This Sunday is a special day — especially for Swedes. It is the feast day of Saint Lucy, known as Santa Lucia in Swedish and Santa Lucia in Italian. The day is not only celebrated in Sweden. Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway also mark the day.
The day is a celebration of light in the midst of darkness and actually has its roots — as do many Christian festivals — in pagan traditions.
I've placed a nice video on this page of the song being sung in a traditional Swedish setting — some beautiful harmonies going on there. Yes, those are real candles the Lucia is wearing.
In Sweden, just about every town chooses a "Lucia" each year to lead a traditional procession — usually with a crown of candles on her head. The Lucia maidens who accompany her are escorted by boys who sing "Staffansvisor (Stephen Songs)" commemorating St. Stephen, who also has a feast day in December. And just about every IKEA store around the world has a Lucia procession.
The carol that is traditionally used is "Santa Lucia", originally a Neopolitan carol (that is, from Naples, Italy). Tomorrow, the Multe Music show/podcast, Lucia Light, will be devoted to music about light, the Lucia celebration and will include different versions of Lucia and Steffan songs.
It some areas and homes, it is traditional that the oldest girl in the family serves Lussekatter (Lucia buns) to her family in bed early on the morning of St. Lucia's Day. If you can't take the time to make the buns from scratch, do what I did growing up — just make some easy to bake cinnamon rolls from your grocer's cold case. Put them on a tray with freshly made cups of coffee/tea/cider and a candle (to drive away the darkness). It's a fun tradition for young girls (and boys!) to do and a big hit with family members!
Here are some of the lyrics to the hymn in Swedish and English:
Natten går tunga fjät
rund gård och stuva;
kring jord, som sol förlät,
skuggorna ruva.
Då i vårt mörka hus,
stiger med tända ljus,
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.Natten går stor och stum
nu hörs dess vingar
i alla tysta rum
sus som av vingar.
Se, på vår tröskel står
vitklädd med ljus i hår
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.Mörkret ska flykta snart
ur jordens dalar
så hon ett underbart
ord till oss talar.
Dagen ska åter ny
stiga ur rosig sky
Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.
And in English:
Night walks with a heavy step
Round yard and hearth,
As the sun departs from earth,
Shadows are brooding.
There in our dark house,
Walking with lit candles,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!Night walks grand, yet silent,
Now hear its gentle wings,
In every room so hushed,
Whispering like wings.
Look, at our threshold stands,
White-clad with light in her hair,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!Darkness shall take flight soon,
From earth's valleys.
So she speaks
Wonderful words to us:
A new day will rise again
From the rosy sky…
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
