St. Lucia Day- December 13th 2006

These are Luciabulles- A sweet bun made with Saffron and cardamon, they're super delicious and fun to make. I made them with my host-dad last Saturday.


Lucia Bulles are a traditional christmas time bread here in Sweden even though they're often made throughout the year.
They are made around St. Lucia time which is the 13th of December.

Saint Lucia Day

'This Swedish festival of lights helps to brighten up the long winter nights in December. It celebrates the life of a real saint, Lucia, who was known for her kindness and love.'
Sancta Lucia was a saint because of her kindness and her love. She was an Italian Christian who lived in Sicily in the 4th century. Some people believe she once visited Sweden. December 13th is also her feast day.
The way she became a saint was that a man who loved her and Lucia didn't like him, Lucia's mother asked her to marry the man but she refused so the man heard about this and he said he would burn her. But Lucia prayed to God to have the power to survive the fire. Because of her kindness to others her wish was granted. The man tried to burn her but she had the power to withstand fire so the man got a sword and stuck it into Lucia's throat. Still Lucia survived for three more hours speaking beautifal words.
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Saint Lucia Song- I sang this in Domstens Choir

The night goes with weighty step round yard and (stove i.e. house, hearth?) round earth. The sun's departure leaves the woods brooding. There in our dark house, appears with lighted candles Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia.
The night goes great and mute. Now one hears its wings in every silent room murmuring as if from wings. Look at our threshold. There she stands white-clad with lights in her hair Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia
The darkness shall soon depart from the earth's valleys thus she speaks a wonderful word to us. The day shall rise anew from the rosy sky. Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia.

Here is a video of my school 'Santa Lucia Celebration'
You can't really see the people singing very well but their singing was really beautiful.


On Tuesday (the 12th) it was a tradition for all school children to go to their teachers house in the evening and sing Lucia songs while waiting for the 'arrival' of Lucia. That tradition over the years transformed and in the past few years Lucia has been considered to be a night to party and stay up the whole night and go to school the next day.
Because of tragic accidents that were happening because of young people drinking and stuff, the government in Sweden decided that they would sponsor other things that could go on all night that youth would participate in- so for the last few years movie theatres in cities are encouraged to have a lucia evening where they show feature films all night.
SOOO that's what I did. You pay 200:- crowns (32 can) to watch movies from 11:30 at night until 8:30 in the morning. They gave us 'free' popcorn and drinks, lucia bulles, hamburgers and more drinks and we watched 3 movies that are debuting this Friday in Sweden, The Prestige(sooo good), The Holiday (helloooo Jude Law... *drool*) and Deja Vu (I was falling asleep in that one haha)

So Last night was the first time I have slept since Monday evening!!! But it was really fun to celebrate 'Lucia's Arrival'.