A Christmas Tradition Not For the Clumsy: the Feast of St. Lucy

People well-versed in Christmas traditions will have known to put their shoes out last week on the night of Dec. 5 for the original St. Nick. Saint Nicholas, patron saint of children (and sailors), is known to leave a small gift in your shoes to be discovered the next morning on his feast day, Dec. 6.

But did you also know that later this week, on Dec. 13, another beautiful tradition arrives to enrich the Christmas season? This Saturday is the feast day of St. Lucy, or Santa Lucia, as she also called, a virgin martyr of the early 4th century A.D. in Sicily, during the Roman Empire.

Like most saint stories, Lucy's life story or legend (we don't know much in the way of actual facts by now) has a solemn ending. The details have been lost in the centuries, but we do know Lucia was a young girl in Syracuse, Sicily, who was arrested for being a Christian, tortured, and put to death.

Why on earth would we celebrate something like that? A poor girl died! Well, the reason it's a feast day, a festival, is because Lucy and the other saints didn't cave in at the last minute and either convert to the pagan religion (of Zeus, Athena, Apollo and the other Olympians) and/or bow down and "give divine honors" to the Emperor himself, who thought he was a god and expected to be treated as such. (Ego much??) The saints stood strong even when it cost them their lives, and later generations honored their courage for that. Incidentally, it's hard to believe that a similar level of violence is being inflicted on Christians of all ages right now in our modern times, especially in the Middle East. But this is the painful reality, and to me, it makes St. Lucy's feast day all the more poignant this year.

Above is a fun overview of Saint Lucia  Day traditions, not that I think you're a dummy...

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Below, beautiful singers. I think Jake's cousin Isabelle would fit right in with these girls!

I'm not sure I'd volunteer to wear the wreath of candles on my head. Would you???

Over time, Lucia has evolved into the patron saint of the blind, of eye doctors, and for all those experiencing problems with their eyes. Her name means light--which explains the girls with candles on their heads! (Their white robes symbolize her innocence and the red sash signifies her blood shed for her faith.)

Santa Lucia's feast day is celebrated in a big way every year in Sweden and Norway, (Hi, Snorri!) and as long as Scandinavian winter nights are, one can see why the Nordic folk would be attracted to this bright and shiny tradition. These videos explain the general proceedings of the fun to be had on St. Lucia's day, as well as a gorgeous rendition of St. Lucia's special song.

So, check it out! But one caveat. If you decide to join in and walk around this Saturday night with a wreath of candles on your head, I highly suggest you use the flameless, LED variety. Or at least, definitely skip the hairspray. :P

Enjoy! ~ G