Steve: Hi, this is Steve Webb, your OG Godcaster.
Steve: You're about to hear the LifeSpring Advent Calendar, which was recorded in 2006.
Steve: It's a daily show which will run right up to Christmas Day,
Steve: so be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode.
Steve: Now, the story of Advent and Christmas is a timeless story, so it doesn't age.
Steve: However, the links and the phone numbers mentioned on the podcast have all changed but one.
Steve: WhyChristmas.com is still current and active,
Steve: and it's the best Christmas information website on the Internet.
Steve: LifeSpringPodcast.com now forwards you to LifeSpringMedia.com.
Steve: And the phone number you'll hear on the show is changed to plus 1-951-732-8511.
Steve: Hello and welcome back to the Lifespring Advent Calendar and this is the 13th day.
Steve: My name is Steve Webb and I'm your host.
Steve: Well, shall we open today's door and see what's inside?
James: Hi James, I understand today is a very special day.
James: 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.
James: So who was St. Lucia?
James: St Lucia was a young Christian girl who was martyred, that means killed for her faith, in 304 AD.
James: The most common story told about St Lucia is that she would secretly bring food to the persecuted Christians in Rome,
James: who lived in hiding in the catacombs under the city.
James: She would wear candles on her head, so she had both of her hands free to carry things,
James: and Lucy means light, so it's a very appropriate name for her.
James: Today, December 13th, was also the winter solstice, the longest day of the year in the old Julian calendar.
James: So St Lucia's Day also celebrated that half of winter was over and spring was on the way.
Steve: James, I understand that St Lucia's Day is very popular in Sweden.
Steve: Schools have their own St Lucia's and often towns and villages also choose a girl to play St Lucia
Steve: and lead a procession where carols are sung.
Steve: The girls playing St Lucia wear a white dress to show St Lucia's purity
Steve: and they also have a crown of candles on their heads.
Steve: A national Lucia is also chosen.
Steve: You'll find Lucias visiting hospitals and old people's homes
Steve: singing a song about St. Lucia and handing out piparkacore.
Steve: I hope I said that right.
James: Ginger snap biscuits.
James: In homes, often the eldest girl plays St. Lucia for her family,
James: bringing them loose cats, which are St. Lucia's Day buns
James: that are flavoured with saffron and dotted with raisins
James: and they're eaten for breakfast with coffee.
Steve: St. Lucia's Day first became widely celebrated in Sweden in the late 1700s.
Steve: St. Lucia's Day is also celebrated in Denmark, Norway, Finland, Bosnia, Croatia,
Steve: and some parts of northern Italy.
Steve: In Denmark, it's more of a children's day, and in some parts of Italy,
Steve: children are told that St. Lucy brings them presents.
Steve: They leave out a sandwich for her and the donkey that helps carry gifts.
Steve: So, happy St. Lucia's Day, everyone!
Steve: Well, I hope you learned something about St. Lucia's Day today.
Steve: There's really a lot happening around Christmas time, isn't there?
Steve: Thanks for listening to the LifeSpring Advent Calendar.
Steve: Of course, the theme music today was, as always, Brian Duncan and the Neil Soul Band with This Christmas,
Steve: and the background music was Doug Bolt with In the Bleak Midwinter.
Steve: For James Cooper, I'm Steve Webb. Thanks for listening. Merry Christmas.