Festival of light – Santa Lucia in Sweden
It is dark in Sweden. Very dark. For a very long time – every year.
And therefore light is needed on the shortest day of the year – celebrated on the 13th of December (according to calendars until the 18th century).
All over Scandinavia, but particularly in Sweden, every school, community and family has a Santa Lucia. A young girl in a white dress with a red sash. She wears a crown of candles on her head and is accompanied by girls holding candles and singing the famous Santa Lucia song with her. And therewith bring light into the homes.
If you would be Swedish, you would today eat Lussekatter – saffron cookies. If you are not Swedish, I think you still deserve a little Christmas cookie now.
Happy Santa Lucia to all Swedes!