Happy Santa Lucia Day

You may remember last year I wrote about the different Traditions we wanted to celebrate with Danya. Well one of them was the Celebration of Saint Lucy Day. Refresher: Saint Lucy lived during the time of the persecution of Christians in Rome. She was from a wealthy family and used her wealth to provide for the Christians who were hiding in the catacombs and other places. She often carried so much food and supplies that she didn't have hands enough to hold the candle to light her way. Being an industrious woman she made a wreath and put candles on it so they would fit on her head. A wealthy man decided she was the one to marry and she turned him down, he was against the Christians and hated her activities. So since she was wealthy enough she just turned him down. He, however, was vindictive and turned her in for her support of the Christians. They were going to kill her, he gave her one final chance to turn to him, she refused again and he gouged out her eyes before starting the fire to burn her. I think it is an awesome story about faith and giving. Kind of a depressing ending, but would we have any record of her faith if it wasn't? Now that she is a toddler there are many things that she is more oppinionated about. One is what she wears. There was a small fit when it came to putting on this dress, but she soon realized that it meant donuts and got over her objections.

Here she is bringing the plate of doughnuts to Daddy.

Then she is "giving" one to Daddy, just as soon as she held her hand out for Daddy she pulled it back and started eating it.

So Daddy and Danya ate together. Which worked really well until Daddy decided he wanted another donut. For some reason she felt that she had to have 3 cookies on her tray. Big tantrum. She got over it pretty quick though when I showed her that if she wanted to throw a tantrum she would have none.

Silly Face!

YuM!

Heritage

The question that gets asked a lot when you first get married is what traditions will you carry into your new family. I guess that is still evolving, but what I do know is that learning about what cultural traditions are a part of our history so that we can pass on those traditions. With Danya around I think in amplifies those desires. I want her to be well versed in her cultural heritage. Dec. 13th is one of those days. December 13th is Santa Lucia day. It is a day to celebrate a woman who lived in first century Rome and gave her dowry to the Christians hiding in the catacombs, and brought them food. She was killed as the result of a jealous wanna be husband turning her over to the authorities. She was a Christian and because of the time she was ministering most likely fed Paul and John. I admit I didn't know much more than durring the Christmas season the oldest girl in the house dresses in white and serves her family breakfast. There is so much more to know. Santa Lucia day is celebrated throughout Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland each year. When I was growing up in a swedish lutheran church we celebrated it every year but I never learned all that much.



Well anyway, this morning Danya and I were up before John, like most saturdays, and we got coffee ready and served John in bed. She is not carrying the real coffee, she has a plastic mug that is empty. Her Dress is Hawaiian print and the design is inspired by the Mu'u Mu'us worn here. The wreath is also tropical foliage and poinsettias. She was so adorable. She had a battery operated candle too but that didn't last long. She was too curious and it broke, into lots of tiny pieces I might add.