December 13 - Christmas in Sweden! Saint Lucia Day!
St. Lucia was an Italian saint who has been "adopted" by the people of Sweden. Christmas celebrations in Sweden begin on her feast day, which is the 13th of December. Prior to the introduction of the Gregorian calendar, that date was the shortest day of the year and in some regions of Scandinavia the sun didn't rise at all. Lucia is the patron saint of light, and legend tells us she wore a wreath of candles on her head to free her arms to carry bread to starving Christians hiding in the catacombs. She is, to this day, revered as the patron saint of the blind because of her association with light. Her place in Swedish legend was earned because farmers in the middle ages believed she walked across a lake to deliver armloads of bread to starving members of their villages during a famine. They reported her path across the water was illuminated by the crown of candles she wore on her head. Lucia's name is synonymous with light and her crown symbolizes the light of faith and the promise of the sun's return.
Read: Lucia Morning in Sweden by Ewa Rydaker
Also read: Hanna's Christmas by Melissa Peterson (limited prints, look at thrift stores)
Extra books:
Christmas in Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren
Counting Sweden – Räkna med Sverige: A bilingual counting book with fun facts about Sweden for kids by Linda Liebrand
Additional Books About Sweden for kids:
Lapland Friends: An Adventure in Sweden (Disney's Small World Library by Walt Disney Company
Paint: Make Scandinavian Fabric Stars
Scan QR Codes for Videos Tutorials for this.
They are similar to the Froebel Stars we made Day 9-10
Cook: Saint Lucia Saffron Buns or Braided Circle Loaf, or a Braided Wreath. I wanted to include 3 most popular recipes for you to try. Those recipes are now found in our 3rd Edition Lesson plans! :)
Cook: St. Lucia Saffron Buns
Learn more about this wonderful celebration in Sweden:
Extra: Listen to the Swedish language, and learn more about Saint Lucia Day in Sweden in this video below:
This Lesson Pairs well with our Hygge Christmas Special, Adventures in Scandinavia!
It includes 3 Scandinavian Recipes, and 3 Learning packs of Reindeer, Dala Horse, and Gnomes! Dive deeper in Swedish Christmas time, plus so much more!
Be sure to also check out this beautiful FREE Lesson all about Saint Lucia Day from my friend Josie @onwillowsbend who has some lovely hands on projects you and your children may love to dive into today, or this month!
Click on this image to check out @onwillowsbend original post about her FREE Saint Lucia Day Lesson!