Kristen’s Surprise A Christmas Story

“Tell us about Saint Lucia’s Day,” Anna said. She sat her doll on her lap as though the doll listened, too.

“In Sweden, Saint Lucia’s Day begins the Christmas season,” Kirsten explained. “It’s the darkest day of the whole year. It’s so dark that there’ only daylight for a few hours. But no one minds the dark, because Saint Lucia’s Day is such fun.” Lisbeth was braiding a straw belt for her doll.

“What do you do?”

“In each family, one girl gets to be the Lucia queen. She dresses up in a long white dress and a red sash, and she wears a crown of green leaves and lighted candles. She gets up very, very early in the morning, while it’s still pitch black and everyone is asleep. She lights the candles in her crown, and she goes from room to room in the dark house, carrying a tray. First she goes to her parents’ room. Even though they’ve helped her get ready, they can hardly believe their eyes when they see her, she looks so beautiful in her costume. Then she wakes all the rest of the family and invites them to share Lucia buns and coffee. That breakfast is the first party of the holiday season,” Kirsten explained.