ST  LUCIA  DAY

13  DECEMBER  2012

One of the traditions for Saint Lucia (Lucy) Day in Sweden (and for Swedes living in other countries) is to have a Lucia pageant. A young girl who portrays Lucia is dressed in a white gown with a red sash and wears a crown of lighted candles on her head. She is accompanied by other young girls dressed in white and little boys (star boys), each carrying a lighted candle. Lucia carries a tray of saffron rolls.
In traditional celebrations, Saint Lucy comes as a young woman with lights and sweets. It is one of the few saint days observed in Scandinavia. In some forms, a procession is headed by one girl wearing a crown of candles (or lights), while others in the procession hold only a single candle each.

Crowning of Lucia

Star Boys

There is a procession during which they sing Christmas Carols and the traditional (Swedish) Lucia song:

Natten går tunga fjät
runt gård och stuva.
Kring jord, som sol’n förlät,
skuggorna ruva.
Då i vårt mörka hus
stiga med tända ljus
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.
Då i vårt mörka hus
stiga med tända ljus
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.
Natten är stor och stum.
Nu hörs det svingar
i alla tysta rum
sus som av vingar.
Se på vår tröskel står
vitklädd, med ljus i hår
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.
Se på vår tröskel står
vitklädd, med ljus i hår
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.

So, please come and join us in celebration of St Lucia and enjoy the luminaries in beautiful downtown Aiken!