December 13th is the Feast of St. Lucy, also known as St. Lucia Day (Luciadagen) in Sweden.
In Sweden, the oldest daughter of a family will wake up before dawn on St. Lucy's Day and dress in a white gown for purity, often with a red sash as a sign of martyrdom. On her head she will wear a wreath of greenery and lit candles, and she is often accompanied by "starboys," her small brothers who are dressed in white gowns and cone-shaped hats that are decorated with gold stars, and carrying star-tipped wands. "St. Lucy" will go around her house and wake up her family to serve them special St. Lucy Day foods." ~ Fisheaters
Since our second daughter celebrates one of her "namedays" on this feast, she and our oldest share the honors. :-)
I just noticed that our St. Lucy links and ideas are scattered all over, between our past St. Lucia Day Celebrations (2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 Eve & Morning), our Little Flowers Meeting on St. Lucy, and "L Week" for the Alphabet Path, so I thought I would try and organize them into one post and add a few ideas from others as well.
Note: I've had this post in my draft file for awhile now, but just didn't have a chance to finish it up... I think I have all the links I've added so far in place, but I will probably come back when I have time to add a few more. Happy St. Lucia Day!
~ Recipes ~
- Bake Saint Lucia's Braided Bread.
- Serve Cuccia, St. Lucy Wheat, for breakfast.
- Make St. Lucia Buns, Lussekatter. (I'd love to hear if any one has any tips on where to buy affordable saffron threads. I had to scratch it off my shopping list the other day when a small packet was priced at $19.99.)
- Bake Gingerbread Cookies. (We will be having some this afternoon while we color and read a few books!)
- Serve Coffee.
- For a quick and easy alternative, you can do like we did back in 2007 and serve donuts for as an alternative to the crown shaped sweet bread, or shape canned cinnamon roll dough into St. Lucia Buns.
~ Sing ~
Sing "Santa Lucia:"
The silver star shines on the sea,
the waves are gentle,
the wind is favourable.
Come to my swift little boat!
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
O dear Naples, o blessed land,
where creation was pleased to smile!
Come to my swift little boat!
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
Sing the following to the tune of "Are You Sleeping?":
O, Saint Lucia,
O, Saint Lucia,
Wearing white,
Lighting up the darkest
Lighting up the darkest
Winter night,
Winter night.
Print a Saint Lucia Puppet Song and Coloring Picture.
~ Story-time ~
In our Basket:
Lucia, Saint of Light
is a new addition to our collection this year and it is such a wonderful book to own. However, we have listened to this story before. If you don't have access to the book, you can download and/or play a podcast of it here! (Updated with correct link!)
is a new addition to our collection this year and it is such a wonderful book to own. However, we have listened to this story before. If you don't have access to the book, you can download and/or play a podcast of it here! (Updated with correct link!)From the Library:
Looks intersting:
~ Crafts & Activities ~
- You can make a St. Lucia Day lantern using this pdf excerpt from Ann Ball's Catholic Traditions in Crafts
.
- Download a St. Lucia Paper Doll complete with two outfits - and of course - a crown!
- Hand-paint a St. Lucy Wooden Doll!
- I think I am going to paint a couple Star boys to go with our Santa Lucia Doll!
- Make Santa Lucia Peg Dolls.
- Make a Scandinavian Christmas Crown.
- Sew a beautiful St. Lucy Crown (As Cozy as Spring) out of felt or this one from JOYfilled Family.
- Print and put together paper Santa Lucia Crowns & Hats. (This is the first year we haven't made these! Here is the link to our paper crowns.)
~ Coloring Pages & Copywork ~
- Color St. Lucy of Syracuse and St. Lucia with Star Boy from Waltzing Matilda.
- Create a Saint Lucia Paper Dolls from Paper Dali.
- Fenestrae Fidei: A Coloring Companion for Catholic Mosaic also has a beautiful coloring page, if you own this great resource.
- Copywork Page I created at Writing Wizard using a quote from An Alphabet of Catholic Saints
.
- Create a St. Lucy Notebook page highlighting the virtue of Loyalty.
~ Prayers to St. Lucy ~
Saint Lucy, you did not hide your light under a basket, but let it shine for the whole world, for all the centuries to see. We may not suffer torture in our lives the way you did, but we are still called to let the light of our Christianity illumine our daily lives. Please help us to have the courage to bring our Christianity into our work, our recreation, our relationships, our conversation every corner of our day. Amen.
O glorious Santa Lucia, who combined the profession of faith with the glory of martyrdom, help us to openly profess the truths of the Gospel and to walk in faith according to the teachings of our Savior.Oh Virgin of Syracuse, be thou the light in our life and the model for our actions so that, after following in thy footsteps here on earth, we can rejoice together with thee in the vision of our Lord. Amen.
O glorious Santa Lucia, who combined the profession of faith with the glory of martyrdom, help us to openly profess the truths of the Gospel and to walk in faith according to the teachings of our Savior.Oh Virgin of Syracuse, be thou the light in our life and the model for our actions so that, after following in thy footsteps here on earth, we can rejoice together with thee in the vision of our Lord. Amen.
Relying on Your goodness, O God, we humbly ask you, by the intercession of your servant, Saint Lucy, to give perfect vision to our eyes, that we may serve for your greater honor and glory. And we pray for the salvation of our souls in this world, that we may come to the enjoyment of the unfailing light of the Lamb of God in heaven. St. Lucy, virgin and martyr, hear our prayers and answer our petitions. Amen.
Sancta Lucia, Ora Pro Nobis!
Sancta Lucia, Ora Pro Nobis!
