Last week while we were visiting my in-laws my husband saw in passing a sign outside a Lutheran church for a swedish Christmas market. We went and they did the whole Sankta Lucia shebang - little girls in white dresses, boys with star-spangled pointy hats, Swedish Christmas caroling...it was MAGICAL. Floating around my parents' house is a St. Lucy doll from my own childhood- a little waldorf-style doll with mohair braids and a little candle crown–and it's time to haul her out!
Christie, have you read Gertrud Mueller Nelson's "To Dance With God"? The section on St. Nicholas makes a point that is so resonant with what you're beautifully saying here - that in the modern day, we tend to equate "myth" with "lie." Like you, I take legends seriously! Thanks for this wonderful reflection on one of my favorite saints.
I feel as though you’ve mentioned it before. It’s on my wishlist now, thank you! I’m chiefly informed in this area by Tolkien and Lewis. I have similar beliefs about Santa Claus. I wrote a short essay years ago about why I wanted Father Christmas, not Santa Claus or St. Nick, to bring my children presents on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately, the American Santa has taken over everything and Father Christmas has been merged with the commercialised Santa. Thank you for reading!
Last week while we were visiting my in-laws my husband saw in passing a sign outside a Lutheran church for a swedish Christmas market. We went and they did the whole Sankta Lucia shebang - little girls in white dresses, boys with star-spangled pointy hats, Swedish Christmas caroling...it was MAGICAL. Floating around my parents' house is a St. Lucy doll from my own childhood- a little waldorf-style doll with mohair braids and a little candle crown–and it's time to haul her out!
I believe it! Just watching the Lucia ceremonies on Youtube gets me teary. I can't imagine seeing it live before my eyes. What a gift!
Christie, have you read Gertrud Mueller Nelson's "To Dance With God"? The section on St. Nicholas makes a point that is so resonant with what you're beautifully saying here - that in the modern day, we tend to equate "myth" with "lie." Like you, I take legends seriously! Thanks for this wonderful reflection on one of my favorite saints.
I feel as though you’ve mentioned it before. It’s on my wishlist now, thank you! I’m chiefly informed in this area by Tolkien and Lewis. I have similar beliefs about Santa Claus. I wrote a short essay years ago about why I wanted Father Christmas, not Santa Claus or St. Nick, to bring my children presents on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately, the American Santa has taken over everything and Father Christmas has been merged with the commercialised Santa. Thank you for reading!