Saint Lucy's Day

13 December 2017

Saint Lucy's day is celebrated in Scandinavia on the 13th of  December. Acording to legend Lucia died as a marthyr in Syracuse, Sicily around AD 310. 

Norwegian schools and kindergartens have a procession of children dressed in white and with crowns of candles on their head, singing the Lucia song. This tradition stems from Lucia bringing  "food and aid to Christians hiding in the catacombs" using a candle-lit wreath to "light her way and leave her hands free to carry as much food as possible. 

Saint Lucy's day predates the Christian tradition though, because it used to be the longest night of the year due to the Julian Calendar that was in use at that time. The pre-Christian holiday of Yule, or jól, was the most important holiday in Scandinavia and Northern Europe.  The Yule season was a time for feasting, drinking, gift-giving, and gatherings, but also the season of awareness and fear of the forces of the dark.


-         Wikipedia


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