St Lucia Strathspey

Saint Lucy's Day

Dec 13

Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day

St Lucia Strathspey

Today's Musings, History & Folklore

"🎶 So she speaks a Wonderful Word to us:
A new day will rise again From the rosy sky…
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia."

~ Santa Lucia, Traditional (Swedish Translation)

Raid the pantry for lingonberries and saffron buns—it's time to dance and indulge in St. Lucy's Day delights! This cherished feast day, celebrated in many countries, especially Italy, Croatia, and Scandinavia, marks a special moment in the Yule season. Originally aligned with the solstice on the Julian calendar, St. Lucy's Day is rich with traditions that symbolize hope and renewal. In keeping with custom, girls dress in flowing white gowns adorned with red sashes and wear crowns of candles set upon wreaths of evergreen lingonberries, representing life emerging after winter's darkness. Children join in the festive spirit, dressing as Swedish tomtar (gnomes), gingerbread men, and stjärngossar ("star boys"), and participating in joyful caroling processions. No St. Lucy's Day celebration is complete without its iconic treats: Pepparkakor (ginger snap biscuits) and Lussekatter (golden saffron buns). Dance through the day and savor these festive flavors—recipe included with the dance, an elegant 40 bar 4 couple strathspey which contains the "St Lucia exchange" figure, an exchange of ALL dancers from 2 wheels at the top and bottom of the set, setting one in mind of the beautiful lingonberry wreaths ! ❤️ 🤍 💚 💛 👑 🕯️🕯️🕯️🎄

Saint Lucy's Day, celebrated on the 13th of December commemorates a 3rd-century martyr who according to legend brought "food and aid to Christians hiding in the catacombs" using a candle-lit wreath to "light her way and leave her hands free to carry as much food as possible"

Saint Lucy's Day is tied also to the pre-Christian holidays of the Yule season, and originally coincided with the Winter Solstice. Due to discrepancies in the change from the Julian to the Gregorian calendars, though the solstice now occurs later in the calendar year, the celebration retained its original December 13th date. It has been referred to as "Little Yule."

In more ancient times, the Yule season was not only a time for feasting, drinking, gift-giving, and gatherings, but also a season of awareness and fear of the forces of the dark, yielding a darker counterpart to the customs and traditions which developed later.

Lussinatta, December 13th, was a night in which Lussi, a female being with evil traits, was said to ride through the air with her followers, called Lussiferda.

Between Lussi Night and Yule, trolls and evil spirits, in some accounts also the spirits of the dead, were thought to be active outside. It was believed to be particularly dangerous to be out during Lussi Night. According to tradition, children who had done mischief had to take special care, since Lussi could come down through the chimney and take them away, and certain tasks of work in the preparation for Yule had to be finished, or else the Lussi would come to punish the household.

The tradition of Lussevaka – to stay awake through the Lussinatt to guard oneself and the household against evil, has found a modern form through throwing parties until daybreak.

Today, Saint Lucy's Day is most commonly celebrated in Scandinavia and in Italy. Saint Lucy (called Santa Lucia in Norwegian and Sankta Lucia in Swedish) is represented as a lady in a white dress (a symbol of a Christian's white baptismal robe) and red sash (symbolizing the blood of her martyrdom) with a crown or wreath of candles on her head.

In Norway, Sweden and Swedish-speaking regions of Finland, as songs are sung, girls dressed as Saint Lucy carry cookies and saffron buns (Lussekatt) in a procession, which "symbolizes bringing the light of Christianity throughout the world's darkness."

For a traditional recipe for St. Lucy Buns, click the vintage postcard.

Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!