St. Lucy

Being raised in a Protestant family in the Midwest, I was until recently,
unaware of the history and background of many saints, which I now
find fascinating. As I was putting a St. Lucy ornament on tree, a gift
from The Netherlands, I realized I knew nothing about her and thought
it might be an interesting post. Saint Lucy was born to a noble family
in late third century Sicily. When she refused to marry a pagan, he
denounced her to the governor, who condemned her to death. It is said
that her eyes were plucked out and presented to her suitor before her
death, since he had always admired them. (Ick!!) Because her name
means "light" she soon became the great patron saint of the "light of
the body", the eyes. Under the Gregorian calender, her feast day fell
on the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice. Now it is observed
on December 13, where in Sweden, the eldest daughters of a
household, kick off the Christmas season by dressing in white gowns
and wear wreaths of candles on their heads as they awaken the family
with coffee, pastries and song. It sounds lovely, doesn't it?

Here is Swedish artist, Carl Larsson's depiction of St. Lucy's day,
Lucia, 1908. Funny, it reminds me of Goya's candle hat. Below is
a Swedish girls choir singing the charming Santka Lucia.