#Sancta_Lucia Around Christmas time in Sweden, one of the biggest celebrations is St. Lucias Day (or St. Lucys Day) on December 13th. The celebration comes from stories that were told by Monks who first brought Christianity to Sweden. St Lucia was a young Christian girl who was martyred, killed for her faith, in 304AD. The most common story told about St Lucia is that she would secretly bring food to the persecuted Christians in Rome, who lived in hiding in the catacombs under the city. She would wear candles on her head so she had both her hands free to carry things. Lucy means light so this is a very appropriate name. December 13th was also the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, in the old Julian Calendar and a pagan festival of lights in Sweden was turned into St. Lucias Day. St. Lucias Day is now celebrated by a girl dressing in a white dress with a red sash round her waist and a crown of candles on her head. Small children use electric candles but from about 12 years old, real candles are used! The crown is made of Lingonberry branches which are evergreen and symbolise new life in winter. Schools normally have their own St. Lucias and some town and villages also choose a girl to play St. Lucia in a procession where carols are sung. Small children sometimes like dressing up as Lucia (with the help of their parents!). Also boys might dress up as Stjärngossar (star boys) and girls might be tärnor (like Lucia but without the candles). [Teringat pada imam Swedia yang kami panggil dengan sebutan Lo ShinFu menyampaikan cerita ini di sekolah Yos Sudarso, Semarang pada 45 tahun lalu.] 12.12.14
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 14:10:06 +0000
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