The 13th of December is known here
in Sweden to be "Lucia day"
Then all over the country, a Lucia is choosen
and she has an crown of lights
in her hair and a white dress
(or more like an nightgown ;)
She has handmaidens and "star boys"
in her procession too.
Sometimes there are gingerbread men and
santas in the procession as well.
They usually appears in the early morning,
singing christmas and luciasongs,
and serve the people they are performing for,
coffee or hot chocolate
saffronbuns and gingerbreads.
It´s a very cherished and loved tradition.
The tradition can be traced back both to
St Lucia of Syracuse, who was a martyr that died in 304
and also to the legend of Lucia as Adams first wife.
It is said that she cosorted with the Devil and that her
children were invisible infernals.
Thus the name be associated
with both lux (light) and Lucifer (Satan)
and it´s origins aredifficult to determine.
It seems like the celebration today is a
blend of traditions.
In the old almanac, Lucia Night was the
longest of the year.
It was a dangerous night when
supernatural beings were abroad
and all animals could speak.
The first recorded appearence of a white-clad Lucia was
in a country house in 1764
so it´s an old tradition.
And every year (since the Nobel prize is given the 10th of dec)
it´s costum that Lucia and
her procession is visiting the
Nobelprize winners.
Many has gotten scared when the candellights
and whitedressed girls and boys
stood in the door early in the morning ;)