘机祝你们圣露西亚节快乐！

Lan Wangji wishes you all a happy Lucia!

Lan Wangji önskar er alla Glad Lucia!

(For info on Luciadagen 13 December, see Wikipedia: Luciadagen, St Lucy's Day)

[lalilaloli]

May you all have a Glad Lucia/Happy Saint Lucy’s day! 🕯️🕯️🕯️

Today, the country of Sweden celebrates a saint from Syracuse. How do we do that? Well, the night to the 13th of December we are suppose to be awake all night which we call ”lussevaka”. In earlier time we stayed up all night working and the reason we did that was because the forces of darkness were extremely active on that night. In the morning you had a big breakfast. Now a days, people are mostly out partying till early morning.

Then there are “Lucia trains” (no real trains involved) where people are dressed up as white dressed maids (tärnor), star boys (symbolically the tree wise men but nobody remembers that anymore), Christmas elves, gingerbread men and -of course- Lucia herself with candles in her hair. They sing Christmas carols and Lucia songs. And then there’s a lot of saffron buns (lussekatter which literally mean lusse-cats), gingerbread, mulled wine and coffee.

Oh and did I mention? We are a Protestant country. Sweden hasn’t been catholic since the reformation. But, obviously, that doesn’t stop us from celebrating an Sicilian, catholic saint from the 4th century😘

Glad Lucia! Happy Lucia!

[o-dandelion-o]

Lighting up the darkest day and bringing hope to people’s hearts. Today is Luciadagen, or Saint Lucy’s Day! 🌟 In Scandinavian tradition, Santa Lucia is celebrated in schools and kindergartens, with children dressed in white, carrying candles to symbolize hope during the year’s darkest day in Northern Europe. They also share saffron buns, known as “Lussekatter”, with parents and teachers.

I wanted to draw my twins celebrating this day. Junior dressed as a star boy and Jenna as Santa Lucia. Wherever you are in the world, I wish you a bright and happy day. 💜🕯️ Gledelig Luciadag!

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 12.13

Holidays

Acadian Remembrance Day (Canada)

Anesthesia Technicians Day (Turkey)

Bicycle Built For Two Day

Blame Someone Else Day

Clip-On Tie Day

Count the "La's" in "Deck the Halls" Day

Ella Josephine Baker Day

General Trias Foundation Day (Philippines)

International ACAB Day

Jane Addams Day

Jum ir-Repubblika (Malta)

Local Charities Day (UK)

Loki Day

Martial Law Victims Remembrance Day (Poland)

Nanking Massacre Memorial Day (China)

National Bring Your Brother-in-Law to Work Day

National Day (Saint Lucia)

National Day of the Horse [also 2nd Saturday]

National Guard Day (US)

National Violin Day

National Give a Wine Club Day

New Calendar Day

Nusantara Day (Indonesia)

Peace Day (Korea)

Pick a Pathologist Pal Day

Reed Plant Day (French Republic)

Republic Day (Malta)

Sailor’s Day (Brazil)

Santa Lucia Day (Sweden, Scandinavia)

Skip Day

Swiftie Day

Unreturned Library Book Day

World Violins Day

Yuletide Lad #2 arrives (Giljagaur or Gully Gawk; Iceland)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Ice Cream and Violins Day

National Cocoa Day

National Cream Cheese Frosting Day

National Ice Cream Day

National Popcorn String Day

Saffron Bun Day (Sweden)

World Raclette Day

Independence & Related Days

Malta (Republic Declared; 1974)

Vendsyssel (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

2nd Friday in December

Comfort Food Friday [Every Friday]

Five For Friday [Every Friday]

Flashback Friday [Every Friday]

Friday Finds [Every Friday]

Friday the Firkenteenth (Grey Lodge, Pennsylvania)

Fry Day (Pastafarian; Fritism) [Every Friday]

National Salesperson Day [2nd Friday]

Official Lost and Found Day [2nd Friday]

Purple Friday (Netherlands) [2nd Friday]

TGIF (Thank God It's Friday) [Every Friday]

World Brandy Day [2nd Friday]

Weekly Holidays beginning December 13 (2nd Full Week of December)

