Lucia - After Darkness Comes Light

On December 13, 2021, the Swedish Ambassador to Albania, H.E. Elsa Håstad, organized the Santa Lucia celebration at her Residence in Tirana in the company of guests and Embassy staff singing classic Lucia songs and enjoying the traditional treats on this occasion.

The Lucia tradition is very integral to Swedish culture. Immensely atmospheric, this 400-year-old custom brings peaceful joy each year on 13 December – and it’s spreading across the world. In Stockholm, among many other activities, a Santa Lucia light celebration was performed at a swimming pool with children and teenagers from the Neptun synchronized swimming club.

Celebrated annually in December, this historic custom involves Christmassy treats and a singing line-up of candlecarrying characters dressed (mostly) in white gowns.

To revive this celebration, Ambassador Håstad held the Santa Lucia celebration in Tirana highlighting in her speech that Santa Lucia is a very old tradition in her own country symbolizing Light after Darkness.

“That is very much what celebrating Lucia is, for us Swedes coming from darker and colder Sweden. It’s the darkest time of year in Sweden with only a few hours of light during November and December and when darkness turns into light in December we celebrate!,” Håstad said in this celebration.

She explained that the night between 12 December and 13 December used to be

the longest and darkest before Sweden changed its calendars in 1753.

Furthermore, she explained the roots of this old tradition dating back to the year 304.

“Sweden has decided to take a very special Italian occasion to our hearts. It is the celebration of the Italian St Lucia who died as a Christian martyr in the year 304. St Lucia wanted to be a Christian and she wanted to only serve God and not to get married. This was not easy and not accepted. She was killed by her very upset fiancé. This tragic event is the core of our Lucia.”

The Ambassador Håstad and the staff of the Embassy had baked for the guests the saffron buns, called lussebulle, typical for Christmas and Lucia as well as baked ginger cookies accompanied with glogg, prepared with local Albanian wine.

“So, all-in all, this is very much a homemade evening prepared for you by us in

the Embassy,” Håstad said.

With the sounds of the band “All- In Band,” the staff of the Embassy, alongside with members of the Swedish community in Albania and some of the best Albanian opera singers from the Opera sung during this evening.

“I am happy that you could be here withus and see how darkness turns into acelebration of light.

From all of us - our Embassy wishes you

a Happy New Year and good holidays!,”Ambassador Håstad concluded.