I may be a couple hours late but I've been awake all day and I say this still counts as December 13.

[infintysquared]

I grew up Swedish, with a good Swedish community. Waukegan even hosted the Swedish Glee Club for many years until it folded, and even today the bullheaded old Swedes are still singing without the clubhouse

Comments

[sabotabby]

That looks completely awesome.

[thnidu]

:-)

Boosted to LJ and DW.

[browngirl]

Thank you for posting this; today more than ever I needed the light.

I wrote a poem about Saint Lucia some years ago (I'm not Scandinavian at all, I found her inspiring) and I'll share it with you if you like.

(Here from thnidu's link)

[infintysquared]

Cool, please do. It's good to find inspiration in other cultures - Lucia was Italian, after all!

But I always love the story of the longest, darkest night of midwinter during a famine, and there across a lake come Lucia and her court, all garbed in white, Lucia bedecked with candles, bearing a silver tray with enough food to last through the winter.

I am no longer a man of faith, but I do find inspiration from the stories and traditions.

"Light-Bringer"

[browngirl]

by browngirl. :)

The night of Winter Solstice, the longest of the year,
The earth bereft of sun-warmth, the darkness cold and drear;
Then, shining on our threshold, Saint Lucy radiant stands,
Her crown of glowing candles, a star bright in her hands.

Against the winter's power the Sun could not hold fast;
What hope have our small candles, before the darkness vast?
But Lucia Light-Bearer this reassurance brings:
The Sun shall rise in glory on incandescent wings.

Though summer's gone to ashes, warmth infinitely far,
She bears the shining promise, the candle and the star;
So when each year's flame gutters, deep in the darkest night,
Aglow against the shadows, Saint Lucy brings us light.

[infintysquared]

That works so well spoken aloud, which is the main measure of how well I enjoy poetry. Thank you.