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| Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class - Holidays in Norway Series at NorwegianClass101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Norwegian holidays and observances. I’m Michael, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 10 - Saint Lucy’s Day. In Norwegian, it’s called Luciadagen. |
| In Norway, Saint Lucy's Day is celebrated on December 13. Saint Lucy's Day is a mix of two traditions – the Saint Lucia tradition and the Lussi tradition. In this lesson, you will learn about these two traditions and how Norwegians celebrate Saint Lucy's Day. |
| Now, before we get into more detail, do you know the answer to this question- |
| Saint Lucia was said to have fastened a candle to her head. Do you know why? |
| If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening. |
| A long time ago, Norway used a different calendar from the common Gregorian calendar used today. According to the calendar of those days, the night of December 12 to 13 was the longest and darkest time of the year. On this night, people believed that Lussi, a legendary Norwegian demon or witch, and her trolls wandered around the land, checking if people had started their Christmas preparations. If the Christmas preparations had not been started, Lussi would get really angry. An angry Lussi and her trolls would capture people and animals that were out at night, so everyone had to stay indoors to be safe. |
| The second Saint Lucy's Day tradition stems from the Sicilian Saint Lucia. Lucia was born in the year 283. At some point in her life, her Roman father left Lucia and her mother. Unfortunately, her mother became very sick, so Lucia sought help to cure her mother’s illness at a shrine, and an angel appeared in her dream. After this episode, she became a Christian. Lucia wished to help the poor Christian victims who were being persecuted by the Roman authorities at the time, and did various things to assist them. However, the man she was promised to felt betrayed by her actions, and told the authorities about her assistance of the Christians. For this, Lucia was punished and suffered martyrdom. |
| In more recent times, Norwegians have mixed these two traditions to create the modern Day of Lucia. On this day it is now common for children to walk in a Lucia parade or Luciatog in schools, hospitals, and seniors' homes. The children dress up as Lucia, with stearinlys, meaning candles, on their head or as girls holding small candles. The boys that dress up are called star boys, and all of them wear white suits. As they parade, the kids sing a song dedicated to Lucia and pass out lussekatter, which are yellow sweet saffron buns. |
| On Saint Lucy's Day in Norway, everyone eats Lussekatter. This originates from the German tradition, where it is said that a little boy in the shape of Christ passed out yellow buns to good people. Saffron was put in the buns because the devil, who would beat the bad children, didn't like the yellow color. |
| Now it's time to answer our quiz question- |
| Do you know why Saint Lucia fastened a candle to her head? |
| When Lucia walked in the narrow streets underground, she fastened a light to her head to free her hands. With her hands free, she could pass out food and help the Christians that had to hide underground. |
| What did you think of this lesson? Did you learn anything interesting? |
| Do you have any Saint Lucy's Day traditions in your country? |
| Leave us your comments on NorwegianClass101.com, and we'll see you in the next lesson. |
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