Bluecat Posted December 16, 2010 Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 Well the 13th was St Lucy's day, as in "Tis the year's midnight and the day's,Lucie's, that scarce seven hours herself unmasks" (John Donne from memory and therefore perhaps not quite right).My lovely Swedish-speaking Finnish friend sent me this. St Lucy and the festival of the bringing of light is a big thing in Sweden.The funny thing for me, having lived in Naples in Italy, is that I know Santa Lucia rather differently. It's the same tune though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluecat Posted December 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sky Posted December 16, 2010 Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 When I was a little girl, being of Swedish decent, my dad had told me a little bit about Santa Lucia... so that morning I dressed in a sheet and had candles and took them breakfast... (from what my father said was part of the tradition).. .I got is sooooooooo much trouble for having sheets and candles near each other... lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluecat Posted December 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 When I was a little girl, being of Swedish decent, my dad had told me a little bit about Santa Lucia... so that morning I dressed in a sheet and had candles and took them breakfast... (from what my father said was part of the tradition).. .I got is sooooooooo much trouble for having sheets and candles near each other... lolWell, you can see their reasoning Sky! When I was a little girl at a Roman Catholic Primary school, we had a procession with candles (in daylight - who knows why?) in honour of the Virgin Mary, and Mary Silver's hair caught fire. Horrible, horrible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RevRainbow Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 (edited) Oh yeah, I remember the candlelight processions, especially at Christmas when I sung in the boys choir. And it's hard to imagine that folks put lit candles on the trees! Wow, I wouldnt even think of doing that now! Of course, those electric lights that fizzled and popped on our real tree wasnt much better now that I think of it. Ah, childhood. Edited December 17, 2010 by RevRainbow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fawzo Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 Thanks Bluecat!That woman with the candles on her head was really hot! My favorite Christmas Eve besides the time I swear I saw Santa and his Sleigh and renderer's fly over my roof as a kid was when I sang in the choir at midnight mass. The words Santa Lucia are very familiar to me but I don't remember any such procession as a young Saintly Catholic. I do remember the Virgin Mary one that Sky referenced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chi Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 When celebrated at home I understand that it is the oldest daughter that wears the crown of candles on her head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluecat Posted December 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 The words Santa Lucia are very familiar to me but I don't remember any such procession as a young Saintly Catholic. I do remember the Virgin Mary one that Sky referenced.The "Sankta Lucia" procession here is in a Lutheran church in Sweden. I don't know much about Lutherans, except they don't go much in for saints (certainly not compared with RCs), but St Lucy is very important in Sweden: one of the few saints to survive the Reformation there. These are the words:Natten går tunga fjät runt gård och stuvakring jord som soln förlät skuggorna ruvaDå i vårt mörka hus stiger med tända ljusSankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia(thanks to Malle)Anyone read Swedish?The "Santa Lucia" that most people know is the Neapolitan version. Same tune, but the words are all about how great Naples is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sky Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 (edited) The night is heavy footsteps around the house and stow surrounding soil solna forgave the shadows brood Then in our dark house rises with lit candles Santa Lucia, Santa LuciaFrom google translate... Edited December 17, 2010 by Sky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RevRainbow Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 Why is it that I can only envision Barney Fife singing Santa Lucia? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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