A St.Lucia family tradition for Taylor Everson

The “queen of lights,” St. Lucia, visited Grand Marais on Saturday, December 7. The celebration of one of the longest, darkest, days of the year was held a bit early this year, but it was a joy for all in attendance at Bethlehem Lutheran Church anyway.

Each year a student from the Bethlehem Lutheran Church confirmation class is selected to be St. Lucia. This year’s St. Lucia was Taylor Everson of Grand Marais. Taylor is the daughter of Andrea and Tony Everson.

Taylor becomes the latest in her family to assume the traditional role of St. Lucia. Her mother Andrea was St. Lucia when she was a teen and her sister Paige was St. Lucia in 2015.

With St. Lucia, as she entered wearing the crown of lights, were her lovely attendants, Ella Hallberg and Katey Shannon.

The Legend of St. Lucia
According to a Swedish folktale, Lucia appeared during a famine and distributed food from a ship to the starving people on land. For centuries, St. Lucia Day has been celebrated in Scandinavian countries on Dec. 13.

That date marks the darkest day in the Swedish winter and is the on for a family celebration. The oldest daughter in the family is St. Lucia and wears a white dress with a crown made of pine boughs. On the crown are seven glowing candles, to represent the coming of brighter days. Around her waist,she wears a bright red sash.

The other children in the family carry candles and follow her into their parents' bedroom, singing the traditional song, Santa Lucia. It is considered bad luck to eat after dawn on this day, so the children treat the parents to a special breakfast in bed.
St. Lucia is the “queen of lights” bringing the promise of longer days after a long, dark winter.

Song for St. Lucia
Nightly, with heavy steps; round farm and steading
On earth, where sun departs, shadows are spreading.
Then in our darkened house, rises with candles lit!
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
Then in our darkened house, rises with candles lit!
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
The night is dark and still. Hark, something’s stirring!
In all our silent rooms, wingbeats are whisp’ring!
Stands on our threshold there, while clad, lights in her hair,
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!