To usher in the Christmas season, Windsor residents Mona and Brad Endicott hosted a delightful Swedish Winter Solstice party last Thursday evening, featuring a traditional St. Lucia celebration.
“This is a typical Swedish Christmas; we do it as a family.” said Petra Frisell, Mona Endicott’s daughter. Both women were born in Sweden, and cherish the Nordic tradition. “It’s usually the oldest daughter. My mother did it, I did it and now it’s my own daughter who will do it until her daughter does it.”
At the appointed hour, the lights were dimmed and Eva Frisell, dressed as St. Lucia in a long white gown with a red ribbon at the waist and wearing an evergreen crown of lit candles, led a procession of two young women, a little girl and a little Stjärngossar (star boy), all carefully carrying candles.
As Swedish St. Lucia Christmas carols played in the background, the procession made its way around an inner courtyard aglow with twinkling lights and into the living room, where the ambiance was enhanced by the warmth of candlelight and the glow from a spectacular Christmas tree. Solemn yet enchanting, guests were left with no doubt as to why the charming tradition has endured.
Guests at the festive party also enjoyed a “julbord” buffet of assorted delectable goodies including traditional fare such as gravlax (salmon cured in sugar, salt and dill), shrimp, cheeses and breads, liver pâté and pickles, meatballs and tiny stuffed potatoes.
The story of the young Lucia of Syracuse (283–304 AD) is that she would wear candles on her head to leave her hands free and light her way as she carried food to persecuted Christians hiding in the Roman catacombs around 304 AD. When she would not renounce her Christian faith, authorities attempted to burn her at the stake, and when that wouldn’t work they stabbed her; the stab wounds are symbolized by the red ribbon.
Theories abound as to how an Italian Catholic saint became revered in Sweden, a Lutheran country with pagan influences, but Petra Frisell explained that one of the more likely theories is that she brings light and hope to the dark Nordic winters on the shortest day of the year. Lucia Day is Dec. 13 on the Julian calendar. The lovely tradition began to evolve in the late 1700s and is today celebrated by families and embraced by entire communities.
