The legacy of St. Lucia lights the holiday season – Twin Cities

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Tiffiney Biorn is this year’s Nordic Club St. Lucia.

By Carolyn Spargo

(Editor’s note: This story has been corrected and updated-Dec. 7) St. Lucia Day will soon be here. Legend tells us that St. Lucia was from Syracuse on the island of Sicily. When Lucia proclaimed herself a Christian and gave her dowry to the poor, then refused to marry her pagan husband-to-be, he denounced her as a Christian to the governor of Syracuse. Authorities were unable to burn Lucia at the stake so they stabbed and killed her, gouging out her eyes.

Lucia’s tragic death brought her the honor of sainthood. The root of her name “luz” means light, and she became the patron saint to the blind. Then, in the late 1700s, it has been told that during a famine in Sweden, a woman with a white robe and candles on her head was seen around the area of Lake Vanern, carrying food for the poor.

Today, St. Lucia Day is celebrated in all the Nordic countries. According to Wikipedia, St. Lucia is one of the very few saints celebrated by members of the Lutheran Church.

Today, her legend is celebrated in every Scandinavian family. The oldest daughter will rise at dawn and dress in a white gown with a red sash. She puts on a crown of candles. Younger sisters dress in white gowns without a crown and the brothers dress as star boys with white robes and a pointed cap with silver stars.

Lucia and her siblings bring coffee and St. Lucia buns made with saffron (Lussekatter) to their parents in bed.

Nordic cities appoint a Lucia every year. Schools can elect a Lucia and in Sweden, a Lucia is elected on national television from regional winners. Lucia’s will visit nursing homes, churches, and shopping malls singing the traditional tunes.

The Nordic Heritage Club of Carver County is pleased to announce Tiffiney Barbara Biorn as its 2010 Lucia. She is 18 years old and attends Normandale Community College. Tiffiney is Danish, Norwegian and has ancestors who came to America on the Mayflower, thus belonging to the Mayflower Society.

If her last name sounds familiar, Tiffiney’s mother is Wendy Biorn, the Carver County Historical Society’s executive director.

Tiffiney’s interests include photography, and she loves her Jack Russell named Sammy. Tiffiney visited Belgium after graduation and can’t wait to do more traveling.

The Nordic Club of Carver County will celebrate St. Lucia Day and Christmas, at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 10, at the Victoria City Hall. This event is free to the public. Everyone is welcome, regardless of heritage. Free will donations to the Nordic Heritage Club are tax deductible.

The monthly meetings are held on the second Fridays of the month except in July and August. They begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Victoria City Hall, 7951 Rose Street. For any questions call Carolyn Spargo at (952) 443-3312. Visit the Nordic Heritage Club website at www.nordicheritageclub.com for additional information.

Carolyn Johnson Spargo lives on the border of Chaska and Victoria, and is active in all things Scandinavian including the Nordic Heritage Club, which meets on the second Friday of the month at the Victoria city hall at 7951 Rose St., Victoria. Her column appears monthly in the Victoria Town Square pages and online at www.victoriatownsquare.com.

Originally Published: December 1, 2010 at 10:16 AM CST

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