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Santa Lucia (St Lucy’s Day) 13th December

7th December 2017 By Louise Leave a Comment

Lucia is a magnificent advent tradition in Sweden, for the music, white gowns, candles and the sheer beauty of the event – it is definitely worth seeing if you can, you won’t have to go far to find a Lucia celebration in Scandinavia at this time of year.

In the past, the feast of Lucia was celebrated during the Winter Solstice and while it continues to happen during the darkest part of the year, December 13th is the day officially given to Lucia in Sweden – with the days around it also being used to celebrate this festival of light.

Quite how St. Lucy worked her way into Swedish tradition is unclear but it can be traced back to Saint Lucia of Syracuse, (one of my favourite Italian places). December 13th was the shortest day of the year under the Julian calendar, which Sweden followed until the 18th century.

In today’s Swedish Lucia procession, the girl with the candle wreath is Lucia herself, the bright red band around her waist is said to symbolise purity. The other girls in white robes are her bridesmaids.

The Lucia procession traditionally would be held at home, with lots of singing and the girls and boys serving coffee and saffron buns and biscuits to their parents. The boys are star boys, known as “stjärngossar” They wear the long white robes too, but instead of the crowns, they wear white, pointy hats.

Lussekatter are traditionally eaten on the day of Lucia, these sweet yeasted rolls are served during the Christmas season, they are flavoured with golden saffron and juicy raisins and shaped into ‘Lucia cats’ These buns are also served at Glögg parties, a delicious and moorish mulled wine.

 

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Filed Under: General Tagged With: christmas, festival, festive, jul, nordic, saffron, santa lucia, scandi, scandinavian

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About Louise

Hej, I'm Louise, a food enthusiast living in Marlow, Bucks, UK. Welcome to my culinary adventures in my Nordic Kitchen. Read More

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I had the pleasure of making and delivering this w I had the pleasure of making and delivering this wedding cake to @sircharlesnapier yesterday. What a gorgeous setting (I’ve popped a couple of photos on stories).

This was served for dessert, so was filled with a seasonal gooseberry and elderflower compote then coated in Lemon Swiss Meringue Buttercream.
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A dish that works for any summer gathering and a g A dish that works for any summer gathering and a great Midsummer alfresco meal. Easy to BBQ too.

Have a great weekend friends.

Pepper Spiced Roasted Salmon with Garden Vegetable Salad.

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Green salsa
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Bake the salmon for 20-25 minutes or until just cooked through. Serve with roasted new potatoes a seasonal salad. And quick pickled red onions.
Glad Midsommar🇸🇪 I love where I live but Sw Glad Midsommar🇸🇪

I love where I live but Sweden is the place to be on Midsummer’s Eve. 

Always celebrated on the Friday (between 19-25 June and a National holiday)  A day filled with flower crowns (midsommarkransar), dancing, singing and a sun that never sets. 

And of course there’s plenty of food, cold beer and schnapps, preferably spiced. 
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Watch out for my next post in a few hours…
I promised a few recipes for midsummer…let’s s I promised a few recipes for midsummer…let’s start with dessert: a super light summer berry cake with fresh cream with a hint of vanilla.

I have made a video to show you exactly how to make this cake on stories, which I’ll save to highlights.

🍓Swedish Midsummer Berry Cake🍓

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