Saint Lucia Swedish Celebration
The longest night, the sweet and Blessed Dark, and the Rebirth of the Sun. Perhaps the oldest of all human holy days, and source of many different sacred celebrations. In Sweden it is celebrated with St. Lucia's Day. "Lucia" derives from the Latin word for "Light", and one such story concerns the arrival of a Christian martyr named Lucia who appeared in white, with a crown of light around her head, to give succor to the hungry and suffering. Different stories and traditions surround St. Lucia in different countries, but all focus on central themes of service and light. Lucia symbolizes the coming end of the long winter nights and the return of light to the darkened world.
"To go in the dark with a lightis to know the light.To know the dark, go dark.Go without sight, and findthat the dark, too, blooms and sings,and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings."Wendell Berry