A SCANDINAVIAN TOUCH TO YOUR CHRISTMAS

“Gledelig Jul!” Lisa Garborg greeted the Young Couple as they entered the festively-decorated classroom. Lisa, a pert blonde in her early thirties, was dressed in a colorful bunad, a traditional folk costume of Norway, with its long striped skirt and flowery blouse. With a warm and inviting smile lighting up her doll-like face she ushered the couple into the room. On her head she wore the traditional crown of candles representing St. Lucia, the unlikely Advent custom in which Scandinavians pay homage to an Italian martyr of centuries past. Traditionally the eldest daughter of the family portrays St. Lucia, donning the crown of candles on the morning of December 13 and serves her family special biscuits baked for the occasion. Throughout Scandinavia St. Lucia Day heralds the start of the Christmas festivities in earnest.
“Gledelig Jul to you, too,” the Young Man replied.
“Velkommen til Norge,” Lisa beckoned them with a smile.

From the Prologue of Let’s Make It Merry Christmas, by R. L. Anderson, as we join Lisa Garborg once again as St. Lucia, showing visitors to the Ranch Park this time honored Scandinavian tradition. This Friday is Friday the 13th–but it’s also St. Lucia Day, which ushers in the Christmas season in the far north of Europe. Sorry, Lisa, but the custom actually began in my father’s ancestral homeland of Sweden first and later spread to Norway and Denmark. It is now loved equally by all Scandinavians and is truly a beautiful and special part of a Scandinavian Christmas.

R. L. Anderson, author, Will Nickerson Mysteries

Available in paperback and Kindle editions on Amazon.com, and they’re on Nook and Kobo, too.