Sankta Lucia

Sankta Lucia, December 13

We chose dark pictures in our video as a foil against the light of the Lucia, the candles, the white-clad girl, and her white-clad maidens, and also the boys—in white—with their cone hats, decorated with stars.

Lucia was a Catholic saint, and there are a couple of different stories about who she was, but in each one she represents the light. Imagine how it feels to spend several dark months in the northern parts of our planet where sun hardly rises above the horizon.  Then comes the light with this girl and her procession of young girls and boys. It lifts our souls.  Today, Lucia either comes in a procession with a lot of music or in the homes where she will serve parents specific foods as an early breakfast in bed. December 13 is a big day in Sweden and there is a lot to say about these festivities.

You can listen to Sankta Lucia on Youtube.

The text for the song:

Natten går tunga fjät runt gård och stuva. Kring jord som sol förgät, skuggorna ruva. Då i vårt mörka hus, stiger med tända ljus Sankta Lucia, Sankta LuciaThe night walks with heavy footsteps around the farm and the house.                                                      Around the earth that the sun forgot, the shadows are brooding. Then in our dark house,                          with candlelight comes Santa Lucia. Natten var stor och stum, nu hör det svingar i alla tysta rum, sus som av vingar. :: Se på vår tröskel står, vitklädd med ljus i hår Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia ::The night was big and quiet, now listen: in all the quiet rooms there is rustling like of wings.       See on our threshold stands, dressed in white with candles in hair Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.Mörkret skall flykta snart, ur jordens dalar så hon ett underbart ord till oss talar. :: Dagen skall åter ny stiga ur rosig sky. Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia ::The darkness shall soon fly away, out of the Earth’s valleys                                                        so she says in wonderful words to us.                                                                                       The day will again be new and rise with a rosy sky.                                                                        Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia

Staffansvisan or “Staffan var en stalledräng”

This song is at least 500 years old.

Staffan, or Saint Stephen, is today part of the Lucia processions on December 13.  Lucia, or Sankta Lucia, is very important to the Swedes. Remember that the Swedes have been a highly religious people.

The text for the song  “Staffansvisan”:

Verse #1 Solo usually: Staffan var en stalledräng.//  Staffan was a groom.

Everybody: Vi tackom nu så gärna//We all thank him so happily

Solo: Han vattna’sina fålar fem.   He watered his five horses

Everybody: Allt för den ljusa stjärna.  Ingen dager synes än,
Stjärnorna på himmelen  de blänka.

All for the bright star. No dawn can be seen yet. The stars in the sky twinkle.

 Verse #2   Två de voro vita,  Two of the horses were white,

Vi tackom nu så gärna//We all thank him so happily

De var de andra lika. They looked exactly alike

Allt för den ljusa stjärna.   Ingen dager synes än,  Stjärnorna på himmelen  de blänka.  All for the bright star. No dawn can be seen yet. The stars in the sky twinkle.

Verse #3  Två de voro röda, Two of the horses were red,  Vi tackom nu så gärna//We all thank him so happily
De tjänte väl sin föda. They earned well enough their keep

Allt för den ljusa stjärna.   Ingen dager synes än,  Stjärnorna på himmelen  de blänka.  All for the bright star. No dawn can be seen yet. The stars in the sky twinkle.

Verse #4  Nu är fröjd i varje hus   Now there is cheer in every house. Vi tackom nu så gärna//We all thank him so happily

Julegran och juleljus  Christmas lights and Christmas trees
Allt för den ljusa stjärna.  Ingen dager synes än,  Stjärnorna på himmelen  de blänka.  All for the bright star. No dawn can be seen yet. The stars in the sky twinkle.

 

You can listen to Staffansvisan on Youtube.