The Little Book of Christmas by Dominique Foufelle

Author:Dominique Foufelle
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Chronicle Books LLC
Published: 2017-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHRISTMAS IN SWEDEN

SAINT LUCY IS CELEBRATED IN THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

On the first Sunday of Advent in Sweden, people put a wreath on their door and set stars, Christmas figures, and burning candles in their windows to welcome Jul Tomte, the Christmas elf. Gifts are enhanced with cards bearing a few lines composed by the giver. But the greatest attention is given to honoring Saint Lucy, who is linked to light and celebrated on the thirteenth of December. Many legends surround this saint, who died a martyr in 304. One tells that she would bring food at night to Christians hiding in the catacombs, having freed her hands by wearing a wreath of candles. Such candle wreaths are found in Sweden in December, worn by young girls dressed all in white who go through the streets on the saint’s day, followed in procession by boys wearing tall pointed hats. Like Saint Lucy herself, the girls give away saffron cakes. Christmas festivities finish up on Saint Knut’s Day, the thirteenth of January. The Vikings used to perform sacrifices on this same date. Now people in Sweden prefer to dance around the Christmas tree before taking it down on this day, but first they eat the cookies and candies that decorated it.

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