{"id":4840,"date":"2025-12-12T05:48:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T05:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/velkeholky.org\/?p=4840"},"modified":"2025-12-12T10:37:06","modified_gmt":"2025-12-12T10:37:06","slug":"svata-lucie-ta-noc-kdy-se-vracime-k-delsim-dnum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/velkeholky.org\/en\/svata-lucie-ta-noc-kdy-se-vracime-k-delsim-dnum\/","title":{"rendered":"Saint Lucia \u2013 the night when we return to longer days ;)"},"content":{"rendered":"

December 13th. Saint Lucia. A sad and quite crazy story from Italy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the darkness begins to recede<\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n

You know the saying \u2013 \u201e"Lucie will drink the night"?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yeah, I know it's not really valid anymore, since the calendar change and all that... but I just care about it. Because these are the days when I feel something breaking. How the sun starts to set a few seconds later. How the light starts to fight back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that's exactly what I love about Lucia \u2013 it's such a quiet hope. It's still dark, it's still cold, but we're slowly turning things around. It's already going up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"candle,<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Saint Lucia \u2013 light amidst darkness<\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Honestly \u2013 the story of Saint Lucia is harsh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The story of Saint Lucy of Syracuse (died 304 AD), celebrated on December 13 and patron saint of the blind, is a profound lesson in the power of inner conviction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although she came from a well-off family, Lucy gave away her wealth to the poor, thus renouncing earthly security in favor of a spiritual path. This choice led to the rejection of a pagan suitor and subsequent conversion to Christianity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When she was on trial, tradition recounts the most famous symbolic act: because her suitor admired her eyes, she plucked them out and sent them to him. In doing so, she showed that her true value was not in physical beauty but in the determination of the Spirit. Immediately, her sight was miraculously restored, even more beautiful. This suggests that the sacrifice of the most ephemeral leads to a vision of the lasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her indomitability was insurmountable. When they tried to humiliate her (sent her to a brothel) or break her through torture (soldiers, ox teams, and hot resin could not move her), she showed that inner strength transforms external violence into helplessness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before death by the sword (304 AD) predicted the fall of Emperor Diocletian and the permission of the Christian faith<\/strong>, which became a reality.<\/h4><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Lucia shows us that to be a temple of the Holy Spirit (as she says) is to be so rooted in your convictions that you cannot be moved or deprived of your true vision. Her story is not just one of sacrifice, but of uncompromising integrity that brings liberation and timeless vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddea Norwegian and Swedish Lucia: Light in the Longest Night<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The story of Saint Lucy has an extraordinary reach that transcends even religious boundaries: He is the only saint,<\/a> which is also traditionally celebrated by Lutheran Swedes and Norwegians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why? Her feast day, December 13, fell on the longest night of the year according to the old calendar. In Scandinavia, where the darkness of the long winter is so overwhelming, Lucia became a symbol of the arrival of light and hope. Her name, derived from the Latin lux<\/em> (light), was a perfect fit for this topic.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Nordic tradition is relatively modern (it only became widespread in the 19th century), but it is fascinating and visual:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Lucia's procession:<\/strong> On the morning of December 13, a procession of girls\u2014and in modern times, boys\u2014is led by the one chosen as \u201eSaint Lucy.\u201c She is dressed in a white robe (a symbol of purity) with a red sash (a symbol of martyrdom).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Crown of Light:<\/strong> On her head she wears a wreath with candles (live or electric) that dispel the darkness.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Lussekatter: <\/strong>The procession brings and serves special saffron-leavened S-shaped buns, called lussekatter<\/em> (Lucy's cats), and coffee. This symbolically brings warmth and light to homes and schools, and welcomes the coming Christmas.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    In the Nordic tradition, Lucia changes from martyr<\/em>, who plucked out her eyes, to the Virgin of Light, who brings comfort in the deepest winter darkness. She reminds us that the light we need always comes from within and is connected to giving hope to others.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Lucky ones who walked around the villages<\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Here, Lucie had a completely different face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I remember my grandmother's story - how on Lucia women were not allowed to spin, pull feathers, or do laundry. They were just supposed to be quiet. (Which is a bummer, by the way, isn't it? It's the only day of the year when it was forbidden to do housework!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And then the Lucky ones came. White figures with beaks or floured faces. They were silent. They stood at the windows. They swept away the dust with goose wings...<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As a child, I would have been terrified of them. Now I see such poetry in it. They were guardians of order, but also\u2026 protectors of women? They checked to make sure women weren't working when they were supposed to be in peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It may sound strange, but I feel like the Lucky ones were actually a kind of female alliance. Disguised, mysterious, a little scary \u2013 but ours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What do I take away from this?<\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Now, at my age, Lucie means something completely different to me...<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Lucky \u2013 I love them. They are our ancient sisters who said: \u201e"Enough. You'll rest today."\u201c<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And Saint Lucy herself? The young woman who said no, even though it was dangerous? Who took her life into her own hands \u2013 literally?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It inspires me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Because we women over 50 have the right to say no. We have the right to be more than what we look like. We have the right to our peace, our boundaries, our light.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"santa<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    A small ritual for Lucia<\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    This year I'm going to try it like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    On December 13th, I'll light a candle. (Or three. Or however many I want.) We'll make tea with my friends. Maybe we'll bake something yummy - why not?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And I say to myself out loud: "Lucie will drink the night away."\u201e<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Not because it is true calendar-wise. But because it is true symbolically. From today on, the light grows. In me. In you. In all of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n

    And maybe I'll stick to the no-work rule too. I'll just take the day off. Lucky would be proud, wouldn't he?<\/em> \ud83d\ude0a<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n