OnDecember13th,oneoftheshortestdaysofwinter,girlsinSwedendressupasSantaLuciawearingawhitedressandacrownofcandles.Boyscarryacandleandwearakindofwhitepyjama.Theywearhatsthatarepointywithgoldenstarsonthem.
InSwedenwedonotwearcandlesanymorebecausebeforegirlscaughttheirhaironfireveryoften.Todayweusemoderncandleswithbatteriesinthem.
AfterlunchmostschoolscloseonSantaLuciadayaroundnoon.Itisanationalholidaywhichcomesonthe13thofDecember.TherearealsospecialfoodsforLucia"sDaylikespicygingerbreadbiscuits(姜饼).InbigcitiesinSwedentherearebeautycontestswheresomewomendressupasSantaLuciaandthejudgesandthepeoplevotefortheSantaLuciaoftheyear.InschoolspeoplesingSantaLucia"ssong.ThewordsinSwedishandEnglishareintheright-handcolumn.
WhowasSaintLucia?
SaintLuciawasasaintbecauseofherkindnessandherlove.ShewasanItalianChristianwholivedinSicilyinthe4thcentury.SomepeoplebelievesheoncevisitedSweden.December13thisalsoherfeastday.
ThewayshebecameasaintwasthatamanwholovedherandLuciadidn"tlikehim,Lucia"smotheraskedhertomarrythemanbutsherefusedsothemanheardaboutthisandhesaidhewouldburnher.ButLuciaprayedtoGodtohavethepowertosurvivethefire.Becauseofherkindnesstoothersherwishwasgranted.ThemantriedtoburnherbutshehadthepowertowithstandfiresothemangotaswordandstuckitintoLucia"sthroat.StillLuciasurvivedforthreemorehoursspeakingbeautifulwords.
Thereisalsoanotherstoryforherbeingasaintwhichgoeslikethis.
SaintLuciawasaverykindpersonandtherewasamanwholovedherverymuchbutshedidn"tlikehimverymuch.ThethingthemanlovedmostaboutSaintLuciawashereyes.Thenshegavehimhereyesbutamiraclehappenedshegrewbackhereyesbutthistimetheywereevenmorebeautifulthenever.Themanaskedforthoseeyesbutsherefusedtogivethemsothemanwantedtokillherandhekilledherwithaknifeintoherheart.
SongforSantaLucia(EnglishVersion)
Thenightgoeswithweightysteproundyardandroundearth.Thesun"sdepartureleavesthewoodsbrooding.Thereinourdarkhouse,appearswithlightedcandlesSaintLucia,SaintLucia.
Thenightgoesgreatandmute.Nowonehearsitswingsineverysilentroommurmuringasiffromwings.Lookatourthreshold.Thereshestandswhite-cladwithlightsinherhairSaintLucia,SaintLucia
Thedarknessshallsoondepartfromtheearth"svalleysthusshespeaksawonderfulwordtous.Thedayshallriseanewfromtherosysky.SaintLucia,SaintLucia.