A distinctive tradition of Advent that is attentive to the coming Light is the celebration of St. Lucia’s Day on December 13.
Lucia (or Lucy), whose name derives from the Latin root for “light,” was martyred during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian around the year 303. For centuries the longest night of the year (according to the Julian Calendar) fell on December 13, and so it became customary to mark the occasion with a festival of light. Lucia’s triumph over the darkness is reenacted each year when a young girl, representing Lucia, dons a white dress and a crown of glowing candles, to deliver coffee and buns to all in attendance. Variations on the practice include “Lucia” leading a procession in which each processant carries a single candle.
Squeezing another event into our busy December schedules might seem difficult, but reclaiming Advent requires that we come to terms with the fact that many of the festivities we enjoy during Advent are better suited for the season of Christmas. The observance of St. Lucia’s Day might be organized in lieu of a Christmas pageant or celebrated on the Sunday nearest December 13. As with the Advent wreath, St. Lucia’s Day is well-suited for the home and can easily involve the entire family. When celebrated in conjunction with the Advent wreath, the theme of a growing light surfaces yet again. Consider drawing attention to the increasing hours of darkness and our great need of light. Lucia’s story provides ample material for discussions of virtues such as faith, hope, courage, and charity. St. Lucia’s Day is a distinctive tradition of Advent worthy of our consideration, for we are too often blind to the light that “shines in the darkness” (John 1:5a).
Distinctive Traditions of Advent By Amber and John Inscore Essick
