Sunday 13 December 2020

My Very Own Sankta Lucia

Today is the Feast Day of Sankta Lucia, the superficially-christianized version of the Scandinavian Goddess of the Winter Solstice. I've blogged about her several times before on this date (check out my previous posts here, if you're interested).

For many years, I have been collecting statues and figurines of the Divine Feminine but have never found, or even seen, one of Sankta Lucia. But last year, my sister surprised me with a lovely, embossed, white porcelain statue of her for Christmas! 

Standing about 10 inches high, Sankta Lucia is wearing her Crown of Light composed of a holly wreath and circle of lighted candles. She carries a tray bearing flowers, coffee and saffron buns (her traditional Feast Day treats).


And, fittingly, SHE LIGHTS UP! 

With a flick of a switch, Sankta Lucia glowingly illuminates the embossed scene on her skirt of the Goddess surrounded by her attendant Maidens and Star Boys.


[photos © Debra She Who Seeks, 2020]

BEST. PRESENT. EVER!
Thanks, Sis!

46 comments:

Tasker Dunham said...

Any idea where I could buy light-up underpants?

Rommy said...

Oh that's so cool!

Travel said...

A client of mine assured me god is a woman,

LL Cool Joe said...

I know all about this as my partner is Swedish. You can't beat a saffron bun. :D

Brian Joseph said...

I had never heard of Sankta Lucia before. This is very interesting stuff.

It is so cool that your sister found the statue.

Bob said...

I was thinking it was hard to see what was on the skirt and then the light came on.
Very cool.

Parnassus said...

Hello Debra, What a fitting gift for you. Those saffron buns do look kind of pale--perhaps they don't get the best grade of saffron up in Scandinavia. Also, it is ironic that Lucia's body and dress light up, but not the candles on her head.
--Jim

anne marie in philly said...

THAT is COOL! shine the lights to dispel the darkness!

DVArtist said...

Wow she is so pretty and then lights!

Martha said...

That is gorgeous!

CraveCute said...

She's beautiful! Have a very festive day!

Linda said...

I LOVE her!!!! St Lucia♥

jaz@octoberfarm said...

she's wonderful!

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

I like how the scene on her skirt is illuminated. Very nice. -Jenn

Rosemary said...

That is gorgeous - I love it.
It always seems such a dangerous festival to me when I see a young girl dressed completely in white and a candle lit wreath sitting on her head.

Mistress Maddie said...

That is so cool! I bet your were in glee when you opened that up?

Magaly Guerrero said...

Your sister totally rocks! The statue is lovely. And I love how much brightness she brings you.

Ur-spo said...

I remember her! I remember as a boy feeling a bit miffed the girls got to don such gay apparel.

Leanna said...

That is so sweet. You have a wonderful sister.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Parnassus (Jim) -- Those slender, delicate candles are solid porcelain so they won't break but unfortunately, yes, it means they can't light up like the hollow body and head can.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Ur-spo -- I guess you never got to be a Star Boy then, eh? But it is true -- this is one of the very, very few religious/spiritual rituals in patriarchal Christianity where the central figure is female. And of course, it's because the ritual is utterly pagan in origin.

bobbie said...

I love it!! Lucky you ~

Mike said...

Isn't there a coffee named after her?

Tundra Bunny said...

What a thoughtful and terrific sister you have! Celebrate the light!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Mike -- I don't know, but there could be!

e said...

What a wonderful gift! Your sister knows you well. Another face of the Goddess in her many guises. XoxoxO

Moving with Mitchell said...

And your sister found a gem! I worked with a woman a long time ago who aggressively reminded everyone that Jesus was the reason for the season. I once tried to have a conversation about the pagan and non-Christian origins of most of the traditions and she never spoke to me again. It was the best "Christmas" gift I ever received.

brewella deville said...

I only know the Italian Santa Lucia song from old cartoons. Dig deep enough into most Christian saints and holidays and you'll find pagan roots, I suppose.

Mike said...

Are you kidding me? Or am I kidding you? This stuff has been around forever. My mother used to drink it.
https://www.amazon.com/Sanka-Instant-Decaf-Coffee-Ounce/dp/B003WEW9MS
Sankta Sanka, tomato tomaato.

Marie Smith said...

It is a beauty all lit up!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Mike -- D'OH! I can't call myself the Queen of Puns anymore because that one went RIGHT OVER MY HEAD! Sheesh!

Old Lurker said...

Now that's what we like to see in a Goddess: subservience. Other goddesses might be out there rabble-rousing and causing trouble, but Sankta Lucia knows her place, and serves up snacks for the dinner guests. You can bet there's no book-learning poisoning that Goddess's pretty little head.

Joanne Noragon said...

I agree; that present sounds pretty close to perfect.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Old Lurker -- Ha ha, nice try, Lurkie! My buttons are a lot harder to push than THAT, my friend!

Liz Hinds said...

Our grandbaby girl is Lucia. And a very strong-minded young individual she is shaping up to be! If you know what I mean.

Suz said...

I love this so much; she is just perfect in every way. What a sweet gift!

Hena Tayeb said...

Oh wow.. she is so beautiful.
I hadn't heard of her before.

Bill Lisleman said...

Nice but too creepy for a night light

Guillaume said...

I have a Swedish sister who came to live with us for a year. She made saffron buns that day. We also still have a chandelier from that time.

Forsythia said...

Always worried that those little Swedish girls who wear crowns of lighted candles would have their hair catch on fire.

This N That said...

She's beautiful..A keepsake for sure..

yellowdoggranny said...

I needs me one of those..google here i come

Martha said...

She is really beautiful!

Magic Love Crow said...

She is truly STUNNING! What a beautiful gift! Big Hugs!

Karen said...

Your st. Lucia is absolutely stunning.

baili said...

oh i absolutely LOVED her
enchanting lighting up wow
you have a sweet sister :)