Last days in Sweden

My days in Sweden are almost over.... I fly home early Wednesday morning (Dec.15th).  Today is my last full day in Linköping and my last night in my apartment.  Tomorrow afternoon we will be driving to Stockholm!  Since my flight is at 6:50am on Wednesday we decided to get a hotel in Stockholm for Tuesday night.  Our apartment is about a 2 hour drive to Stockholm so now we won't have to drive in the middle of the night!  I am really excited to go home... it has been almost 5 months (!!!)..... but I am also really sad to be leaving.  I am very conflicted, but I know it will be so nice to be home with my family and friends.  It will also be nice to sleep in my own bed, eat american food, and to hear english all the time!  I am also looking forward to working and actually having money!  Most of all though I am so excited to see my family and close friends.  My parents and friend Amanda are picking me up at the airport.  My sister should be coming over that night and my brother will be home from school on friday.  I'm also so excited that my friend Lori will be back from Florida on friday!!!  She moved there in August and I would not be as excited to come home if she wasn't going to be there for awhile!  On friday I get to see my cousin Jen, so she can do my hair..... which is MUCH needed!  I will also get to see all of my Aunts and Uncles on my mom's side for lunch! I am really excited!  On Saturday, my mom and I are heading to Western Illinois University for my life long friend Amanda's (it will be 23 years on wednesday!!) graduation, then that night I'm heading back home and my other long time friend Amanda is throwing a homecoming "Ugly Christmas Sweater Party" for me!  Then Sunday I will get to see the Havlicek's!  My cousin Annie is a fashion designer in New York and she is having a trunk show at her parents house in Geneva! (If you want to check out her designs click here Annie Havlicek's website... she is super talented!)  Then I will FINALLY get to see Grace (my cousin).... who I will force to hang out with me every second until she leaves for Christmas with Doug's (her boyfriends) family.  Then during the week I will hang out with Erin for some wedding planning!!  So I will be pretty busy when I get back.... but that will be nice! (I think I got a shout out to everyone I have plans with already ha ha)

Here are some pictures from my last weekend in Sweden:

snow covered bike

bike rack outside the bar

me on a giant bicycle downtown

snowy road

cemetery

cemetery

cemetery

Gamla Linköping  (Old Linköping)

Christmas tree in Gamla Linköping  (Old Linköping)

Gamla Linköping  (Old Linköping)

Old bank in Gamla Linköping  (Old Linköping)

Old street in Gamla Linköping  (Old Linköping)

Window shopping in Gamla Linköping  (Old Linköping)

Gamla Linköping  (Old Linköping)

Gamla Linköping  (Old Linköping)

Gamla Linköping  (Old Linköping)

Snowy Apple tree

Snowy Apple tree

Old printing shop now museum in Gamla Linköping  (Old Linköping)

Gamla Linköping  (Old Linköping)

Christmas display outside a toy store in Gamla Linköping  (Old Linköping)

Christmas display outside a toy store in Gamla Linköping  (Old Linköping)

Christmas display outside a toy store in Gamla Linköping  (Old Linköping)

Entering the toystore

Foreigner and I

Happy Sankta Lucia Day!

Today is Sankta Lucia (Saint Lucy) Day!  We are going to a celebration of it tonight downtown.  I am posting another article from The Local that explains the tradition in Sweden.  You can click on the link to go directly to the website or just read what I copy and paste!  I will post pictures from tonight as soon as I can!

The Lowdown: Lucia - The Local

It's one of the most enduring Swedish winter traditions. The tradition of Lucia brings some much needed light into Sweden's winter darkness, James Savage writes.

My colleagues have told me to get up early for Lucia. Who is Lucia?

Lucia is, or was, St. Lucy, a Catholic saint martyred in Syracuse in 304 AD. In Sweden, she is celebrated in early morning ceremonies on December 13th. In schools and workplaces, a nominated girl or young woman will don a white dress and wear a wreath of candles on her head. The ceremony is usually accompanied by early morning servings of glögg (sweet mulled wine), lussekatter (St Lucy buns) and ginger snaps.

Why does Sweden go so big on Lucia?

Quite how St. Lucy worked her way into Swedish tradition is unclear, but December 13th was the shortest day of the year under the Julian calendar, which Sweden followed until the 18th century. 

It is traditionally held that a maiden dressed in white robes and wearing a crown of candles brought food to starving villagers on the shore of Lake Vänern. Lucia also has links to a German tradition of girls dressing as 'Christ children', handing out Christmas presents.

Traditionally, Lucia processions would be held in the home, with daughters dressing up and bringing coffee to their parents. Now, the practice is widespread in workplaces and schools, and newspapers frequently run Lucia competitions for readers.

Is this just something for the girls?

Even in these days of sexual equality, the girls have pretty much got Lucia wrapped up. Still, men are now allowed walk-on parts as Lucia's acolytes, known as 'stjärngossar' or 'star boys'. They also wear the long white robes, but instead of the crowns they wear white, pointy hats.

Didn't I hear something about a song?

Indeed, the Lucia celebrations are accompanied by music, particularly the Neapolitan Song Santa Lucia, which has been given Swedish Lyrics which speak of St. Lucy bringing light in the darkness. It's haunting melody make it a firm favourite for many Swedes.

Sounds lovely, but I'm not keen on getting up early to attend one of these celebrations.

You could always watch it on TV - SVT always broadcasts a traditional Lucia celebration early on the morning of the 13th.

All sounds very pleasant

It is. There is a more raucous side, however, with Lucia night celebrated by high school pupils partying all night to celebrate the approach of the Christmas holidays.

I also found the lyrics to the Sankta Lucia song that they sing in Swedish... the English translation is here too!

Sankta Lucia

Translation

Natten går tunga fjät, runt gård och stuga. Kring jord som sol'n förlät, skuggorna ruva. Då i vårt mörka hus, stiga med tända ljus, Sankta Lucia, Sankta Lucia.Natten var stor och stum. Nu hör det svingar, i alla tysta rum, sus som av vingar. Se på vår tröskel står vitkläd, med ljus i hår, Sankta Lucia, Sankta 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.

Hark! through the darksome night Sounds come a winging: Lo! 'tis the Queen of Light Joyfully singing. Clad in her garment white, Wearing her crown of light, Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!Deep in the northern sky Bright stars are beaming; Christmas is drawing nigh Candles are gleaming. Welcome thou vision rare, Lights glowing in thy hair. Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!

Click here to watch a video on YouTube of a Sankta Lucia ceremony in Sweden