Saint Lucia – A Lightbearer in the Darkness?

This week I tell you the story of Saint Lucia in English for all my International, Philippine and also Swedish friends.

Lucia is a pure Swedish tradition and is celebrated each year on the 13th of December in remembrance of holy Saint Lucia, although very few nowadays know the actual original reason. It is also celebrated among Swedish minorities in other countries such as the rest of Scandinavia but also USA and even Italy, even if the Italian version looks completely different.

As usual this tradition probably has something to do with a mix of Catholicism and ancient pagan beliefs; Sweden was after all Catholic between the 10th and the 16th century when it was replaced by Protestantism.

Every town, city, province and school vote for their own representative as Lucia as well as for a nation wide Swedish Lucia. There will be Lucia processions with choirs all over Sweden with the Lucia, maids and star boys singing. Broadcastings will be sent on TV as well as on Radio and local processions will visit schools, workplaces, elderly homes, malls etc. Saffron buns and Ginger cookies will be served along with coffee or mulled wine.

I have tracked down a very nice and short part of the Saint Lucia broadcasting from Mora in the province of Dalarna 2007, if you want to get a grip of the atmosphere. Just follow this link: Happy Lucia!

A deeper analysis tells that Virgin Lucia was born 283 AD and died 304 AD in Syracuse Sicily, Italy, where she suffered the martyr’s death under emperor Diocletianus. Apparently she asked God for help when she was promised in marriage by her mother. The mother then suffered hemophilia so they made a pilgrimage to Catania where Saint Agata revealed herself claiming the mother would be cured because of Lucia’s great faith. In return for her life the mother then liberated Lucia from the promised marriage which upset the suitor who reported her to the governor of Christian persecution.

Virgin Lucia was arrested, tortured and sentenced to serve as a prostitute at a brothel. On the way there the wagon was glued to the ground by a mysterious force. They then poured boiling oil on Lucia but she was not harmed whereby someone in pure desperation drove a sword through her neck; still she refused to die until she got the sacrament. The legend tells that she before her death tore her eyes out and had them sent to her betrothed whereby the Mother of God replaced them with new and even more beautiful ones.

Virgin Lucia is the patronage for the blind, the sick children, prostitutes who repent, weavers and others. Her attributes are a martyr palm leaf, a sword and eyes on a plate and her relics can be seen in the San Geremia Church of Venice.

According to another anecdote Lucia wore lights in her hair bringing down food to all the poor prisoners in the dungeons. This is probably not true, but maybe Lucia this year can bring some light into the lives of all those who feel worried about their future in Sweden under the present liberal-capitalistic hostile-to-the-weak government and all changes that are imminent? As well as to you and me in our effort to make a contribution in the uphill battle for economic and social justice and equality!

Source: Wikipedia.

Compassion Socialism Justice

Promotion: Politometern Intressant