None Known

Festivals Beginning December 13, 2024

Candy Cane Hunt (Lenexa, Kansas)

Christmas on the River (Savannah, Georgia) [thru 12.14]

Country Christmas Festival (Tylertown, Mississippi) [thru 12.14]

4th Avenue Winter Street Fair (Tucson, Arizona) [thru 12.15]

International Film Festival of Kerala (Thiruvananthapuram, India) [thru 12.20]

Night of the Proms (Hamburg, Germany) [thru 12.14]

Saint Kitts and Nevis National Carnival [Sugar Mas] (Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis) [thru 2.2.2025]

Woodstock Winter Wassail Weekend (Woodstock, Vermont) [thru 12.15]

Feast Days

Antiochus of Sulcis (Christian; Saint)

Antoni Tàpies (Artology)

Aubert of Cambrai (Christian; Saint)

Comp-U-Coffee 2000 (Muppetism)

Emily Carr (Artology)

Emma Bull (Writerism)

Euler (Positivist; Saint)

Eustratius and His Companions (Christian; Martyrs)

Feast of the Light-Bringer (Old Swedish Goddess of Light)

Franz von Lenbach (Artology)

Heinrich Heine (Writerism)

Herman of Alaska (American Orthodox Church)

Ides of December (Ancient Rome)

James Wright (Writerism)

John Marinoni (Christian; Blessed)

John Wayne Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Judoc (a.k.a. Joyce; Christian; Saint)

Kenelm, King (Christian; Saint)

Kenneth Patchen (Writerism)

Larry Storch Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Leonard Weisgard (Artology)

Losoong (a.k.a. Namsoong; Sikkim, India)

Luciadagen (a.k.a. Little Yule; Scandinavia)

Lucia’s Day (Pagan) [Sweden]

Lucy (Christian; Saint) [Writers]

Monkey Appreciation Day (Pastafarian)

Odile of Alsace (Christian; Saint)

Othilia (a.k.a. Odilia; Christian; Saint & Virgin)

The Sementivaem (Ancient Rome)

Tellus (Ancient Rome, with table spread for Ceres)

Thorn Cutting Ceremony Day (Glastonbury, England; Celtic)

Unreturned Library Books Sale (Imps; Shamanism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Prime Number Day: 347 [69 of 72]

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Unlucky Day (EU, US) [Friday the 13th] (2 of 2 for 2024)

Unlucky Day (Canada, Germany, Ireland, UK, US) [Friday the 13th]

Premieres

Accordion Joe (Betty Boop Cartoon; 1930)

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Slingshot (Web Series; 2016)

Alice’s Brown Derby (Ub Iwerks Disney Cartoon; 1926)

American Hustle (Film; 2013)

An American in Paris, by George Gershwin (Tone Poem; 1928)

Bedknobs and Broomsticks (Disney Film; 1971)

Beyoncé, by Beyoncé (Album; 2013)

Bugsy (Film; 1991)

Calling Dr. Woodpecker (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1963)

A Chorus Line (Film; 1985)

Clue (Film; 1985)

Dark Star, performed by the Grateful Dead (Song; 1967)

Driving Miss Daisy (Film; 1989)

Emily of New Moon, by L.M. Montgomery (Novel; 1923)

Fool Coverage (WB LT Cartoon; 1952)

Foxy Lady, recorded by Jimi Hendrix (Song; 1966)

The Getaway (Film; 1972)

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (Film; 2013) [Hobbit #3]

Jerry Maguire (Film; 1996)

The Jewel of the Nile (Film; 1985)

Jumanji: The Next Level (Film; 2019)

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (Animated Film; 2024)

Maid in Manhattan (Film; 2002)

Mars Attacks! (Film; 1996)

A Miser Brothers’ Christmas (Animated TV Special; 2008)

Monitored Noose or The Carbon Copy-Cats (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S1, Ep. 6; 1959)

My Name is Nobody (Film; 1973)

Popeye Presents Eugene, the Jeep (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1940)

The Poseidon Adventure (Film; 1972)

Rakuen Tsuiho: Expelled from Paradise (Anime Film; 2014)

Richard III (Film; 1955)

