Songs of the season... Today is St. Lucys Day, a festival celebrated widely across Scandinavia. The day coincides with what was believed (as late as the 18th century) to be the Winter Solstice--the longest night of the year in the North. On this night, in pre-Christian Nordic belief, Lussi, a female being with evil traits (demon or witch, who can say?) would ride through the air with her followers. And between Lussi Night and Yule, it was believe that trolls and evil spirits roamed about. It was believed, therefore, that one should stay awake all through the night to protect the household--a tradition still practiced today by throwing parties on St. Lucys Night until dawn. Today, in a tradition only 200 years old, a girl dressed in white with a red sash (symbolic of St. Lucys martyrdom) leads a procession of similarly dressed girls and boys, wearing a wreathe-crown with burning candles on her (or his) head. As with all festivals of lights, theres a strong symbolism in the candles--the light casting away the darkness, good driving away evil. During the procession, this song is often sung: the Neapolitan Santa Lucia...though in Scandinavia, the lyrics focus on the procession and lightness and darkness and winter and such. This video includes both the song and the procession and was shot (not by me, alas) in the Oslo Cathedral in Oslo, Norway. I would imagine that my Norwegian ancestors huddled inside their houses on Lussi Night as winter raged outside. And I wouldnt be surprised if one of my oh-so-many-greats grandmothers led a procession wearing a crown of light to drive away the darkness. ____ Sankta Lucia (Norwegian Lyrics) Svart senker natten seg i stall og stuer. Solen har gått sin vei, skyggene truer. Inn i vårt mørke hus stiger med tente lys, Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia! Natten er mørk og stum. Med ett det suser i alle tyste rom som vinger bruser. Se på vår terskel står, hvitkledd med lys i hår, Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia! Saint Lucia (English translation) Black night is falling in stables and homes. The Sun has gone away, the shadows are threatening. Into our dark house enters with lit candles, Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia! The night is dark and silent; suddenly a rush in all quiet rooms, like the waving of wings. See, at our threshold stands, dressed in white with lights in her hair, Saint Lucia, Saint Lucia! https://youtube/watch?v=t0dqTVwlM2I
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 12:31:58 +0000
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