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Admittedly, if you look at the picture above and you are Scandinavian, or know anything about the feast of Santa Lucia, you are probably wondering how I got it so wrong. Here’s how: when my son was born ten years ago, and my husband was working long hours coupled with a long commute, I wanted a day during the Christmas season where we could celebrate, in a small way, as a family, together. I must have read the story of St. Lucia in a magazine around that time, and fell in love with its simplicity: the eldest daughter wearing the crown of candles, bringing coffee and St. Lucia buns to her parents. And I thought to myself, how can I make this work? And I turned it into my husband not leaving that morning for work until our son was awake. We would celebrate by sharing orange juice and cinnamon rolls. (Why orange juice? My husband does not drink coffee and I just couldn’t see serving diet Mountain Dew and cinnamon rolls.) It was a moment of peace during the busy season. Fast forward to today. Yep, I popped open the can of cinnamon rolls and poured the orange juice. Now, it’s tradition. I look forward to it every year. (I hope someday my son remembers it fondly.) And I refuse to give it up, even if it’s not exactly the way it’s “supposed” to be.

p.s. I always thought the crown of candles represented bringing light to the darkest part of the year. Now, while writing this (and scanning Wikipedia), I’ve learned it started as a representation of St. Lucia’s survival after being sentenced to be burned ….. funny how the magazine didn’t mention that part.

p.p.s. Should you live in Boston, check out the South End Holiday Stroll tonight! Looc, Hudson, South End Buttery, and Black Pearl Press are just a few of the shops that will be open …. enjoy!

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