Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Santa Lucia




Did you observe St. Lucy's Day?
My parents used to belong to a church with a penchant for Scandinavian culture, and December 13th is the only saints day they recognized. I used to love the white robes and candle-wreath, but it was a girls-only affair so I never got to wear a pointy wizard hat. These days I'm more interested in the pre-christian origins of the celebration.

Photo credits:

Stockholm Club Lucia Fest, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Herman Larson, 1932 (from the Minnesota Digital Library)

Female students dressed for Bethel's Festival of Christmas in St. Lucia costumes, St. Paul, Minnesota
Kurt Christenson, 1980 (from the Minnesota Digital Library)

Luciafeier in einer schwedischen Kirche
Claudia GrĂ¼nder, 2006 (from Wikimedia Commons)

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