{"id":260,"date":"2011-12-13T23:30:07","date_gmt":"2011-12-13T23:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/danish\/?p=260"},"modified":"2011-12-14T01:54:03","modified_gmt":"2011-12-14T01:54:03","slug":"santa-lucia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/danish\/2011\/12\/13\/santa-lucia\/","title":{"rendered":"Santa Lucia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lights off. Everyone is fidgetting in anticipation, stealing glimpses of friends\u2019 silhouettes in the dusk of the room. Suddenly a clear note breaks the silence, then another; the ringing sound of young girls\u2019 voices echoes through the shadows and becomes a song: Nu b\u00e6res lyset frem\u2026<\/strong> Now the light is carried forth\u2026\u00a0<\/em>Enters the choir, five or six girls walking in a row, all clad in white robes. In their right hand they carry a white candle, illuminating the darkness while they sing. The foremost girl carries a garland on her head, from which four or more candles are towering. The audience is struck with awe.<\/p>\n

A similar scene takes place in Danish children\u2019s schools and kindergartens every year on December 13, the Luciadag<\/strong>. A relatively fresh tradition in Denmark \u2013 it seems to have been introduced from neighbouring Sweden in the 1940\u2019ies \u2013 it has nothing to do with Christmas. \u201dSanta Lucia<\/strong>\u201d, the children sing repeatedly in the refrain. Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia<\/em>. As you may know, Denmark is mostly a Protestant country, and there are no saints in Protestantism. So what\u2019s going on?<\/p>\n

Historically, the tradition goes back to a Sicilian woman who became executed because of her Christian faith around the year 200 A.D. But very few Danes actually know the story. As with other imported traditions (like Halloween<\/a>), what really matters to people is the act, not the explanation or cause. In the dark, Nordic winters the whole world is yearning for light \u2013 and then come those little girls (and occasionally boys) carrying flames\u2026<\/p>\n

The Lucia procession is called a luciaoptog<\/strong>, and the girl with the krans<\/strong> (garland) is the luciabrud<\/strong> or \u2019Lucia bride\u2019.\u00a0Luciasangen<\/strong> (the Lucia song) exists in various languages; here you can see the one the Danish children sing:<\/p>\n

Nu b\u00e6res lyset frem<\/strong>
\nNow the light is carried forth<\/em>
\nstolt p\u00e5 din krone<\/strong>
\nproudly on your crown<\/em>
\nrundt om i hus og hjem<\/strong>
\nabout in house and home<\/em>
\nsangen skal tone<\/strong>
\nthe song shall sound<\/em>
\nnu p\u00e5 Lucia-dag<\/strong>
\nnow in the Lucia day<\/em>
\nhilser vort vennelag<\/strong>
\nour company of friens is greeting<\/em>
\nSanta Lucia, Santa Lucia<\/strong>
\nSaint Lucia, Saint Lucia<\/em><\/p>\n

Her ved vor \u00f8nskefest<\/strong>
\nHere at our wish party<\/em>
\nsangen skal klinge<\/strong>
\nthe song shall sound<\/em>
\ngaver til hver en g\u00e6st<\/strong>
\npresents for every guest<\/em>
\nglad vil du bringe<\/strong>
\nyou will bring happily<\/em>
\nsk\u00e6nk os af lykkens v\u00e6ld<\/strong>
\npour us from the well of happiness<\/em>
\nlige til livets kv\u00e6ld<\/strong>
\nright to life\u2019s eve<\/em>
\nSanta Lucia, Santa Lucia<\/strong>
\nSaint Lucia, Saint Lucia<\/em><\/p>\n