St. Lucia Day
Is there a certain Christmas tradition you and your family look forward to each year? Family traditions are important. Special celebrations promote a sense of belonging and security in a child. They also help a child identify who he is by the values taught by Mom, Dad, grandparents, and other relatives. Memories passed down through the generations draw family members together too.
As a child, one of my favorite Christmas memories is of St. Lucia Day, December 13. This tradition was a BIG deal in my family. As the eldest daughter, I was responsible for preparing breakfast for my family and serving them dressed in a white gown, red sash, and crown of candles on my head. (Battery-operated, of course!)
Throughout the years, the logistics of the St. Lucia celebration changed. After Scott and I were married, we continued to celebrate with my parents, much to the delight of my dad! Scott and I would deliver breakfast in the wee hours of the morning to my parent’s home. After the boys were born, we invited my parents to join us at our house on December 13th.
Sometimes traditions need to be altered…and that’s okay. When the family tradition becomes too stressful, it’s time to change it or maybe even replace it. When my dad passed away we changed our tradition to an evening party, celebrating the Light of Christmas.
But Scott, the boys, and I still have St. Lucia breakfast in the dark hours of the morning of December 13th. One of our favorite recipes is for a Swedish Oven Pancake. On St. Lucia Day, we devour a warm oven pancake with lingonberries, Bond Ost cheese, and pickled herring. Candles provide the light for our celebration, as we celebrate the Light of Christmas, Jesus Christ.
Swedish Oven Pancake
5 eggs
1 ¼ C milk
1 ¼ C flour
2 T sugar
4 T butter
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Melt butter in a 9 x 13, or similar baking dish in the oven while preheating. Mix eggs, flour, milk, and sugar. (Batter will be lumpy.) Pour batter into melted butter in preheated pan. Bake for 20 minutes. Serve immediately!
Pour warm maple syrup over a slice of the pancake. It’s especially good with a spoonful of lingonberries. Or try squeezing fresh lemon juice on and then sprinkling with powdered sugar.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said,
“I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12
© 2012 Becky Danielson. All rights reserved.
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Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash