St Lucia's Day Procession

So, all things Swedish aren't horrible to Norwegians. One of the rare things is the celebration of Santa Lucia on December 13. Santa Lucia (Lucy) was a virgin martyr from Italy who is said to be the Queen of Lights. Rumor has it that "peaceful" Vikings traveled to Italy in the fifth century and brought stories of a woman of radiant beauty who bears food for the starving people of Sweden.

Wearing virgin white and a red sash, Lucia traditionally travels from home to home in a city, bringing baked goods and lighted candles to the townfolk on the darkest night of the year. When she returns home at day break, the long nights of winter over.
Nowadays, and in the Norsk spirit of privacy, many families have a lussibrud (Lucy Bride) who wakes her family in the morning on December 13, wearing her costume and bringing saffron rolls and coffee to the rest of her family. Often, in school, younger kids have a procession through the other classrooms. Boys wear long white shirts and cone hats. They are called "Star Boys."

We had our own procession around the apartment complex. Breaking all social more's of Norway, the kids, in costume, went from door to door, delivering baked good like the olden days. Literally half the people didn't' open their doors to our knocks, though we knew they were home. But those who did peek through their cracked doors were gracious, surprised, and seemed genuine.

Amusingly, I introduced myself to four people and not one of them offered me their name in return.

It felt good anyways!