our lucia

St. Lucia's Day is celebrated in Sweden on December 13 during the darkest day of winter. Martyred St Lucia portrays the “bringer of light” at festivals throughout Europe and reminds us of the light Christ’s birth brought to a dark world. Lucia dresses in a white gown and wears a crown of lingonberry leaves in which are set seven lighted candies, symbolizing the promise of the sun's return to the cold darkness of winter. In Swedish homes on Lucia's Day, young girls in the family dress as St. Lucia and present their families with breakfast in bed while singing. That breakfast tray includes mulled cider, cheese, meats, cookies, and St. Lucia Buns or Lussekatter.

Her work begins before dawn on the longest night of winter

and ends with a tired momma, whose Lucia isn't old enough to manage the kitchen on her own yet.