One of my most memorable memories about Lucia was when I was 17 years old and I applied to participate in the local swim club’s Lucia procession. 5 other girls and I were chosen to be in the procession. Thereafter our pictures were taken, one by one and then put together on a poster. This poster was put up in the grocery store, where the swimming pool was, the gym, library and other public places where people could vote who they wanted to be the towns Lucia. While the voting process was in motion the 5 girls and I practiced the songs we were going to perform at least once a week. There was a whole process of choosing which songs to sing and who was going to sing what part of the song. It’s not that every Lucia procession sings the same specific songs because there are a huge number of Lucia songs you can choose from.
In the beginning of December we received the result of the voting and unfortunately I wasn’t chosen as the Lucia. After being upset about it for a little while I came to terms with it and I was happy that I was a part of the procession at least.
A few days before December 13th we received the schedule for where we were going to perform. We were schedule for the whole day to perform in all different places! As part of the tradition in my hometown we performed where the local swimming pool is and where the public can come and watch it. When we performed there the place was packed and I must say that I was nervous to sing in front of all those people. It all went great though and everyone in the procession was very pleased with our performance. And as tradition say the public was served gingerbread snaps, saffron buns, glögg (glig), coffee and milk after the Lucia procession was over. While enjoying all of these you will also get a chance to talk to other people from town and socialize. Everyone gets together to celebrate Lucia and to see and talk to each other. It’s all a big get together.
A Swede Exploring Swedish Traditions 