St. Lucia Day

American Girl Collection book written in 1986

Christin and Jennifer in 1994

    As a girl, some of my favorite books were from the American Girl Collection.  These days American Girl has turned into a huge doll business, but it all began with three characters who had books written about them.  Kirsten was representing the 1850s, Samantha the early 1900s and Molly the 1940s.  I learned much of my American history and timeline understanding from those books and the ones that followed.
   Kirsten was a girl who moved with her family from Sweden to Minnesota in 1854.    Out of the six books about her, my favorite was Kirsten's Surprise because of the storyline involving St. Lucia Day.  I don't want to give too much away, so please check out all six books!  You'll love this character as much as I did as a ten year old!  You'll also learn quite a bit about St. Lucia Day.
   December 13th is the shortest day of the year in Sweden, but most people don't mind because it is also a special day full of light, goodies, and sweet little girls!  Early in the morning on St. Lucia Day, the oldest daughter in the family gets up, puts on a white gown with a red sash and puts a green crown with lighted candles on her head.  She brings coffee and rolls to her family and sings the Lucia song as she walks.  Sometimes her sisters and brothers walk with her as the "Lucia Court."  The girls wrap tinsel around heir waists and the boys wear tall pointed hats with stars on them.  Thus begins St. Lucia Day in many homes across Sweden.  The day often continues with more festivals and Lucia performances for grandparents, at schools and around the community.  A person would most likely not get through St. Lucia Day without enjoying some saffron-flavored buns called Lussekatter or some ginger snaps called Pepparkakor.  And, the Lucia Song most likely runs through the heads of many, many people that day too!

Up With People St. Lucia presentation

     So, who was St. Lucia?  She was actually a Christian from Italy who made a vow never  to marry and instead used her dowry to help the poor.  So, when I was asked (in 1994) to be St. Lucia at a pageant put on by First Baptist Church in my hometown of Alexandria, I was honored.  I was assured that it was okay that I had dark hair because the first St. Lucia was Italian! 
     The day of the pageant, my friend Christin and I played piano duets for the ladies as they arrived at the luncheon.  Then we gathered with the rest of the Lucia Court in the back of the fellowship hall and lit my candles (actually they were battery-powered) and processed out among the waiting ladies.  Christin's mom read a narration about St. Lucia as the Lucia song was playing in the background.  Next, I sang the Lucia song as a solo and Christin and I sang a duet together in Norwegian (pretty close to Swedish, eh?).  We all sang The Light of the World Is Jesus and were reminded anew that Jesus is the purest, brightest Light.  It was a lovely pageant.
     The following year (1995) when I was traveling with Up With People, my friend Christin got to be St. Lucia at First Baptist.  I wish I could have been in two places at once.  I was with my cast of 150 people from 26 different countries, traveling across seven countries together (including Sweden).  That year on December 13th, the Scandinavians in our cast put on a St. Lucia presentation for all of us.  It was beautiful.  I would love to visit Sweden on December 13th some day and experience it all first hand.  My friend Johanna, from Sweden, thinks I might be a bit disappointed because some parts of the country have made St. Lucia Day into a beauty contest and have lost the family-centered traditions.  I'm glad I know that the true light, the most beautiful light, the purest light is Jesus.  

Merry Christmas 2013 from the Sapps

Merry Christmas from Todd and Jennifer!  Here are some photos from our year.....

James and Jaimee Sapp in Two Harbors in July

Daniel Sapp in his Ranchero

Daniel and friends admiring the Ranchero

Todd turned 50 this year!!!

Here we are celebrating Todd's birthday at Texas Roadhouse in October.

Todd and Jennifer enjoyed a June vacation to Nova Scotia and PEI, Canada

Here is our camper on the most northern tip of Nova Scotia

Scenic French River on Prince Edward Island

Jennifer and her Mom made a violin and piano CD together in April

And here it is..... our CD!

The Iverson clan celebrating Thanksgiving together this year

Jennifer's second grade classroom all decorated for Christmas

Dear family and friends, 
     Thanks for checking out our Christmas blog of memories from 2013.  James is working at Hoglund Bus while Jaimee continues her schooling to become a medical administrative assistant.  Daniel is in his second year at St. Cloud Technical College where he is studying Industrial Electronics.  He works at Buffalo Wild Wings.  He is living at home and enjoys restoring his Ranchero.  
     Todd and I continue to enjoy traveling together during the summer months.  We sing on worship team at our church.  And, we are focusing a lot of our attention on good nutrition and health.  Teaching and working at Remmele are keeping us busy too!    
     We hope you are all doing great!  Enjoy your 2014!  May you be blessed with peace, joy, and lots of love!
                                             Love, Jennifer (and Todd) Sapp