WEBVTT 00:00:00.020 --> 00:00:02.540 Hi, this is Steve Webb, your OG Godcaster. 00:00:02.940 --> 00:00:07.060 You're about to hear the LifeSpring Advent Calendar, which was recorded in 2006. 00:00:07.640 --> 00:00:10.300 It's a daily show which will run right up to Christmas Day, 00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:12.960 so be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode. 00:00:13.440 --> 00:00:17.520 Now, the story of Advent and Christmas is a timeless story, so it doesn't age. 00:00:17.620 --> 00:00:22.440 However, the links and the phone numbers mentioned on the podcast have all changed but one. 00:00:22.820 --> 00:00:25.240 WhyChristmas.com is still current and active, 00:00:25.400 --> 00:00:28.300 and it's the best Christmas information website on the Internet. 00:00:28.960 --> 00:00:32.820 LifeSpringPodcast.com now forwards you to LifeSpringMedia.com. 00:00:33.010 --> 00:00:39.320 And the phone number you'll hear on the show is changed to plus 1-951-732-8511. 00:00:56.440 --> 00:01:00.620 Hello and welcome back to the Lifespring Advent Calendar and this is the 13th day. 00:01:01.440 --> 00:01:03.260 My name is Steve Webb and I'm your host. 00:01:04.839 --> 00:01:07.140 Well, shall we open today's door and see what's inside? 00:01:13.140 --> 00:01:15.480 Hi James, I understand today is a very special day. 00:01:16.200 --> 00:01:22.880 Today is St. Lucia's or St. Lucy's Day and it's a very important day to people who live in Scandinavia, especially in Sweden. 00:01:23.480 --> 00:01:24.700 So who was St. Lucia? 00:01:25.600 --> 00:01:31.140 St Lucia was a young Christian girl who was martyred, that means killed for her faith, in 304 AD. 00:01:32.220 --> 00:01:37.820 The most common story told about St Lucia is that she would secretly bring food to the persecuted Christians in Rome, 00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:40.640 who lived in hiding in the catacombs under the city. 00:01:41.420 --> 00:01:45.380 She would wear candles on her head, so she had both of her hands free to carry things, 00:01:45.920 --> 00:01:49.100 and Lucy means light, so it's a very appropriate name for her. 00:01:50.200 --> 00:01:56.100 Today, December 13th, was also the winter solstice, the longest day of the year in the old Julian calendar. 00:01:56.800 --> 00:02:01.380 So St Lucia's Day also celebrated that half of winter was over and spring was on the way. 00:02:02.100 --> 00:02:05.360 James, I understand that St Lucia's Day is very popular in Sweden. 00:02:06.180 --> 00:02:11.260 Schools have their own St Lucia's and often towns and villages also choose a girl to play St Lucia 00:02:11.760 --> 00:02:13.480 and lead a procession where carols are sung. 00:02:14.220 --> 00:02:17.959 The girls playing St Lucia wear a white dress to show St Lucia's purity 00:02:18.540 --> 00:02:20.760 and they also have a crown of candles on their heads. 00:02:21.400 --> 00:02:23.500 A national Lucia is also chosen. 00:02:24.060 --> 00:02:26.840 You'll find Lucias visiting hospitals and old people's homes 00:02:27.120 --> 00:02:30.140 singing a song about St. Lucia and handing out piparkacore. 00:02:30.520 --> 00:02:31.680 I hope I said that right. 00:02:32.500 --> 00:02:33.420 Ginger snap biscuits. 00:02:34.260 --> 00:02:37.280 In homes, often the eldest girl plays St. Lucia for her family, 00:02:37.840 --> 00:02:40.180 bringing them loose cats, which are St. Lucia's Day buns 00:02:40.280 --> 00:02:42.520 that are flavoured with saffron and dotted with raisins 00:02:42.780 --> 00:02:44.460 and they're eaten for breakfast with coffee. 00:02:45.320 --> 00:02:49.940 St. Lucia's Day first became widely celebrated in Sweden in the late 1700s. 00:02:50.500 --> 00:02:55.660 St. Lucia's Day is also celebrated in Denmark, Norway, Finland, Bosnia, Croatia, 00:02:56.220 --> 00:02:57.660 and some parts of northern Italy. 00:02:58.640 --> 00:03:01.760 In Denmark, it's more of a children's day, and in some parts of Italy, 00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:04.700 children are told that St. Lucy brings them presents. 00:03:05.460 --> 00:03:08.700 They leave out a sandwich for her and the donkey that helps carry gifts. 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:10.920 So, happy St. Lucia's Day, everyone! 00:03:21.360 --> 00:03:23.780 Well, I hope you learned something about St. Lucia's Day today. 00:03:24.880 --> 00:03:27.460 There's really a lot happening around Christmas time, isn't there? 00:03:28.100 --> 00:03:30.360 Thanks for listening to the LifeSpring Advent Calendar. 00:03:31.020 --> 00:03:36.200 Of course, the theme music today was, as always, Brian Duncan and the Neil Soul Band with This Christmas, 00:03:36.730 --> 00:03:40.560 and the background music was Doug Bolt with In the Bleak Midwinter. 00:03:41.420 --> 00:03:45.920 For James Cooper, I'm Steve Webb. Thanks for listening. Merry Christmas.