12-13-2002, 12:21 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,177
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Hope And Light To All Of You
http://www.scandinavica.com/culture/lucia.htm
Today is Lucia's Day, celebrated in Sweden, Norway and Finland. December is a dark and cold winter month and we welcome Lucia and her procession to bring hope and light. Today, I had breakfast at a hotel in Gothenburg. Dim lights, candles, Christmas atmosphere and enjoying the songs Lucia sang. Read on if you wish to learn more about Lucia's Day! Also, please tell us about your "pre-Christmas" traditions from where you live!
"It is Lucia's day, the festival of light, celebrated in memory of the Italian Saint Lucia. In the early hours of the morning a young woman, dressed in white and wearing a crown of blazing candles, brings light into the dark winter at homes, hospitals, schools and offices, serving steaming coffee with ginger biscuits and saffronbread for everybody. There are Lucia processions everywhere and every village elects its own Lucia. The 'Lucia Queen' leads the processions mostly consisting of a group of young girls and boys singing traditional carols. Lucia's day symbolically opens the Christmas celebrations in Scandinavia, bringing hope and light during the darkest months of the year. The most typical Lucia celebration is the Lucia Procession, which consists of a group of young girls and boys singing traditional songs. Every town elects a Lucia, and she will go on a parade through the streets dressed in white with a red ribbon round her waist and wearing a chandelier on her head. Lucia is accompanied by her attendants, who are dressed similarly, and by the 'star boys', who wear cone-shaped hats decorated with stars. They visit schools, hospitals, offices and churches, and bring coffee and sweets to everybody. The traditional Scandinavian baking for this celebration is ginger biscuits and saffronbread."
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12-13-2002, 01:05 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 383
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A minor correction; it's not limited to swedish speaking areas. The Lucia -day is celebrated all over Finland.
http://www.yle.fi/svenska/lucia/lucia2002.php
Anyway, Happy Lucia's Day to you swedes too :angel:
/jizmo
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12-13-2002, 02:02 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,177
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by jizmo
A minor correction; it's not limited to swedish speaking areas. The Lucia -day is celebrated all over Finland.
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Thanks! Now corrected! 
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12-13-2002, 02:03 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 383
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Here, I also had to draw a Lucia -emoticon, since there doesn't seem to exist any. Feel free to use it.
Happy Lucia's Day, all 
/jizmo
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12-13-2002, 02:08 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 64
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Pre-Christmas traditions?
Um...we drink a lot...no, wait...we kinda do that all year 'round.
We actually take quite a bit of time to make gifts for family. Long standing tradition and all that.
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12-13-2002, 02:50 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 248
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Don't mean to offend
Lucia is welcome here anytime. Since we are 96% men I'm sure you know what I mean. WE don;t have anything special really. Just holiday parties with families and friends....and many of us drink the nog. mmm.. nog. Does anyone know what the shoe hanging in Mexico is all about? I'm curious.
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12-13-2002, 03:25 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 332
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In Australia pre-Christmas consists of going to the beach and getting pissed (ie. drunk).
Yes, the lady is most welcome to join us.
Daniel
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12-13-2002, 03:35 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4
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Well, since I've been lurking for about 6mo without commenting.....and this seems like a pretty neutral topic...
In the States, putting up a Christmas tree and decorating it in early December is one of the most common ways familys prepare for Christmas at home.....but, after seeing 'Lucia' (at least the one you posted), we are always open to new traditions!!
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12-13-2002, 03:35 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,466
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A cute looking chic wearing candles on her head? That sounds like the last New Year's Eve party I went to. :drinking:
Octoberfest was a wild time as well. You should have seen the prank I pulled on my sister! :lol:
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12-13-2002, 04:14 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 713
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Anybody that brings coffee is welcome in my house. :lol:
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