today at work we had Lucia celebrations. It is a tradition here in Sweden of having a white-dressed woman with candles in her hair appearing on the morning of the Lucia day. Lucia and her maids is wearing a white gown with a red sash and a crown of candles on her head, she walks at the head of a procession of women, each holding a candle. The candles symbolize the fire that refused to take St. Lucia's life when she was sentenced to be burned.
At most Schools they appoint a Lucia every year often with blond hair even though Lucia from the beginning is Italian and had dark hair...
They boys and girls sang beautifully and afterwards we had Lussebullar (Saffron bread). A really good day to work at a school! I think this is the first time in many year that I've celebrated Lucia!
Today we are taking the cat and driving to Mr J's parents. Will take many great photos of the snow!!!that we have. I'll be back on Sunday!
Ps. Non of the picture are from my school. I found all the pictures on flickr!
3 comments:
Underbart collage, tack för att du valde mina lusssekatter :-)
Lucia-traditionen i Sverige har sina rötter redan innan landet blev kristnat... Innan Lucia... Sedan var det ju praktiskt att ha ett helgon att applicera traditionen på... Det röda skärpet lär representera martyrdöden t.ex.
Förr i tiden ansåg man nämligen den 13:e december vara årets längsta natt... så då gällde det att vaka för att hålla onda makter borta, och be för att ljuset skulle komma åter.
Det är spännande med traditioner, vad de har för rötter, hur de förändras och tar nya skepnader!
What a lovely story!
We have in my native city, Lyon the Illuminations - everyone puts candles on their window sill on 8th december. It is an hommage to Mary as the town's prayers to stop the plague were answered in 1643. I'm sorry I missed the date this year...
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