Saving Mr. Banks (Film; 2013)

Scooby-Doo! Pirates ahoy! (WB Animated Film; 2005)

The Scorched Moose (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S1, Ep. 5; 1959)

Sense and Sensibility (Film; 1996)

6 Underground (Film; 2019)

The Snow Man (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1940)

Star Trek: Nemesis (Film; 2002)

Summertime (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1931)

Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, by Gustav Mahler (Symphony; 1895)

Symphony of Psalms, by Igor Stravinsky (Choral Symphony; 1930)

’Tis the Season to Be Smurfy (Hanna-Barbera Animated TV Special; 1987)

Tristessa, by Jack Kerouac (Novel; 1960)

Uncut Gems (Film; 2019)

Wild and Woody! (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1948)

Wind (Pixar Cartoon; 2019)

Ye Olde Toy Shop (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1935)

Today’s Name Days

Jodok, Lucia, Odilia (Austria)

Jasna, Lucija, Otilija, Svjetlana (Croatia)

Lucie (Czech Republic)

Lucia (Denmark)

Ele, Ere, Hele, Loviise, Lucia, Luise, Viise (Estonia)

Seija (Finland)

Jocelyn, Lucie (France)

Jodok, Johanna, Lucia, Ottilia (Germany)

Aris, Efstratios, Ioubenalios, Evstratios, Loukia, Lucy, Stratos (Greece)

Luca, Otilia (Hungary)

Antioco, Lucia (Italy)

Lūcija, Veldze (Latvia)

Eiviltė, Kastautas, Kastytis, Liucija, Otilija (Lithuania)

Lucia, Lydia (Norway)

Łucja, Lucja, Otylia, Włodzisława (Poland)

Dosoftei (Romania)

Lucia (Slovakia)

Lucía, Otilia (Spain)

Lucia (Sweden)

Louise, Lucia, Lukia (Ukraine)

Cinderella, Cindy, Cynth, Cynthia (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 348 of 2024; 18 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of Week 50 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ngetal (Reed) [Day 20 of 28]

Chinese: Month 11 (Bing-Zi), Day 13 (Xin-Hai)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 12 Kislev 5785

Islamic: 11 Jumada II 1446

J Cal: 18 Black; Foursday [18 of 30]

Julian: 30 November 2024

Moon: 96%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 12 Bichat (13th Month) [Daniel Bernouilli / D'Alembert]

Runic Half Month: Jara (Year) [Day 7 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 82 of 90)

Week: 2nd Full Week of December

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 22 of 30)

[matmamma]

Baka Lucias katter

Nu är hon på gång igen, ljusets brud Lucia. Passa på att baka goda lussekatter till Luciadagens morgonkaffe! Mormors lussekatter Ta gärna den större sockermängden, det blir mycket gott just i saffransbröd! 1 pkt jäst (50 g)11/2 – 2 dl socker (saffransbröd får gärna vara lite sötare än vanligt vetebröd, tycker jag!)5 dl mjölk (röd eller ännu hellre gammaldags)175 g smör½ tsk salt2 pkt…

[la-vie-en-lys]

She's on a shelf this year

Glad Lucia!

Lucia looking at the bright side of life on my windowsill

[brookston]

Holidays 12.13

Holidays

Acadian Remembrance Day (Canada)

Anesthesia Technicians Day (Turkey)

Bicycle Built For Two Day

Blame Someone Else Day

Clip-On Tie Day

Count the "La's" in "Deck the Halls" Day

Ella Josephine Baker Day

International ACAB Day

Jane Addams Day

Jum ir-Repubblika (Malta)

Loki Day

Martial Law Victims Remembrance Day (Poland)

Nanking Massacre Memorial Day (China)

National Bring Your Brother-in-Law to Work Day

National Day (Saint Lucia)

National Day of the Horse [also 2nd Saturday]

National Guard Day (US)

National Violin Day

New Calendar Day

Nusantara Day (Indonesia)

Peace Day (Korea)

Pick a Pathologist Pal Day

Reed Plant Dat (French Republic)

Republic Day (Malta)

Sailor’s Day (Brazil)

Santa Lucia Day (Sweden, Scandinavia)

