Celebrate
In Sweden in the middle ages, Lucy began to be celebrated for – as the story goes – saving the Swedish people from famine. On the darkest night of the year while the people were on the brink of starvation, a woman, surrounded by unearthly light, sailed onto Lake Vannern. Once she landed, she unloaded bags of wheat which lasted the entire winter. This is one reason Lucy is so extravagantly celebrated in Scandinavian countries!
Traditionally on St. Lucy's Day, the eldest daughter wakes early, dons a white robe and candle crown, and serves St. Lucy’s Buns (also known as saffron buns, lussekatter, and St. Lucia buns - recipe below!) to the rest of her family in their beds. St. Lucia Buns are shaped to look like a pair of eyes as Lucy is the patron saint of the blind.
If serving homemade baked goods in bed is out of the realm of possibilities for your family in this season, enjoy some store-bought cinnamon rolls around the dining table (perhaps allow your oldest girl to serve them!). If December 13 is a weekday and St. Lucia buns just aren’t possible on a school morning, feel free to defer the celebration to the nearest weekend.
