Sankta Lucia

The next few weeks will be about some of my holiday traditions and history.  Some of these might be similar to things you do or grew up doing.  Or in the case of Lucia, things that did not go on in our house, but I really wish they had.  Not sure why we didn't celebrate this day.  My grandmothers almost had me believing Scandinavia WAS Europe, so this is a mystery. 

The festival of Sankta Lucia begins before dawn, on the thirteenth of December, which under the old Julian calendar (used in Sweden before 1753) was Christmas Day and the longest night of the year. Throughout Sweden, the eldest daughter in each household comes to her sleeping parents, dressed in a long white gown tied with a red sash, and wearing a crown of lingonberry leaves in which are set seven lighted candies. In her hands she carries a tray of steaming hot coffee and “Lussekattor” (Lucia buns). The procession includes her sisters and brothers also dressed in white, holding lighted candles, and singing of the light and joy of Christmas. They wear a wreath of tinsel in their hair and a piece tied around their waist, while the boys have tall pointed caps sprinkled with stars. Awakened by the lights and the singing, the parents arise and eat the breakfast served, thus ushering in the Christmas season.

For those that really want to know:

December 13th is the day that Swedes and others all over the world honor the legend of Saint Lucia. For many, many years Lucia has brought faith, hope, and a reason to believe in good things to come.

Her legend stems from Syracuse on the island of Sicily. It is thought that during a time when the rulers of the land did not look favorably upon Christianity, a woman named Lucia had devoted her life to God and the poor. She gave her entire dowry to the poor, and the man she was to marry was very upset by this. Lucia was put on trial, refused to renounce her Christian beliefs and was declared a witch. She was to be burned at the stake but when the guards tried to light the fire it would not light. Ultimately, she was stabbed.

There are many theories on how the legend of Lucia came to Sweden. It could have been brought by priests, German traders or even by the Vikings in their adventures to southern Europe. No one knows just how it evolved into the uniquely Swedish tradition it is today, and there are many versions of a Swedish Sankta Lucia story.

One popular version is a story of a terrible famine many years ago. On December 13th a well-lit ship on Lake Vannern approached the shore carrying a woman at the helm dressed in white with a glow around her head. Having heard the Italian version the starving people thought it could be Saint Lucia coming to save them from this terrible famine. Many Swedes believe that the Swedish version of the legend has to do only with the fact that Lucia comes from the root word “Lux” which means light.

The tradition of celebrating St. Lucia in Sweden really did not start to evolve until the late 1800’s. Many families today celebrate it in their homes. The eldest daughter dresses in a long white gown with a red ribbon tied at the waist. She dons a crown of fresh greens and lit candles on her head.

Lucia can be attended by younger siblings, girls (attendants) in white robes with tinsel around their waists and heads, and boys (starboys) in white robes, cone hats, and carrying stars. Very early in the morning hours the children serve coffee and Lussekatter (Lucia buns) to all the people in the house while singing traditional Swedish Lucia songs.

Swedes also celebrate St. Lucia Day in local churches, businesses, and schools. Many towns and cities have a Lucia contest for all of the girls who have reached a certain age. Being chosen the town’s Lucia is quite an honor for any young lady.

Here on the northside of Chicago, in Andersonville, there is a Lucia service every year on 13 December at Ebenezer Lutheran Church .

It's not religious, but it's very pretty and festive.  And it's in Swedish.  Ja.  Svea will stay open late to serve the people going to this. I also will recommend Tre Kronor. You will probably need reservations here.

Recipe for Saint Lucia buns - Lussekatter - Saffron buns

300 ml milk
1 g saffron
50 g baker's yeast
150 g sugar
125 g butter or 125 g margarine
700 g all-purpose flour
1 egg
salt
raisins

Melt butter or margarine in a pan and add the milk and the saffron.
Warm the mixture to 37 C (100 F).
Use a thermometer; the correct temperature is important!
Pour the mixture over the finely divided yeast; then add the remaining ingredients (except for the egg and the raisins), which should have a temperature of 21-23 C (72-75 F).
Mix into a smooth dough.
Cover the dough with a piece of cloth and let it rise for 30 minutes.
Knead the dough, divide it into 25-30 pieces and form each piece into a round bun.
Let the buns rest for a few minutes, covered by a piece of cloth.
Form each bun into a string, 15-20 cm long, then arrange the string in a suitable shape,
e.g. an S or double S. Regardless of the shape, the ends of the string should meet.
Press a few raisins into the dough.
Cover the "Lucia cats" with a piece of cloth and let them rise for 40 minutes.
Whip the egg together with a few grains of salt, and paint the"Lucia cats" with the mixture.
Bake them for 5-10 minutes in the oven at 250 C (475 F) until golden brownish yellow.

© Trish Korous | 2010

©Trish Korous | 2014