I went up 8 to see on the Swedish television our lovely tradition of Lucia….ahhhaa. Every 13th of december when I was little my mother and I sneaked up early in the morning and went to friends of ours and sang Lucia and Christmas songs. As I got older, I sang for old people in hospitals and of course in our churches back were I grew up. I love this tradition that we have in Sweden. Its dark, cold, snow and cosy – and me was coming in to houses where old people lived, singing songs with lights in my blond hair…. Wonderful!
A little Vero, 4years old with electric-light candles in her hair, ready to step outside and singi singi…
So, today is Saint Lucia’s Day, celebrated all over Scandinavia and by scandinavian-americans in USA. The tradition has both christian and pre-christian roots and the celebration marks the return of the light. /source: This is Scandinavia
Sweden
St. Lucia’s Day is not an official holiday in Sweden, it is a popular occasion in Sweden. The evening and night before (so called ”Lusse-vigil”) The Lucia Day is a notoriously noisy time. High school students often celebrate by partying all through the night. At many universities, students hold big formal dinner parties since this is the last chance to celebrate together before most students go home to their families for Christmas.
The Swedish lyrics to the Neapolitan song Santa Lucia have traditionally been either Natten går tunga fjät (The Night walks with heavy steps) or Santa Lucia, ljusklara hägring (Saint Lucy, bright mirage). There is also a modern version with simpler lyrics for children: Ute är mörkt och kallt (Outside it’s dark and cold). Source/ Wikipedia.
A typical sweet Lucia !
I saw our Swedish Filippa Lagerback of course were also a Lucia back in the days…. now living in Italy since she was 19…
Swedish Lucia voting in 1987, I think ( at least it says it back on the pic) Can you believe its my cousin Ulrika on the right..hihihi…and a friend from Umea Annika Davidsson on the left. I think Annika WON that year to become the Swedish Lucia… for sure she won, Miss World Sweden in 1988 :)) !!!
” Annika remind me if Im wrong about the year…hihihi ”
GLAD SANKTA LUCIA TILL ALLA I SVERIGE !!!!