It’s not a coincidence that there are many festivals in the wintertime throughout the world, especially in the northern hemisphere, and all include candles. The northern hemisphere has more land area and so there are more people living here – and when the Sun is happily shining into the south, the north is getting darker and darker… And people need something to cheer up and survive the dark periods – so there are many festivals during this time and all are accompanied by light, candles etc… and usually gifts and food – and of course – candles.
St. Lucia day
Her day is on December 13, but in Scandinavia, all celebrations happen the eve before. City processions start with choosing their St. Barbara designee, school and kindergartens close at noon so families can celebrate together. Girls are dressed in white with red sashes and (usually) the oldest daughter wears the wreath with burning candles on her head and serves sweet safron plaits called “lussekatter” and coffee. St. Lucia also brings papperkakor (gignersnap cookies, similar to speculoos) to people in hospitals and nursing homes.
This is a Scandinavian tradition. While Santa Lucia is a known saint in the Christian religion, it is by far most celebrated in Scandinavia where the Christian legend is very much intertwined with the ancient pagan celebration of the solstice.
Christmas wheat
An old Slavic tradition also has its roots in pagan celebrations at solstice and is still practised widely in our little country. We sew wheat that has to grow until Christmas – a popular date for this is St. Barbara’s (4th), Mary’s (8th) or St. Lucy’s (13th). Our kids usually saw it into a shallow dish, lined with cotton wool but man uses sawdust, soil, moss or vermiculite as well.
Sometimes the substrate can be shaped in funny heads and similar – and you just have to water it to grow. Or you can make your own green-haired monster from stocking, soil and some googly eyes. We, however, always use this pan we can’t use for anything else because the Teflon lining has chipped). but it really looks nice once the wheat grows.
Very Arty Fairy 