Scandinavium #7: St. Lucy's Day (Luciadagen)

Today is St. Lucy's Day (Luciadagen), which apparently is a widely celebrated event in Scandinavia. My first introduction to the event was through a traditional freshly baked raisin bread roll from my project manager.

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You know it's a serious thing if people get up early to bake bread for it.

Another tradition is the carrying of candles or wearing a crown or wreath of candles, representing the lore of St. Lucy's work that earned her martyrdom and sainthood. Primarily, the story goes that she carried food to Christians being sheltered in catacombs from prosecution and she wore a wreath or crown of candles so that she could use both hands to carry the food. The tastes of simple food and the bearing of light into darkness call forth striking and symbolic imagery characteristic of Christian legends. It's apt in these days of long darkness, despite the full moon, and particularly in tonight's deep and cold winter fog.

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The line of streetlights are not unlike a procession of twinned candle bearers.

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Even the high full moon struggles to break through the fog. It's brighter as a point through the camera's detector than it was by the naked eye, which saw less brightness and more contrast.

You can learn more about St. Lucy's Day on Wikipedia.