Skip Day

Swiftie Day

Unreturned Library Book Day

World Violins Day

Yuletide Lad #2 arrives (Giljagaur or Gully Oaf; Iceland)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Ice Cream and Violins Day

National Cocoa Day

National Cream Cheese Frosting Day

National Ice Cream Day

National Popcorn String Day

World Raclette Day

2nd Wednesday in December

Book Club Day [2nd Wednesday]

Independence Days

Vendsyssel (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Antiochus of Sulcis (Christian; Saint)

Aubert (Christian; Saint)

Comp-U-Coffee 2000 (Muppetism)

Emily Carr (Artology)

Euler (Positivist; Saint)

Feast of the Light-Bringer (Old Swedish Goddess of Light)

Hanukkah Day #6 (Judaism) [thru Dec. 15th]

Herman of Alaska (American Orthodox Church)

Ides of December (Ancient Rome)

John Marinoni (Christian; Blessed)

John Wayne Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Judoc (a.k.a. Joyce; Christian; Saint)

Kenelm, King (Christian; Saint)

Larry Storch Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Losar (Ladakh, India)

Losoong (a.k.a. Namsoong; Sikkim, India)

Luciadagen (a.k.a. Little Yule; Scandinavia)

Lucia’s Day (Pagan)

Lucy (Christian; Saint) [Writers]

Monkey Appreciation Day (Pastafarian)

Odile of Alsace (Christian; Saint)

Othilia (Christian; Saint)

The Sementivaem (Ancient Rome)

Tellus (Ancient Rome, with table spread for Ceres)

Thorn Cutting Ceremony Day (Glastonbury, England; Celtic)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Martes (Unlucky Tuesday; Spanish culture) [Tuesday the 13th] (2 of 2 for 2022)

Prime Number Day: 347 [69 of 72]

Taian (大安 Japan) [Lucky all day.]

Triti (Unlucky Day; Greece) [Tuesday the 13th] (2 of 2 for 2022)

Premieres

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Slingshot (Web Series; 2016)

American Hustle (Film; 2013)

An American in Paris, by George Gershwin (Broadway Musical; 1928)

Bedknobs and Broomsticks (Disney Film; 1971)

Beyoncé, by Beyoncé (Album; 2013)

Bugsy (Film; 1991)

A Chorus Line (Film; 1985)

Clue (Film; 1985)

Dark Star, performed by the Grateful Dead (Song; 1967)

Driving Miss Daisy (Film; 1989)

Emily of New Moon, by L.M. Montgomery (Novel; 1923)

Fool Coverage (WB LT Cartoon; 1952)

Foxy Lady, recorded by Jimi Hendrix (Song; 1966)

The Getaway (Film; 1972)

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (Film; 2013) [3 of 3]

Jerry Maguire (Film; 1996)

The Jewel of the Nile (Film; 1985)

Jumanji: The Next Level (Film; 2019)

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (Animated Film; 2024)

Maid in Manhattan (Film; 2002)

Mars Attacks! (Film; 1996)

A Miser Brothers’ Christmas (Animated TV Special; 2008)

Monitored Noose or The Carbon Copy-Cats (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S1, Ep. 6; 1959)

My Name is Nobody (Film; 1973)

The Poseidon Adventure (Film; 1972)

Rakuen Tsuiho: Expelled from Paradise (Anime Film; 2014)

Richard III (Film; 1955)

Saving Mr. Banks (Film; 2013)

Scooby-Doo! Pirates ahoy! (WB Animated Film; 2005)

The Scorched Moose (Rocky & Bullwinkle Cartoon, S1, Ep. 5; 1959)

Sense and Sensibility (Film; 1996)

6 Underground (Film; 2019)

Star Trek: Nemesis (Film; 2002)

Tristessa, by Jack Kerouac (Novel; 1960)

Uncut Gems (Film; 2019)

Wind (Pixar Cartoon; 2019)

Today’s Name Days

Jodok, Lucia, Odilia (Austria)

Jasna, Lucija, Otilija, Svjetlana (Croatia)

Lucie (Czech Republic)

Lucia (Denmark)

Ele, Ere, Hele, Loviise, Lucia, Luise, Viise (Estonia)

