Francis Philipp of Chicago holds up a 'God Jul' sign which means Merry Christmas in Swedish as he waits for a Lucia Day procession to start in front of the Swedish American Museum Center Saturday Dec. 13, 2003, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Anne Ryan)
Posted on 12/20/2003 7:24:51 PM PST by Charles Henrickson
CHICAGO - The Andersonville neighborhood, long an enclave for the Chicago's Swedish population, comes alive during the holidays as Swedish Americans gather to celebrate the traditions of their homeland.
At the center of the celebration is St. Lucia, a 4th century Sicilian saint revered in Sweden.
It is not entirely clear why a Sicilian saint is so popular in Sweden. But some believe she wore candles in her hair when she brought food to Christians hiding from the Romans in underground caves. Another legend has it that when she was tied to the stake to be burned for her beliefs, the flames would not touch her, forcing the Romans to kill her with a sword.
Such stories of candles and light apparently struck a chord in Sweden, and the entire nation began honoring her yearly in the 19th Century.
"She's sort of a symbol of light in the very dark Scandinavian winters," said Kate Hawley, spokeswoman for the Swedish American Museum Center in Andersonville.
Dec. 13 is Lucia Day, the beginning of the Christmas season in Sweden. The celebration begins when the oldest daughter of a household, dressed in white and wearing candles on her head, serves breakfast to her family. They also wear red sashes, said to symbolize Lucia's blood.
In the Andersonville neighborhood, there is a walk in honor of the saint, called the St. Lucia procession. Beginning at the museum, young people led by a symbolic St. Lucia wind their way through the neighborhood.
The museum's 1,700 members and their families also have a smorgasbord with a ham at its center each year and offer handcrafted gifts for sale. And on Dec. 21 they celebrate with a Christmas service said in Swedish at Ebenezer Lutheran Church.
Francis Philipp of Chicago holds up a 'God Jul' sign which means Merry Christmas in Swedish as he waits for a Lucia Day procession to start in front of the Swedish American Museum Center Saturday Dec. 13, 2003, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Anne Ryan)
Six-year-old Arden Moorehouse, of Chicago, sits with her mother Ingrid as she gets ready to perform Christmas songs in Swedish in a Lucia Day concert at the Swedish American Museum Center in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood Saturday Dec. 13, 2003. Lucia Day marks the beginning of the Christmas season in Sweden. (AP Photo/Anne Ryan)
Participating in a Lucia Day concert at the Swedish American Museum Center in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood Saturday Dec. 13, 2003, are from left to right, Yvette Perry, Ashley Reinke, Kim Bojarski and Colleen Carlson. Lucia Day marks the beginning of the Christmas season in Sweden. According to legend, St. Lucia, a Sicilian maiden wore candles to light the way as she brought food to Christians hiding in dark underground caves. She was eventually found out and put to death by Roman authorities. The story made its way to Sweden where Lucia day is celebrated. The oldest girl in the family dons a white robe and a wreath of candles to serve a breakfast of saffron buns to the family. Lucia Day marks the beginning of the Christmas holiday in Sweden. (AP Photo/Anne Ryan)
Members of the Varblomman Scandinavian Children's Club, from left to right, Stina Taylor, 7, Maia Taylor, 5, Kristen McDermott, 9, Alexis Moeller, 9, Casey McDermott, 7, Marie Martin, 11 and Birgitta Johnson, 12, wait to perform Christmas songs in Swedish during a during the Lucia Day festival at the Swedish American Museum Center Saturday Dec. 13, 2003, in Chicago. Varblomman teaches children Swedish folk dancing and songs. They are wearing traditional Swedish costumes similar to those that date back to the 1500s. (AP Photo/Anne Ryan)
Head baker Al Aguilar prepares Luica Kattor or Lucia buns, both saffron and plain, at Swedish Bakery in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago Wednesday Dec. 10, 2003. In Swedish tradition the oldest girl in the family dons a white robe and a wreath of candles to serve a breakfast of saffron buns to the family. Lucia day marks the beginning of the Christmas holiday in Sweden.(AP Photo/Anne Ryan)
Pepparkakor cookies decorated with Tomten, the Swedish Santa Claus, sit in a case at Swedish Bakery in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago Wednesday Dec. 10, 2003. Pepparkakor is similar to gingerbread, but slightly spicier. In Sweden Tomten arrives on Christmas Eve and asks if there are any good children in the house. Then he gives them presents. (AP Photo/Anne Ryan)
Fire hazard! :P
Chicago is really the Swedish capital of America--even more so than Minneapolis.
If any of you have access to a Chicago Ping List, could you please post a ping on this thread?
Interesting. Not one of those names is recognizably Swedish or even Scandinavian. I count 4 English, 2 Irish, and 1 German name.
And then in the next post:
Head baker Al Aguilar prepares Luica Kattor or Lucia buns
Definitely not Swedish!
I guess this is a sign of cultural assimilation. Just like the Irish and St. Patrick's Day, you know your ethnic group is completely woven into the fabric of America when your neighbors of other backgrounds steal your holidays from you. Plenty of gringos celebrate Cinco de Mayo down here in Arizona.
-ccm
Well, hold the phone. "Birgitta Johnson" is Swedish--the first name definitely, and the last name probably--an Americanized spelling of "Johansson." (Just as my "Henrickson" is an Americanized spelling of "Henriksson.")
"Stina Taylor" and "Maia Taylor"--the last name, no, but the first names are definitely Swedish ("Stina" is short for "Kristina"). "Kristen McDermott," again, last name no, first name yes. In these cases, there probably is a non-Swedish father and a Swedish-American mother wanting to pass on the heritage.
But, Merry Christmas to all, anyway.
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