t's drawing close to Christmas, and Sweden is the land where you are woken up in the dark early morning of December 13 by a young white-clad maiden standing beside your bed with lighted candles in her hair singing the traditional song and offering you coffee and buns.
She is Lucia.
The origin of the Lucia tradition is hidden in darkness, but Lussi (or as we call her Lucia) was supposed to be the queen of the ghosts who appeared around mid winter.
Not until the Roman Catholic church had established itself in Sweden, was the old Lussi tradition linked to the third century Italian saint Lucia.
The Lucia celebration, which is a festival of light, is the most popular Christmas tradition in Sweden and among Swedes in Vancouver. In Sweden, every school, every business, every organization and almost every family celebrate Lucia in the morning of December 13th.
Ticket go on sale October 1st.
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