What little girl wouldn’t love to dress up like a Queen of Light with a crown of greens and candles and pass out warm baked goods? It’s St. Lucia’s day, and in Swedish homes and Waldorf Schools everywhere, a happy little girl is leading a procession through the house, or school halls, or village streets passing out those heavenly golden saffron buns. At our school, the second grade does the Santa Lucia procession with the oldest girl in the class wearing the glowing crown while leading the children around through all the classrooms singing “Santa Lucia” and passing out baskets and baskets of saffron buns. This morning, I had the good fortune of catching a glimpse of the procession as they travelled around the school with their golden star crowns, holding little candle holders made from doilies and greenery. I even got a taste of one of the buns from my daughter after class. I really enjoy this celebration, and am happy to see such an old tradition carried out today.
Last year, since we didn’t have our kids in the local Waldorf school for second grade, we decided to have St. Lucia day at home so our kids wouldn’t miss it. My daughter, being the oldest child in the house over her twin brother by a mere 20 minutes, got the honor of wearing the crown. We went out in the woods and gathered laurel boughs on a misty December afternoon, and fashioned a crown with four beeswax candles. She dressed up in her fanciest white dress with a red sash I cut out of an old scrap silk shirt, and we had a St. Lucia. We invited a handful of friends over for a Saturday morning brunch, I stayed up in the wee hours the night before baking traditional saffron buns (they are so good and so worth the effort!), and we had our Santa Lucia procession through the living and dining rooms.
Her twin brother got to dress up as one of St. Lucia’s star boys in a tall felt hat I made him with a star wand. They made quite a pair!
Here is an excerpt about St. Lucia’s Day from the Parents Guide to the Winter Festivals created by the early childhood teachers at our Waldorf School:
“According to the old Julian calendar, December 13 was the longest night of the year. The ancient people were very much aware of the diminishing daylight and feared the cold and hunger that accompanied the sun’s decline. Men yearned for a friendly spirit to intercede, restoring light to earth. Over many centuries the spirit of light became personified as St. Lucia, the Queen of Light.
Lucia was a girl who lived in the ancient city of Syracuse, Sicily, in the third century, and died a martyrs death. She was later canonized and became one of Italy’s favorite saints.
St. Lucia’s Day is most commonly celebrated in Sweden. Her connection with Sweden is traced to medieval legend and folklore. Lucia was said to have brought food to the hungry people in one of Sweden’s provinces during a time of famine. She was dressed in white; a luminous halo in the form of a crown of light encircled her head. It is this image that has been preserved over the centuries.
In Sweden, St. Lucia’s Day Feast is the official opening of the Christmas festivities. Early on the morning of December 13, before daylight, families all over Sweden are awakened by a “Lucia,” usually the eldest daughter of the family, singing an ancient Sicilian song “Santa Lucia.” Dressed in white, and wearing a whortleberry (or evergreen) crown with lighted candles, she presents a tray of coffee, saffron buns, and Christmas cookies to each member of the family while they are still in bed. The younger children in the family join her. They also wear white and a tall silver pointed hat with a star on top and carry a lighted candle. In some places Lucia has baker boys for her escorts who carry special buns made in the shape of an X. These “Lucia Cats” have raisin eyes and baked dough curls up the ends. After everyone in the family is up and dressed, a special breakfast is served in a room illuminated by candlelight. Special portions are served to the animals of the household on this day. Traditional Swedish hospitality is shown to everyone who enters the home during this season; none may leave until he has partaken of some refreshments, lest he take the spirit of Christmas with him.
The Lucia Queen, bearing her gifts of love and light, symbolizes hope and charity to the Swedish people. At the time of the winter solstice man universally seeks light; Saint Lucia is another form in which this process is celebrated. “
The Santa Lucia Song
Santa Lucia, thy light is glowing,
Through darkest winter night, comfort bestowing,
Dreams float on wings of night,
Comes then the morning light,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.
Through silent winter gloom, thy song comes winging to
Waken the earth anew, glad carols bringing,
Come thou, oh Queen of Night,
Wearing thy crown so bright,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.
Santa Lucia, Christmas fore-telling,
Fill hearts with hope and cheer, dark fear dispelling,
Bring to the world’s call,
Peace and good will to all,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.
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