Seija (Finland)

Jocelyn, Lucie (France)

Jodok, Johanna, Lucia, Ottilia (Germany)

Aris, Efstratios, Ioubenalios, Evstratios, Loukia, Lucy, Stratos (Greece)

Luca, Otilia (Hungary)

Antioco, Lucia (Italy)

Lūcija, Veldze (Latvia)

Eiviltė, Kastautas, Kastytis, Liucija, Otilija (Lithuania)

Lucia, Lydia (Norway)

Łucja, Lucja, Otylia, Włodzisława (Poland)

Dosoftei (Romania)

Lucia (Slovakia)

Lucía, Otilia (Spain)

Lucia (Sweden)

Louise, Lucia, Lukia (Ukraine)

Cinderella, Cindy, Cynth, Cynthia (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 347 of 2024; 18 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 3 of week 50 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Ruis (Elder) [Day 16 of 28]

Chinese: Month 12 (Jia-Zi), Day 1 (Yi-Si)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 1 Teveth 5784

Islamic: 30 Jumada I 1445

J Cal: 17 Zima; Threesday [17 of 30]

Julian: 30 November 2023

Moon: 1%: Waxing Crescent

Positivist: 11 Bichat (13th Month) [Euler]

Runic Half Month: Jara (Year) [Day 3 of 15]

Season: Autumn (Day 81 of 89)

Zodiac: Sagittarius (Day 22 of 30)

Calendar Changes

冰月 [Bīngyuè] (Chinese Lunisolar Calendar) [Month 12 of 12] (Ice Month) [Earthly Branch: Ox Month] (End-of-Year Month)

Ṭēḇēṯ (a.k.a. Tevet, Tebeth & Tebetu) [טֵבֵת] (Hebrew Calendar) [Month 10 of 12]

[swedethings]

INSTAGRAM: @dalamamma har laddat upp ett nytt foto!

🕯️🕯️ Glad Lucia! 🕯️🕯️ Jag är jetlaggad och sjuk ikväll; så har ett foto från Lucia tidigare. Den kronan har jag fortfarande kvar. #lucia #luciadagen #gladlucia #saintlucia #luciaday

❤ 231 GILLAR, ✐27 KOMMENTARER

SE ALLA KOMMENTARER

[ancreneriwle]

missing luciadagen two years in a row grrrrr :/

[swedethings]

Agnes could only imagine that most people in America dreamt of such prices for medical care. The whole system in this country was fucked up. It was depressing. But she didn't dwell on such thoughts for much longer. Instead, she allowed her focus to be shifted to further discussions of traditional Swedish desserts as she watched Juliette get into the baking zone and begin to follow the recipe for the kanelbullar. "Luciadagen." The Swede said the name of the holiday again, using the opportunity to correct the other's pronunciation. Her attempt had been pretty good. She just hadn't gotten the accent quite right. Then again, most people didn't on the first try. Swedish wasn't the most difficult language by any means; but it certainly wasn't easy if one wasn't used to its nuances. "Lucia Day. Or, uh, Saint Lucia Day." She went on to explain what the holiday meant. Figuring it would be easier to explain with some visuals, she dug out her phone to pull up a picture from a traditional Lucia precession. She wanted her to see the traditional attire and how whoever was supposed to be 'Lucia' during the precession would wear a wreath of candles on their head. "It is a festival of lights." She'd heard the holiday described as such a way before. "It is to honor Saint Lucia. She was a uh, martyr... I feel like the holiday is now more about dressing up and singing songs. Och eating lussekatter. The buns get their name because they look like sleeping cats." She then pulled up a photo of the iconic pastry. Songs and saffron buns: that's what the holiday was to her. And as the eldest daughter in her family, there were many Lucia responsibilities that traditionally fell to her. To some extent, she enjoyed them growing up; but she did have to admit that the holiday sometimes felt like a bit of a burden.

By the time she finished her little explanation of Luciadagen without rambling on with too much detail, Agnes noticed that Juliette had finished making the cinnamon buns and had just put them into the oven to bake. The whole kitchen now smelt of cinnamon; and it made the Swede particularly hungry. "It is more difficult to find special celebrations for Swedish holidays in America; men, I want Gunnar to have the chance to experience them." Since she didn't plan on staying in Cape May or America indefinitely, she wasn't particularly worried about him losing touch with his culture. She knew her son would get the chance to grow up celebrating the different holidays and traditions back in their homeland at some point. But while they were in Cape May, it would be harder to do. "Midsommar is in a month. I want him to experience some of the traditions." She'd thought about organizing a whole Midsommar party through Swede Things; but she didn't have enough time for all the planning. She was still going to try something small, though. There would be flowers; and there would be flower crowns. And Kubb, a traditional game played during the festivities... And food. All the Midsommar food.

Her eyes widened at the approximate cost and Juliette couldn't help but laugh. "Can I say, when I was uninsured I dreamt about prices like that and now even with an insurance? I'm still dreaming about those prices." The monopoly of it all always made the chef feel like she was in a race against an odd entity that no matter how much she worked and saved there was always something that needed to be contended with. Of course, there was a lump sum for her old competition days, but Juliette hadn't touched the account in years, especially when she didn't know how to get her mother's authorization out of it. Had enough time passed where she could simply take it out? She blew out a breath again, another day another time to worry about that, for now she would simply get into her zone.

"Luciadagen," Juliette began, hoping she wasn't butchering the name. "I won't even lie, I haven't a clue what that holiday could be but hopefully you'll enlighten me?" She continued before she was swept up in step by step instructions for the cinnamon buns at hand. Knowing she had good cinnamon was reassuring, but making something that was someone's comfort food, there was always a risk that Juliette could either nail it or she could miss a step and completely destroy a long time yearning. She was never one who wanted to ruin a hometown food item for anyone. As she zipped around and eventually got her first batch in the oven, she nervously looked at the oven window but knew the rest would be up to the bake. "Does your son get a chance to take part in these traditions still?"

[24xero]

Glad Lucia from Alexander! 💛 #GladLucia #HappyLucia #Lucia #Lucia2023 #Luciadagen #SanktaLucia #Lussekatter #Lussebullar #SaffronBuns #Sweden #Sverige #Uncle #Nephew https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0zySZ8i7op/

[aktieportfoljen]

Min aktievecka 46, KPI-siffror avgör börshumöret

På tisdag får vi viktiga KPI-siffror avseende Sverige och USA som förhoppningsvis fortsätter att bekräfta att inflationen är på väg att bromsa in. I USA är styrräntan pausad och förväntas bli det även vid FED:s nästa möte på Luciadagen, men i Sverige är det mer osäkert hur Riksbanken kommer att agera vid nästa möte. Oddsen för att Riksbanken höjer styrräntan är något högre än att räntan lämnas…

[cynosurus]

Who wore it best?

Original picture:

By Bengt Nyman from Vaxholm, Sweden - Lucia 2017 D81_4616, CC BY 2.0, link.

Dear Nordic The Untamed fans (and others), it's 13 December*, do you agree y/y?

Lan Wangji for Lucia!

*Luciadagen, St Lucy's Day

[ianasha]

St. Lucia

The 13th of December is the day of St. Lucia (Saint Lucy). She was a girl from Sicily, who was killed during the persecutions of the christians in the 300's. She is a well established saint in the Catholic and Orthodox church - but she is also very popular in Scandinavia and the nordics.

The Nordic Lucia

Lucia is presented a little differently in the nordic countries, and she is especially important to Sweden. Here she is shown as a young girl with long blonde hair, a white gown and most importantly - a crown with burning candles. She carries a tray of unique buns called "Lussebulle" or "lussekatt" made with saffron - the world's most expensive spice!

It is normal to have a small parade called "Luciatog" led by a girl chosen to portray Lucia, which is quite the honor and many girls (and boys!) hope to be chosen each year. She is given Lucia's crown and gives Lussekatts to the people the parade visits. They also sing a song dedicated to this day. In Sweden they even have a bigger "crowning" of a main Lucia in the cities.

There is also a lot of interesting stuff around how she has been mixed with several other christian and pagan characters, like Lucifer, Lilith, Christkindchen, Huldra and Lussi