St. Lucia Day

Today (December 13) is the feast of St. Lucia, a young Italian maiden martyred for her faith. St. Lucia lived in Sicily during the early part of the 4th century, a time of paganism, she had committed her life to Christ and she ministered to persecuted Christians and the poor.
It is said that she brought food and hope to Christians that were hiding from persecution in the catacombs, she would wear a wreath with lit candles on her head to light her way as she carried her parcels.
St. Lucia Day is an important festival celebrated in Sweden, it is said that the story of St. Lucia was carried to Scandinavian countries by missionaries.

Last night we went to a St. Lucia Festival that was celebrated by a Swedish American Children's Club at a Lutheran Church near where we live. Raymond's cousin Wendy has a daughter (Heather) that participates in the festival and she belongs to the Club and she has learned to speak Swedish as well as learning Swedish folk dancing. This year she was one of the maids in the Lucia Festival and next year she will play the part of St. Lucia.

This video picture is not from the festival we attended but the pictures below it are (I just wanted you to have a sample of what we are treated to each year!):









After the Lucia Ceremony we went to the auditorium for coffee and cake, and there was Swedish music, song, and folk dancing:

This is Heather in her original folk costume that belonged to Ray's grandmother (I love when treasures are passed down like this!). Each municipality had it's own costume.

There were some really tiny ones that belonged to the Club too, they looked so cute in their costumes and dancing along with the older ones. I said I wished that Jayden and Mia would join!

There were tables set up selling some Swedish wares and they had a Viking helmet and sword that Ray got for Jayden. Here's his niece Erika trying it on for size!



Jayden was asleep by the time we got home but he put on the helmet and took up the sword as soon as he woke up this morning!



Today I invited the family over to celebrate St. Lucia Day with some Swedish food.

Of course we had Swedish meatballs:


I also made Ray's family recipe of Lada:


We had lingonberry perserves:


We had gravy:


And we had two types of cheese with crackers and Swedish crispbread:


Ray made his family recipe of pankake:



And he also made mini pumpkin cheesecake muffins:





We all ate a lot! And we had fun watching Mia and Jayden play together.


And they regaled us with some Christmas songs.
Well, I'm very tired and I'm heading up to bed but I'll leave you with this:

(Ray was able to capture Mia with her version of O Christmas Tree)