St Lucia 2012

St. Lucia is a fun and beautiful holiday celebrated in Sweden.  We loved St. Lucia last year and so this year we planned on going to three different Lucia concerts. The first one was at the Domkrykan. It is an amazing candlelit service with singing and it is almost impossible to capture the essence on camera. We went to the family concert so the children are allowed to sit in the aisle after the Luciatog (Lucia train). Here is A (in the striped sweater) sitting the aisle. 

 You can see the Lucia in the middle with the crown of candles on her head.

 There is A in front of the Domkrykan. Her snowsuit has reflective batches so it shows up really shiny!


The next Lucia concert we went to was in the church in the Kulturen. The church is one of my favorites in Lund. Again it was really difficult to take pictures but the candlelit service was beautiful and awesome.

 There is the Lucia with the crown of candles.

 This is the amazing wood alter in the church.

 We went to the concert with Bjorn and Ingrid and had a lovely time.

 The last Lucia concert was at A and L's school!

 A sang all the songs and L sang Twinkle Twinkle Little Star! I was so proud of both of them!

 My little pepprakakor!

 Here L is eating Luciakatter, the traditional food for the holiday.  I remember last year I didn't have one until St. Lucia day at A's school and they were so good! This year as soon as they were available I bought them and ate them, so much in fact that by St. Lucia day I was sick of them!!

 Here is L with his good friend E.

We love the new holidays and traditions we have learned about during our time in Sweden.  I think on December 13th I will always wish I could go to a candlelit service in a super old cathedral in Lund and listen to beautiful songs in Swedish.  And eat Luciakatter! And dress up L like a gingerbread cookie! And dress A up like Lucia and listen to her sing all the great songs.  Maybe we will do some of these things, time will tell. Our time in Sweden has left an impression on all us and one thing I will miss is St. Lucia Day.