Sunday, December 13, 2020

Sankta Lucia.. The Winter Solstice .. Northern Hemisphere.

Lucia of Siracusa
Saint Lucia's Day is on December 13.  This feast once coincided with the Winter Solstice.  It has become a festival of light.

St. Lucia’s Day is celebrated in Scandinavia with their long dark winters.

A young women is dressed in a beautiful white dress.  Draped around her waist is a red ribbon sash.  The red is symbolic of martyrdom.  The girl carries palm fronds and she precariously wears a wreath circlet with candles attached on her head.

In the countries of Sweden and Norway it is traditional now for a group of young girls to dress as Lucy and carry rolls and biscuits with them in a procession while singing songs.

Celebrating St Lucia's Day is said to bring favor to endure the long winter with enough light.  

In America, the Swedish American Society of West Michigan honours this festival on the first Saturday of the month of December each year.

December 13 is the feast day of Sankta Lucia, the patron saint of Sweden. Until the Pope Gregory XII made the Gregorian calendar official in AD 1582, the winter solstice fell on December 13-Lucia’s feast day. Lucia (Lucy) was actually an Italian, she is celebrated in certain parts of Italy, but she is most associated with the Nordic countries. 

Read More Here : Sankta Lucia: The Survival of a Nordic Sun Goddess 

Modern Traditions have the eldest daughter dressing up and making the coffee and serving rolls dressed in the classic white dress with red ribbon.  

More Images @ Eminpee Fotography

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