Color of the day: Silver Incense of the day: Rose Incense of the day: Rose Swedish people honor the Sun goddess Lucina, also known as St. Lucy, today. Girls dress in white gowns and wear garlands crowned with candles. They wake up their families with songs and a special breakfast. For this celebration, the Swedes make lussekatter, scrumptious saffron buns shaped in symbolic S-curves, figure-eights, and cats. The name of the bread itself means "light cats" and may refer to the magical cats who pulled the chariot of Freya, another northern goddess. Celebrate today by baking lussekatter yourself (you can find the recipe online or in ethnic cookbooks), and by honoring the girls in your family. Look for the Sun in the winter sky, and greet her as well. Burn a white candle on your altar for Lucina, who brings back the light. |